August 20, 2007, Suisun City Hall Reported by Russ Jackson The Draft “Regional Rail” Plan was presented at a series of August meetings around the Bay Area. This writer chose to attend the afternoon session in Solano County, while other RailPAC members attended other meetings. The Plan is called a “blueprint for expanding the region’s…

Special Message to Riders – August 20, 2007 The What, When, and Why “An apology and a report to Capitol Corridor riders on the events of Friday afternoon and evening, August 17th” from Gene Skoropowski For those of you who were caught up in the events of Friday afternoon and evening, and there were some…

Report and Photos by Russ Jackson Rail passengers wanting to use the Coast Starlight, Amtrak trains 11 and 14, in recent years have agonized about the late trains not only at the endpoints of Seattle and Los Angeles, but at all stations in between. On February 15, 2007, the status of that day’s two Starlights…

Provided by Gene Skoropowski, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor JPB. RailPAC thanks Gene for this information and commentary he sends us each month: Gene says, “We have received the ridership and revenue results for July 2007 from Amtrak, and, once again, the Capitol Corridor is setting records, the 10th month in a row. “After 10 months…

CAPITOL CORRIDOR JOINT POWERS BOARD July 18, 2007 Meeting Suisun City Hall Report and photo by Russ Jackson NOTE: Before the meeting started RailPAC learned some interesting news. First, and this was reported to us the night before the meeting by Gene Skoropowski, two newly rebuilt Superliner Coach cars that the State of California is…

HELP KEEP AMTRAK GOING Los Angeles City Council Member Tom LaBonge and Paul Dyson, president of the Rail Passenger Assn. of California, held a joint press conference at LA Union Station on July 13. Councilmember LaBonge received unanimous council support on July 13 for a City resolution supporting U.S. Senate bill S 294 that would…

provided by Eugene K. Skoropowski, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority We have received the ridership and revenue results for June 2007 from Amtrak, and, once again, the Capitol Corridor is setting records. After 9 months in our fiscal year, we continue to AVERAGE a +13% growth rate in riders and more than +21%…

LOSSAN Board Meeting, Los Angeles, 06/13/07 Report and IMPORTANT COMMENTARY by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Although the meeting took place there was no quorum as Chairman Art Brown was taken ill en route to the meeting and there were too many other absences. The meeting could not therefore make any Board decisions, but heard the…

Report and commentary from the TAC meeting, Santa Barbara, 6/8/07 by Paul Dyson Including news about the new car order! The CRCC Technical Advisory Committee met at Santa Barbara last week, led by the indefatigable Peter Rodgers of SLOCOG. Also there were Royce Gotcher and Clem Bomar of Caltrans Division of Rail, Eileen Low from…

June 4, 2007, Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Policy Committee meeting Report and commentary by Chris Flescher, RailPAC, Salinas There is an interest in awarding Parsons another contract for planning work on the Monterey Branch Line. The contract would involve aerial photography to create more detailed maps of the area. There would be enough…