Month: January 2009

  • RailPAC writes Amtrak re new car needs

    16th January, 2009, Mr. Joseph H. Boardman, President and Chief Executive Officer, NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION, Re:  Amtrak Rolling Stock Investment Plans.          Dear Mr. Boardman:  As you take up your new duties as President of Amtrak, albeit so far on temporary assignment, we’d like to draw your attention to some distressing tendencies in Amtrak policy over…

  • California Corridors December stats

    Reported by  Eugene K. Skoropowski, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority  After the relatively modest November growth in Capitol Corridor riders (+2.7%), we were expecting to see a significant slowing of ridership growth on the Capitol Corridor in December, reflecting the impacts of both the economic downturn, as well as falling gas prices.  It did…

  • San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee report

    Reported by Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met in Merced Thursday, January 8, 2009.  RailPAC Associate Director George Gaekle, from Modesto, who also is a SJVRC committee member, introduced the new committee member for Stanislaus County, County Supervisor Vito Chiesa. Ty Holscher from Tulare County reported that “in view of the economic situation…

  • Why cutting passenger trains doesn’t save money

    By Noel T. Braymer The simple fact is most intercity passenger trains make money, on their direct operating costs. The problem at Amtrak is it doesn’t run enough trains to bring in enough money to cover all its overhead costs. Amtrak has some large overhead costs, centered mostly in the Midwest and East Coast. Yet…

  • AMTRAK CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE WESTERN TRAINS

    RailPAC President Paul Dyson writes to NARP Chairman George Chilson: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS, 900 Second Street NE Suite 308, Washington, DC 20002, Via E-Mail, hard copy by US Mail              Dear George:  I am writing on behalf of RailPAC to express our deep concern at the future of Amtrak’s western routes. The trains west…

  • TRACKING THE NEWS . . . and Photos for January

        . . . Photos and Commentary by Russ Jackson…  January, 2009.  Happy New Year, everyone!  Let’s start with some good news from the Capitol Corridor’s holiday message to its riders:  “You have spoken…and we listened.  Back by popular demand is the pot roast sandwich on an onion roll. Visit the Cafe Car today and enjoy…

  • First Things First Mr. Boardman

    Editorial by Noel T. Braymer “In my view, a national intercity, interconnected passenger rail service is critically important for the mobility and energy independence of the United States.” Joseph Boardman The above comments are from a letter to Amtrak Employees shortly after Mr. Boardman took over as Amtrak President back in late November. These are…