Rail Passenger Association of California & Nevada

Editorial by Noel T. Braymer

Amtrak was created by politics and remains a child of politics. The recent resignation of Amtrak President Kummant doesn’t come as a major surprise. It is doubtful that he would have the support of the new administration. There are stories of friction between Mr. Kummant and the Amtrak Board. Also the credit problems hitting the world economy are also having an effect on Amtrak which may be a factor in Kummant’s calling it quits. The issue of who will be the next Amtrak President is secondary as to what is to be done about the Amtrak bureaucracy. Presidents seem to come and go but the culture of the Amtrak bureaucracy stays the same.

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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 Montclair and the Expo Line west from Culver City to Santa Monica. There is planning for a downtown connector for new trackage to connect the Blue and Expo Lines to the Gold Line. There are plans for extending the Green Line to LAX. But there are no new services planned for the San Fernando Valley. What can be done is improving what the Valley has, which would be Metrolink and the Orange Line.

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Commentary and Photos by Russ Jackson

NOTE: This column first appeared in the November, 2008, issue of the Western Rail Passenger Review. Tracking the News will now also appear here monthly, with color pictures added. Your comments will be appreciated.

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From Gene Skoropowski
Northern California Corridor ridership on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins continues double-digit growth, despite economic slowdown and falling gas prices, while the Pacific Surfliner ridership levelled off after months of growth.

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Published Sunday, November 9, 2008, by the Marin Independent Journal

Commentary By Dick Spotswood, RailPAC Secretary, and Mill Valley resident

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Report by Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director
The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met at the California State Rail Museum Thursday October 30, 2008.

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