and PHOTOS from everywhere! . . . Commentary by Russ Jackson July, 2009. Summertime and the living is easy, right? It is for people who go on vacations, and for some that means riding Amtrak. California. . . .Half-price train tickets? YES, Seniors 62 and older can ride at 50% off this summer on the…
TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . . . . . and Commentary by Russ Jackson June, 2009. On Time and other performances. Yes, it’s the economy that can be charged with the recent on time performance improvements of Amtrak’s western long distance trains. Freight traffic has dropped over the past months which coincides with the increase…
Reported by Robert Manning, RailPAC Director, with comments by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President. Wednesday June 10, 2009 I have just arrived home after attending the Sunset Marketing and Revitalization Team meeting which was held June 6, 2009 in New Orleans, LA. I should remind everyone that this SMART (not to be confused with the Sonoma-Marin…
TAMC Rail Policy Committee meeting May 4, 2009. Reported by Chris Flescher TAMC is trying to find a consultant to write the environmental documents relating to the Monterey Branch Line (MBL) service. TAMC released a request for proposals, but Parsons-Brinkerhoff was the only group that responded. Parsons has already performed some work on both the…
Reported by Eugene K. Skoropowski Managing Director Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority May ridership numbers on the Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins and Pacific Surfliners all were disappointing. We were awaiting the May numbers to see if there would be an upswing in riders and revenue, but the opposite seems to be emerging. This is likely…
(“CRCC”) MEETING Report Santa Barbara, May 29, 2009 Reported by Paul Dyson The Meeting was Chaired by Dave Potter, Monterey County Supervisor RailPAC was represented by Paul Dyson, Dennis Story and Mike Barnbaum. Katherine Holland of Coast Rail Now and ASERT represented local pro transit interests. Good news, Jacki Bacharach was on the ‘phone representing…
Below is a new press release from RailPAC, along with earlier correspondence between Paul Dyson, the RailPAC President, and Joseph Boardman, Interim President and CEO of Amtrak. 1) RAIL PASSENGER ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA 1017 L Street PMB 217, Sacramento, CA 95814 www.railpac.org 3 June, 2009 AMTRAK TO REDUCE OR END SERVICE TO MORE THAN 20…
Train Day, May 9, 2009, at the California State Rail Museum, Sacramento. Photos courtesy Debbie Mullins, Caltrans Rail Marketing Branch; Comments by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer. (Photo) Art Lloyd with Caltrans Rail Chief Bill Bronte A California Car used on the Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquin Valley trains was on display for touring by…
Sacramento Preservation Commission Votes to Leave Depot in Place. Special Meeting May 21, 2009 Report by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer With only one dissenting vote, the Sacramento Preservation Commission voted to recommend the City Council rescind its 2004 compromise plan that would have kept the Sacramento Valley Station in proximity of the Union Pacific mainline…
“WE HAVE NO MONEY SO WE HAVE TO THINK*” Commentary on a vital current issue by Paul J. Dyson, RailPAC President REVISED 5/25/09. Well, the party’s over for the United States and especially for California. From now on, instead of running up debt, we’re going to have to pay for what we consume or go…