RailPAC: Rail Passenger Association of CA & NV

eNewsletter for August 19, 2013

In a brilliant display of self-promotion, Mr. Musk gave on a slow news month a massive dose of sensational distraction the media was hungry for. However a high speed shuttle from kinda close to Los Angeles and somewhere in the Bay Area is not a State wide transportation system. As it is there isn’t a…

August 23, 2013
What’s the Good News for Rail Passenger Service in California?

By Noel T. Braymer Over the last 35 years or so there have been many ups and downs to expanding Rail Passenger Service in California. While things may seem rocky now, the future is very promising. Just look at how far things have come in Los Angeles since 1990 when the first 22 miles of…

August 16, 2013
eNewsletter for August 12, 2013

Amtrak has finished its management reorganization which means laying off many competent and highly experienced employees. Standing out in this group leaving Amtrak is Brian Rosenwald best known for his introduction of the Pacific Parlor Car among many upgrades on the Coast Starlight. Despite Amtrak’s PR and misleading accounting, it has been in a slow…

August 15, 2013
Capitol and other CA Corridor Statistics (July, 2013)

Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Capitol Corridor Service Performance For the first time in FY2013, the monthly Capitol Corridor ridership experienced an increase above the prior year month. A total of 140,533 passengers rode the Capitol Corridor trains in July 2013, an increase of 2.3% compared to July…

August 15, 2013
Lessons for California from Spain about Trains

By Noel T. Braymer There has been some hysteria from the media about the future of High Speed Rail in California after the recent Train crash in Spain. There is a great deal California can learn from Spain about rail passenger service and High Speed Rail. Spain is slightly larger in size, its population is…

August 9, 2013
Metrolink’s Shrinking Ridership

By Noel T. Braymer Graphic from LOSSAN Why is ridership declining on Metrolink? There are many reasons. Much of the rise in ridership recently in public transportation is directly the result of spikes in the price of gasoline and cost of driving a car. Since last year the price of gasoline has more…

August 9, 2013
eNewsletter for August 5, 2013

Metrolink has hired additional security to check passengers for valid tickets before allowing them to board trains. Only half of the doors are opened for boarding where security and train crew inspects tickets at half opened doors. Many trains have security on board to check tickets for boarding at intermediate stations. This is an attempt…

August 8, 2013
Some Interesting Things about Freight and Passenger Trains

By Noel T. Braymer I recently got a copy of Trains Magazine’s extra edition of Railroad Maps. It is a compilation of material and graphics from previous Trains issues about changes in American Railroading mostly since 1980. A fact that stood out was Cajon Pass in Southern California is the busiest railroad pass in the…

August 2, 2013
eNewsletter for July 29, 2013

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo the operator of the Spanish train that crashed killing 79 people and injured at least 130 of the 247 on board was recorded telling dispatchers shortly after the crash. ” I’ve derailed, What do I do? What am I supposed to do? I ****ed up. I want to die.” The train…

August 2, 2013
Re: Ralph James Auburn-Bakersfield Trip (a discussion)

NOTE: The following letter was published in the July 29, 2013 RailPAC e-newsletter as a “letter to the editor” after Ralph James’ article on the subject in the July-August issue of the “Steel Wheels” newsletter. Ralph James has now replied to Mr. Heywood, and those comments are published here. Bob Heywood, Modesto, CA, wrote, I…

August 2, 2013