Month: May 2007

  • RailPAC Position Statement

    Adopted by the membership at the March 17 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles Whereas RailPAC since its inception has been a supporter both of the existing National Passenger Rail System (“the National System”) of Long Distance and Regional trains operated by Amtrak, and of the incremental growth of that system, And Whereas the National System…

  • A TALE OF 3 SUNSET LIMITED FLAG STOP “STATIONS” and a very late train!

    PART 1: Benson, AZ, and Lordsburg, NM PHOTOS and Commentary by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Sunset Limited on time performance has fallen back to 18.5% since Oct. 1 (The Coast Starlight is up to 19.9%), 2006. Another major problem for Amtrak train #2 happened on May 3, 2007, when the eastbound Sunset Limited, was 12 PLUS…

  • SUNSET LIMITED FLAG STOP “STATIONS” continued

    PART 2: Deming, NM, PHOTOS and Commentary by Russ Jackson, RailPAC In Part 1 we showed what passengers can expect at Benson, Arizona, and Lordsburg, New Mexico, when they choose those stations as their destination on Amtrak train #2, the Sunset Limited. After departing Lordsburg, another hour later #2 arrives at Deming. To get to…

  • High Speed Rail Authority Adopts Phase 1: Anaheim to “the Bay Area”

    Meeting Report and Commentary, May 23, 2007 By Russ Jackson, RailPAC The California High Speed Rail Authority, with four RailPAC members in attendance, met at the State Capitol on Wednesday, May 23, to adopt a definitive “Phase 1” of its project, “taking into consideration the cost, ridership, and revenue data presented to the Board on…

  • Message to RailPAC Members

    from Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Dear RailPAC members and supporters: After the enthusiastic response to our March 17 meeting in Los Angeles, the Board of Directors met in April to discuss the next steps for RailPAC. We have come a long way. We now publish a monthly Newsletter, the Review, with articles and news of…

  • The Salinas station has a big future!

    Letter to the Daily Californian from Chris Flescher, RailPAC Associate Director, Salinas To Dave Nordstrand: I read your article (May 19, 2007) about trains and the city of Salinas, and I wanted to make a few comments. I agree that cars and airplanes will probably continue to be the dominant mode of transportation in this…

  • BULLETIN: Caltrans request for new cars is BACK IN THE BUDGET!

    Reported by Marcia Johnston, RailPAC Director Some news from the State budget analyst: “The May CA State Budget Revision, released today, also proposes to spend $187 million in 2007-08 from Proposition 1B transportation bonds approved by the voters in Nov. 2006 for the purchase of intercity rail cars and locomotives.” Heavy lobbying by the Capitol…

  • A BUSY SATURDAY HALF HOUR AT THE DAVIS AMTRAK STATION

    A PHOTO report by Russ Jackson, RailPAC What happened to trains 733, 6, and 724 that morning? 10:55 AM Saturday, May 12, 2007. Amtrak Thruway bus arrives at the Davis station bringing transfer passengers from Stockton who rode the San Joaquin train. This is the scheduled time of arrival of Capitol train 733 from Sacramento.…

  • San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee TAC sees mockup of new Cafe cars (Revised)

    Reported by Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director NOTE: Since the original publication of this report new information has been made available to this writer about the mockup of the new Cafe cars. This new info follows, then the original report is repeated. – BJ From Stanton Hunter, Rail Passenger Car Technology Branch, Caltrans Division of Rail…

  • April results for the 3 California corridor trains

    Reported by Gene Skoropowski, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor JPA We received the April 2007 results for ridership and revenue. While California ridership remains strong overall, the Capitol Corridor is going through the roof. Once again, a new record has been set. We will have to re-adjust the scale on our monthly “How’s Business” reports, since…