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Amtrak At Last Looking to Renew or Upgrade Locomotives
From Amtrak Press release: Amtrak to Improve National Network Locomotive Fleet New or rebuilt locomotives will provide more reliable service, a smoother ride and improved safety features WASHINGTON – With demand for Amtrak service at record levels, Amtrak is moving to either acquire new locomotives or rebuild its current diesel fleet of locomotives to supplement…
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Southwest Chief Developments
Amtrak’s actions regarding the Southwest Chief, threatening to stop running the train through western Kansas, Colorado and eastern New Mexico via the Raton Pass have run into opposition from the Senators for those states. https://www.chieftain.com/bipartisan-bicameral-lawmakers-raise-concerns-over-amtrak-withholding-funding-for/pdf_55d3c0bc-6523-11e8-9163-d371f5d9f499.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share RailPAC will be asking California and Nevada Senators to write in support of their colleagues. Please support our efforts by…
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Amtrak National Network Campaign – Some Helpful Tools
Here are a couple of sample letters to cut and paste in whole or in part. The first objective is to get our California Senators, Feinstein and Harris, to recognize the problem and to take action with their fellow Senators: Dear Senator ( ): Thank you for your support of passenger rail, including the Amtrak…
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Boardman Joins the Fight for the National Network
In a surprise development, Joe Boardman, former Amtrak CEO, has written a scathing article in Railway Age criticizing the policy of the current Amtrak Board and CEO. When I get permission I’ll reproduce it here. Boardman states that the national network, and especially the long distance trains, are threatened by a philosophy that seeks to…
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California Integrated Travel Conference 2018 at UC Davis May 1and 2
RailPAC Board members Doug Kerr and Steve Roberts attended this event, and their report follows. Chad Edison and State staff have been working hard to bring together the many State rail and transit agencies to make travel easier for the passenger, a long standing RailPAC goal. On May 1 and 2 Steve Roberts and I…
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The Anderson Tape – LA Rail Summit April 19, 2018
The recording of Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson’s presentation, plus audience questions, is now available. The Anderson segment begins at approximately One Hour and 46 minutes. https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/114596550 It seems to be taking an awfully long time for the implications of these remarks to sink in. RailPAC is currently reviewing the options, and sounding out potential allies,…
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Why Anderson thinks he is doing the right thing – Amtrak’s mission statement
Why Anderson thinks he can, and should, destroy the National Passenger Rail Network Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson has interpreted PRIIA and other Amtrak legislation, and together with Amtrak’s flawed management information systems, has concluded that the national Network is a hopeless money loser. It is therefore his job to get rid…
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Amtrak CEO: Phasing out long distance trains in favor of “corridors”.
Report – Richard Anderson, Amtrak CEO – Remarks to California Rail Summit and Questions and Answers 19th April 2018 Richard Anderson, CEO of Amtrak, gave a keynote address to about 150 passenger rail officials and industry professionals, plus a handful of advocates. I have the feeling he had not counted on there being any advocates…
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Passenger Rail Investment Priorities – RailPAC View
I was recently asked by a member about our policy towards investments, particularly regarding High Speed Rail versus conventional incremental improvements. Below is my attempt at a brief answer. I’d be interested to hear from you, and let me know if I have your permission to post your comments. Thank you for raising a…
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Electrolink North – RailPAC’s vision for ACE and the Mega Region Of Northern California
By Steve Roberts, RailPAC Vice President – Policy and Research ACE – Well short of its potential to move more people – Photo By Arne Brown More Frequent Service Faster Trains Better Connectivity Electrification This post is being updated with new statistics and information and will be republished soon.