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TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . .
. . . Commentary by Russ Jackson, and PHOTOS by Trainweb’s Carl Morrison and Russ Jackson August, 2009. . . . California. . . . Santa Barbara’s RailPAC co-sponsored Train Day, delayed because of the May fires, was successfully held on July 18. (left) The “Santa Barbara” was on the private car track west of…
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LOSSAN BOARD DISCUSSES JPA AND THE FUTURE GOVERNANCE OF PASSENGER RAIL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
July 1 Meeting Report and comments by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President In an encouraging sign that LOSSAN and the County transportation executives are getting to grips with the conflicts between the multiple agencies operating railroads in Southern California (Amtrak, BNSF, UP, SCRRA and NCTD) the LOSSAN Board on Wednesday discussed the “Corridor Long Term Vision…
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TRACKING RAIL NEWS for July. . .
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…
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Passenger Rail and the CA State budget crisis
“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…
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TRACKING RAIL NEWS for April
TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . . . . . PHOTOS and Commentary by Russ Jackson Let’s start with good news. On Time Performance of some Western long distance trains. For the two weeks, March 8 to 20: California Zephyr #6 into Denver. Early 4 days, On Time or within 10 minutes of scheduled arrival 5…
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What Should We Expect For Rail In The Near Future?
Editorial by Noel T. Braymer With record amounts of funding being authorized for passenger rail service improvement by the Federal Government, we should expect major service improvements in the near future. The question is given the way things usually work; can we expect real improvements in the near future? In California the project with the…
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New President, Different Congress, Same Old Politics with the Media still long on spin and short on facts
Editorial by Noel T. Braymer After the customary political fun and games, President Obama got an Economic Stimulus Bill which will pump 787 Billion dollars into the sinking economy. Despite the pre-inaugural emphasis on infrastructure construction, the final total for infrastructure was around 100 billion dollars. This pales against the estimated 2.2 Trillion dollar back…
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BURBANK AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROPOSES TRANSIT CENTER
Commentary by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President, and member, Burbank Transportation Commission. The facility would provide “moving walkway” link with the Amtrak/Metrolink station. The Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport JPA has put forward an ambitious plan to improve public transit connections at the Burbank Bob Hope Airport. The airport already has the closest rail access of any…
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Tracking the News for February
TRACKING THE NEWS . . . . . . PHOTOS, and COMMENTARY by Russ Jackson February, 2009. Superliners! When you “GoogleEarth” to their U.S. map and zoom in on the Beech Grove, Indiana, Amtrak shop you see a yard area at the top (north) of the property. While the date of the photo is unknown,…
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So what about the San Fernando Valley?
By Noel T. Braymer Proposition R raises the sale tax another half cent in Los Angeles County. This money will be used to help build the “subway to the sea” which will extend subway service west down Wilshire Blvd. There will be money to extend Light Rail on the Gold Line east from Pasadena towards…