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Can California High Speed Rail Succeed?
By Noel T. Braymer The answer to that question will depend on the final evolution of this project.The California High Speed Rail Project has evolved in many ways just in the last 5 years. We can expect more changes to the California High Speed Rail Project before it is running. The California High Speed Rail…
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Should we take the Long Distance Trains off of Amtrak’s Back?
Analysis by Noel T. Braymer Amtrak says that they lose over $500 million dollars a year running the Long Distance Passenger Trains. But Amtrak endures this hardship because of the transportation necessity provided by the Long Distance Trains in much of rural America. Amtrak has been hinting that they would like the States to help…
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The Denver Crossover for the Southwest Zephyr and the California Chief.
By Noel T. Braymer A major problem since the creation of Amtrak is there are so many places it is impossible for passengers to get to by Rail in this country. It isn’t for lack of stations with over 400 Amtrak Stations over most of the continental United States. But you can’t take a train…
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Why Would a Foreign Country Finance California High Speed Rail?
Analysis by Noel T. Braymer After several near death experiences the California High Speed Rail project is poised to soon start construction for 130 miles of new railroad in the San Joaquin Valley. This is assured with almost $6 billion dollars in funding from Federal and State sources. This is after several changes were made…
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The Railroad Destroying Santa Margarita River
Story by Noel T. Braymer Finally this year, 2013 (due to the need to redo more work on this bridge the opening date now is in 2014.)the new double track railroad bridge over the Santa Margarita River will replace the old single track bridge there since 1916. Well not exactly, the current bridge is a…
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March Trip report with video to Riverside, Los Angeles and Santa Monica
Report by Noel T. Braymer What a way to celebrate my 61st birthday, but I’m still too young for a Metrolink senior discount. I got to the Oceanside Station in time to get my ticket to Riverside for Metrolink train 850 and get on board before the 7:35 AM departure. I still had the same…
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Should High Speed Rail Share the Tehachapis?
Analysis by Noel T. Braymer The most expensive part of running any railroad is not above the rails but below the rails on the right of way. With any capital intensive investment the way to recoup the cost is to use it as much and generate the most income as possible. This is particularly true…
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Passenger Trains Make Money
Report by Noel T. Braymer To often we hear in this county about how passenger trains lose money. The fact is many passengers trains cover their costs for trains crews, fuel and direct operations of the trains. It is the passenger railroads that are losing money. To draw an analogy compare a passenger railroad to…
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Speed and Ridership
Report by Noel T. Braymer In 1913 the airplane had only been invented ten years earlier. Few planes in 1913 could fly faster than 100 miles per hour. Race cars and trains attempting to set speed records in 1913 could travel just over 100 miles per hour as well. The Ford Model T car by…
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All aboard the LOSSAN Express?
Opinion by Noel T. Braymer With a Congressionally mandated fee increase for millions of dollars of coming this October to the Surfliners; now would be a good time to explore other options for intercity rail passenger service between Los Angeles and San Diego. The State is already paying a high price for Amtrak operations for…