RailPAC: Rail Passenger Association of CA & NV

eNewsletter for November 28, 2011

This is what I find really interesting. Comparing the 563 which replaced the 565 we find that it had 39% less ridership and 23% less revenue. Despite the less than stellar On Time Performance of the Surfliners the 563 was the only train to lose ridership and revenue compared to the year before. But what…

December 1, 2011
eNewsletter for November 21, 2011

This is the way progress has always been made in California for rail service, one grant at a time. A million here and a million there and soon you are talking real money. Local projects and High Speed Rail will continue to be built one step at a time. When you try to build rail…

November 25, 2011
Congratulations Union Pacific: Steam arrives in Indio, Thursday November 17, 2011

Report and photos by Robert Manning, RailPAC Executive VP The temporary Transportation Center in the heart of downtown Indio, witnessed more people then anyone could have imagined on this special day. Two temporary modular buildings now house the Greyhound bus station and the future passenger train facility which will be built. Today the Union Pacific…

November 17, 2011
eNewsletter for November 14, 2011

Lately there has been a great deal of hysteria about the possible 98 billion dollar price tag for California High Speed Rail adjusted for inflation for an 800 mile system. Below the radar are plans by Amtrak to build a new 200 mph plus High Speed Rail line on the 457 miles between Boston and…

November 17, 2011
Capitol Corridor November 16 meeting report: changes are coming

Report by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board of Directors met for the final time in 2011 on November 16 in the City Council Chambers at the City of Suisun City. Chair Bob Franklin (San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District) opened the meeting with his “Report of the Chair”…

November 17, 2011
September 2011 Amtrak California Trip Report, Part I

Traveling The Web Of California Bus/Rail Connections Report and Comments by Ralph James I. Trip Overview A fairly unusual circumstance set up the opportunity for a round trip on Amtrak California beginning and ending at the “away” terminal of Grover Beach and turning at the “home” terminals of Auburn and Colfax. Due to the limited…

November 11, 2011
September 2011 Amtrak California Trip Report, Part II

Traveling The Web Of California Bus/Rail Connections Report and Comments by Ralph James II. Perspective from the Foothills Given the difficulties of using Amtrak and Amtrak California between the foothills east of Sacramento and the Central Coast illustrated in the preceding trip report (Part I), what would acceptable service look like and how might it…

November 11, 2011
eNewsletter for November 7, 2011

I have it on good authority that Boardman, in discussions with his top aides, defines Amtrak’s priorities toward train service as Northeast Corridor first, state-supported short-distance trains second, and long-distance trains a distant third. Were I in his shoes, I’d do the same thing. There was also a defining moment in a Senate hearing this…

November 10, 2011
Amtrak long-distance trains: the kinda good, the pretty bad, the really ugly

Commentary by Russ Jackson We passenger rail advocates prefer traveling cross-country on one or more of Amtrak’s long-distance trains whenever possible. We do it because we love it. We do it because we want them to be a part of the continuing heritage of this great country. We do it because we want that transportation…

November 4, 2011
What’s it like to ride the train?

Commentary and Trip Report by Dana Hawkes I am taking the train from LA to Houston. It is nearly universal that people are surprised, they have never taken a long distance train ride, and they are very curious about what it is like, and when they learn it takes longer than a plane they wonder…

November 3, 2011