Month: December 2009

  • Amtrak CEO Boardman replies to RailPAC re Surfliner problems

    December 17, 2009 Mr. Paul Dyson, President Rail Passenger Association of California 1017 L Street PMB 217 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Paul: Thank you for your letter of December 5,2009, regarding unacceptable service failures on the Pacific Surfliners. We are equally disappointed with the recent service failures on the Surfliner service. You know, as well…

  • TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report

    Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC Associate Director, Salinas November 2, 2009 Commuter Rail to Monterey County There are some advantages to serving Salinas with a Capitol Corridor extension instead of the proposed Caltrain extension. The Capitol Corridor trains would serve both the commute market and the long distance travel market. The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers…

  • We Can Learn Much From The TGV

    Opinion By Noel T. Braymer The first modern High Speed Train was the Japanese Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka which opened for the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. It had what was then the amazing top speed of 125 miles per hour. The trains themselves were fairly conventional electric multiple unit trainsets with an aerodynamic looking…

  • Another Surfliner Meltdown On The Day Before Thanksgiving!

    RailPAC President Paul Dyson writes; Once again, at the busiest time of the year, the Surfliner service has fallen apart. 769, 12.30pm from LAUS, departed 5 hrs 30 minutes late. No southbound train from Santa Barbara all afternoon, over 200 people on the platform after the Starlight departed. According to eyewitness reports on Trainorders.com this…

  • We May Have Underestimated Mr. Boardman

    Editorial by Noel T. Braymer I know I was pleased that the new interim Amtrak President and recent FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman agreed to speak to RailPAC at our May 2nd 2009 meeting in Los Angeles. I and I’m sure most RailPAC members were very excited that he brought Brian Rosenwald with him to Los…

  • My October Train Trip Report

    By Noel T. Braymer October 12th found me with a day off, so I used it to ride most of the trackage in San Diego County. I particularly wanted to check out the lines of the San Diego Trolley which is planning a major overhaul as it nears its 30th anniversary on July 26, 2011.…

  • RAILPAC/NARP JOINT MEMBERS MEETING, LAS VEGAS, NV Report

    Report by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President 8TH DECEMBER 2009 was a historic day for RailPAC as we held our first ever members meeting in Las Vegas. The meeting was kindly hosted by Bob Fisher, NARP Council member and Director of the Nevada Broadcasters Association. 11 NARP and RailPAC members attended, which is about 30% of…

  • TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . . for December, 2009

    . . . Commentary and PHOTOS by Russ Jackson . . . On Time Performance. How’s this for an OTP for the first 20 days of November: Zephyr 85%, Starlight 85%, Builder 87.5%, CHIEF 97.5%, Sunset 88.9%, Eagle 92.5%. Then you add in the Corridors, Capitols 92.5%, Heartland Flyer 97.5%, Surfliner 80.3%, San Joaquin 91.3%,…

  • Metrolink drops Solo BULLETIN

    Metrolink CEO David Solow was asked to step down on December 11, and was replaced by former Riverside County Transportation Commissioner Eric Haley. Mr. Solow will stay on in a management position until June 30, 2010. Below are the two announcements from Metrolink, one stating action on fare increases and service cuts would be postponed…

  • RailPAC on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

    By Jarrod DellaChiesa, RailPAC Director, San Lorenzo (NOTE: Jarrod became RailPAC’s newest Director by Board action 12/3/09, and we welcome him aboard!) Keep hearing about “tweeting”, “Facebook” and “posting”?  Well, all those buzzwords refer to Social Media and RailPAC is getting into it! Through social media, you’re now able to quickly find out what’s currently…