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Sunset Limited: One month on the new schedule
Report and Comments by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Photos! How is Amtrak’s Sunset Limited doing since the schedule change on May 7, 2012, for the tri-weekly service which dates back to the pre-Amtrak days when the Southern Pacific reduced its departures from daily in the late 1960’s. The new schedule has train #2 depart Los Angeles…
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Sunset Limited Early Morning Arrival in LA Information
NOTE: The info below is being distributed to passengers arriving on the Sunset Limited, train #1, at Los Angeles Union Station. The scheduled arrival time of this train there is 5:35 AM now with the new timetable effective May 7, 2012. Train #1, as well as #3 the Southwest Chief cannot be scheduled to arrive…
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How LA went from “don’t need rail” to “can’t live without it.”
Opinion and History by Noel T. Braymer. Photos by the author. Arriving at Los Angeles Union Station today what first strikes you are the crowds. It wasn’t like that when I was a college student in Los Angeles in the early 1970’s. I knew fellow students who would go to Union Station to study because…
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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…
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Building High Speed Rail while making friends and not enemies
Opinion by Noel T. Braymer Transportation is a very political issue since it usually depends on public monies. But rarely is it a partisan issue. This is because everyone needs good transportation. In a disaster if transportation is cut off most stores will run out of inventory in a week or less. Most gas station…
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The Sunset Route: What’s happening there? A photo report.
Report and Comments by Russ Jackson, RailPAC, Dallas. PHOTOS by Richard Strandberg, Mike Palmer, Russ Jackson. Maps from the Amtrak timetable. This article is not only about Amtrak’s Sunset Limited and the recent developments regarding this train. We will be pointing out the highlights of the improvements that are taking place along that line through…
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Why The Capitol Corridor Works, and What is Wrong with the Pacific Surfliners
Opinion by Noel T. Braymer When the Capitol Corridor service began in 1991 it was with 3 round trips between San Jose and Sacramento. On time performance then for the trains was typical of Amtrak corridor service in the plus or minus 70 to 80 percent range. Today there are 16 round trips and these…
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Comparing The Benefits Of The First $7 Billion Investment In California High Speed Rail—Bakersfield North vs. Bakersfield South
Commentary by Ralph James, RailPAC Member, Blue Canyon CA This commentary is a follow-up to this writer’s original commentary entitled “Is California High Speed Rail on Track for Successful Implementation?”, published in spring 2010 illustrating the futility of spending early HSR dollars in the Central Valley as compared to other sections of the ultimate HSR…
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San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee takes stand on Closing the HSR Gap
January 26 Meeting Report by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director Part 1 of 2 reports from that day. Headlines: SJVRC Passes Resolution Supporting Closure of the Southern Gap Caltrans’ Bill Bronte drops a bombshell SJVRC is urged to revive the idea of a JPA for the Corridor Rail was all over the Northern California Map…