RailPAC: Rail Passenger Association of CA & NV

eNewsletter for February 13, 2012

Inland Empire News – Feb 9,2012 SACRAMENTO – Governor Brown and US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood are reaffirming their support for building High-Speed Rail in California. LaHood said he’s traveled throughout the state “and found a strong base of support, from workers who will .. February 13, 2012 The above copy of this enewletter is…

February 18, 2012
Amtrak California gets to the Coachella Valley

RailPAC Report by Russ Jackson, Robert Manning, and from the Amtrak.com timetable. Photo by Robert Manning. In its revised schedule dated December 5, 2011, Amtrak California quietly added a new train-bus service finally recognizing the importance of travel from Palm Springs, Indio, and the Coachella Valley to/from Los Angeles. Until then the only Amtrak service…

February 11, 2012
eNewsletter for February 6, 2012

The only leg of the San Joaquin Valley HSR starter line that seems close to construction is by Fresno. The deadline for starting construction is this Summer! The lack of political consensus in most of the Valley will likely delay or prevent construction in the foreseeable future. There are several projects long in the planning…

February 10, 2012
eNewsletter for January 30, 2012

San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee takes stand on Closing the HSR Gap at January 26 Meeting ; Passes Resolution Supporting Closure of the Southern Gap. The top priority for rail passenger service in California is direct service between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. Hopefully other government bodies will join the SJVRC with similar statements. NB…

February 2, 2012
Comparing The Benefits Of The First $7 Billion Investment In California High Speed Rail—Bakersfield North vs. Bakersfield South

Commentary by Ralph James, RailPAC Member, Blue Canyon CA This commentary is a follow-up to this writer’s original commentary entitled “Is California High Speed Rail on Track for Successful Implementation?”, published in spring 2010 illustrating the futility of spending early HSR dollars in the Central Valley as compared to other sections of the ultimate HSR…

February 2, 2012
San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee takes stand on Closing the HSR Gap

January 26 Meeting Report by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director Part 1 of 2 reports from that day. Headlines: SJVRC Passes Resolution Supporting Closure of the Southern Gap Caltrans’ Bill Bronte drops a bombshell SJVRC is urged to revive the idea of a JPA for the Corridor Rail was all over the Northern California Map…

January 29, 2012
Capitol Corridor considers Draft Business/Operating Plan

Report and a Commentary by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director Part 2 from January 26, 2011 day of two meetings. Headlines: Implement additional service to Placer County Reduce number of trains from 16 roundtrips to 15 After riding Train #521 from Sacramento to Oakland at 4:30am and Train #712 from Oakland to “Atwater”/Merced for the…

January 29, 2012
eNewsletter for January 23, 2012

In the media the rule for running a story is “If it bleeds it leads”. The High Speed Rail project has bled a great deal. That doesn’t mean it is dead. There is still major support for this project by powerful interests. There is also strong support by the public for better and economical rail…

January 26, 2012
RailPAC tells LOSSAN: Position on Governance

Comments to the LOSSAN Board, January 25, 2012 by Paul J. Dyson, RailPAC President. Back in the 80s an ad hoc coalition of elected representatives and advocates including RailPAC were successful in bringing about an increase in frequency of the San Diegan trains as they were called then, and their extension to Santa Barbara. What…

January 25, 2012
eNewsletter for January 16, 2012

Amtrak admits that the average age of its equipment is older now than it was when it “inherited” its original equipment from the railroads in 1971. Most of the Superliner equipment is now 32 years old and even the newest is 19 years old. Of the 479 Superliner cars originally ordered at least 49 over…

January 20, 2012