Category: Issues

  • Sunset Limited in jeopardy is serious business: Part 1, Comments by RailPAC member Steve Roberts

    I wanted to emphasize that the comments made by Russ Jackson and Paul Dyson on the seriousness of the Sunset Ltd. amendment are not overstated. (Note: See their commentaries also on railpac.org) The whole long-distance network is at risk. Also this is a battle unlike any we have seen in the past for the following…

  • Sunset Limited in jeopardy is serious business: Part 2, Comments from the Texas Rail Advocates

    NOTE: Reprinted with permission of Peter LeCody and the TRA, from their website: www.Texasrailadvocates.org (Washington) In a last minute voice vote on the House appropriations bill for transportation, Texas Representative Pete Sessions (R-District 33-Dallas) succeeded in his efforts to kill an Amtrak route that has been a financial target of the long distance trains. This…

  • NARP Resolution in Support of Returning Passenger Rail Service Between New Orleans & Florida

    The new NARP board has unanimously approved the following resolution in support of returning passenger service between New Orleans and Florida: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS              WHEREAS, the National Association of Railroad Passengers (“NARP”) has previously endorsed the re-introduction of passenger rail service along the southern route linking New Orleans, Louisiana to Orlando, Florida, which is…

  • Paul Dyson Testifies at Senate Transportation and Housing Committee

    On March 27th, Paul Dyson represented RailPAC and NARP while testifying before the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.

  • Paul Dyson Testifies at Senate Select Committee on Passenger Rail

    On March 19th, Paul Dyson represented RailPAC and NARP while testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Passenger Rail.

  • The complicated history of the Sprinter

    Report and Photo by Noel T. Braymer, RailPAC e-newsletter Editor The Sprinter started out as a simple project to serve the 22 miles between Oceanside and Escondido. The original proposal by RailPAC’s Byron Nordberg back in the 1980’s was to rebuild the existing single tracked short line railroad between these 2 cities for about 70-80…

  • Why RailPAC supports High Speed Rail; Why RailPAC is not a cheerleader for the CHSRA

    Why RailPAC supports High Speed Rail Why RailPAC is not a cheerleader for the CHSRA We have been asked many times about our support for the California High Speed Rail program, particularly as we have always supported an incremental approach to intercity passenger train development. It’s a fair question and one that will receive a…

  • The New Coast Daylight!

    The New Coast Daylight!

    We support a new daily passenger train linking the Central Coast during the day.  For more than twenty years, work on a new Coast Daylight train service has led to studies without results. The Coast Rail Coordinating Council, a voluntary coalition of regional transportation agencies is leading the service planning, and has prepared a realistic, immediately doable operating plan. …

  • Upcoming Rail Meeting Event Calendar

    Prepared by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director The legislation discussed at the April San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee and associated infrastructure changes forthcoming at the Sacramento Valley (Amtrak) Station set the slate for a busy calendar ahead for California and the West Coast. Here is the latest of what we do know through September 30th.…

  • RailPAC Board Endorses High Speed Rail Business Plan

    For release April 6, 2012. Board calls for highest priority for “Bridging the Gap” between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. Interim service offerings and the blended approach will only be successful if passengers are offered a single seat ride between the maximum number of origins and destinations. While endorsing Caltrain electrification RailPAC Board calls for a…