Month: May 2009

  • Art Lloyd receives Golden Star Award PHOTOS

    Train Day, May 9, 2009, at the California State Rail Museum, Sacramento. Photos courtesy Debbie Mullins, Caltrans Rail Marketing Branch; Comments by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer. (Photo) Art Lloyd with Caltrans Rail Chief Bill Bronte A California Car used on the Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquin Valley trains was on display for touring by…

  • Move the Sacramento Depot?

    Sacramento Preservation Commission Votes to Leave Depot in Place. Special Meeting May 21, 2009 Report by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer With only one dissenting vote, the Sacramento Preservation Commission voted to recommend the City Council rescind its 2004 compromise plan that would have kept the Sacramento Valley Station in proximity of the Union Pacific mainline…

  • 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…

  • More Train Day Photos from LAUS

    From a different perspective, by RailPAC Member Alexander Friedman! California High-Speed Rail Authority took an important part on National Train Day. Freshly laid-out tracks at the Union Station, of soon-to-be-opened the Gold Line East LA extension. People enjoy unique train exhibits at Los Angeles Union Station. Mini-concert with Christmas spirit at the Los Angeles Union…

  • Train Day PHOTOS

    From Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, and Ft. Worth! May 9, 2009. Photos and comments by RailPAC photographers. 1. LOS ANGELES UNION STATION (Photos by Mike Palmer, who rode Surfliner trains to get to Train Day at LAUS.) The Plaza (right) looking back at the clock tower. The historic Harvey restaurant was open for displays.…

  • CA Corridors April 2009 Stats

    Reported by Eugene K. Skoropowski Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority April numbers on the Capitol Corridor were somewhat improved from March, and a strong showing on the San Joaquins and positive numbers on the Pacific Surfliners were among the few corridor services to show improvement nationally. It is likely that we will have…

  • RailPAC-NARP May 2 PHOTO Report

    Photos and Comments by Noel Braymer, Editor, Western Rail Passenger Review The meeting was held on Saturday, May 2, 2009, from 10:00 to 4:30 in the Board Room of the Los Angeles MTA. RailPAC President Paul Dyson (right) opened the meeting with NARP Chairman George Chilson (seated left). Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge (center)…

  • RailPAC-NARP Meeting Report

    William “Bill” Lindley of Scottsdale, Arizona attended the joint RailPAC/NARP meeting in Los Angeles and files this report and personal observations. Mr. Lindley is an Associate Director/website maintainer for RailPAC. Saturday, May 2, 2009 in Los Angles, Amtrak Interim President and CEO Joseph Boardman and longtime and well-respected Vice President Brian Rosenwald laid out the…

  • Resolution Calling for Amtrak to order new cars

    Passed by approximately 120 RailPAC and/or NARP members at the May 2 joint meeting in Los Angeles. Resolution calling on Amtrak to place an order for rolling stock for the “Superliner” routes. Whereas the Rail Passenger Association of California is deeply concerned that there has been no new investment in rolling stock for the Coast…

  • LAUS Celebrates its 70th

    Reported by Paul Dyson, with PHOTOS! Monday, May 4, was the 70th anniversary of the opening of Union Station. This view is 20 years old (Noel Braymer photo) L.A. City Council member Tom LaBonge, who is a great promoter of passenger rail and of the city, made sure that the occasion was honored with a…