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RailPAC addresses SJVRC on BFD-LAX Gap
Statement by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Director and Treasurer at the April 29, 2010 meeting in Fresno, CA Three events motivate this statement: Development of ideas at the joint RailPAC/NARP meeting in Los Angeles on April 17 Joint agreement proposals among regional railroads and the HSR The 29th anniversary of the last run of the SP San…
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RailPAC writes Boardman regarding Daily Sunset Corridor Service
Dear Mr. Boardman: Having heard no announcements regarding the proposal to introduce a daily Sunset/Eagle we conclude that negotiations are continuing with Union Pacific regarding the operating details, schedules, etc. It seems to us that if there is capacity for a train three days a week there should be capacity daily, especially given the major…
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National Train Day Events
National Train Day is approaching fast and we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some events taking place around the state on May 8, 2010! 2010 marks Amtrak’s third year celebrating America’s love of train travel. It’s a perfect day to get your kids, family and neighbors to discover the benefits of traveling by…
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Amtrak California Railcar Development Open House
Report by Jarrod DellaChiesa, Director and Website Editor As we all know, there are currently no funds available for new railcars. In 2006, Californians approved the procurement of new railcars through Proposition 1B. The budget crisis has caused the release of the Prop 1B bonds to be put on hold indefinitely. In the midst of this,…
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Getting There is Less and Less Fun
Editorial By Noel T. Braymer Transportation is second only to housing of the cost of living for most people. Flying today often means crowded planes, long waits because of annoying security searches and sudden cancellations. Rail passenger service what little there is of it is no less subject to disruption. Generally we are dependent on…
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Coalition Building at Steel Wheels Conference
Commentary by Paul Dyson, President This year at Steel Wheels in California we tried a couple of innovations. While most of the day consisted of the usual (excellent) presentations by politicians and industry professionals, we also put together a forum of passenger rail advocates from different groups to discuss High Speed Rail, and to attempt…
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Steel Wheels in California Presentations
As promised, we are providing the files presented on April 17, 2010 at Steel Wheels in California, our annual RailPAC/NARP Joint Annual Meeting. Some files are large, so please be patient.
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March California Intercity Passenger Rail Performance
Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA For the first time in 13 months ridership for the Capitol Corridor increased compared to the same period in the prior year. For March 2010 ridership increased 5.8% compared to March 2009. Most notable is this ridership reporting period included significant train service delays due to the second phase (February 22…
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Tracking Rail News: April 2010
Photos and Commentary by Russ Jackson . . . On Time Performance. As usual, we start with some current facts, and then take an historical look at the Amtrak Western long distance trains. The Sunset Limited fell back slightly in March, but is still above 90% since October 1. Its companion, the Texas Eagle, also…
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Revisited: Sunset Limited “stations” at Deming and Lordsburg, NM and Benson, AZ
Report and Photos by Russ Jackson Originally published in the April 2010 “Tracking the News” In the June, 2007 issue of the Western Rail Passenger Review this writer described the pitiful condition of the places where Trains 1-2 “flag stop” at these three small communities between Tucson and El Paso. At Deming there were two…