Month: May 2010

  • Remembering George Gaekle

    Remembering George Gaekle

    By Russ Jackson, with contributions by Art Lloyd, Bruce Jenkins and several of his close friends George Gaekle, 88, passed away May 24, 2010.  He was a RailPAC Director and associate director, NARP Director, and a long time advocate of improving the rail passenger opportunities particularly in the San Joaquin Valley.  One of the founding…

  • TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report

    May 3, 2010 Meeting Reported by Chris Flescher, Associate Director There was a recommendation to create an Ad Hoc Committee for proposed stations.  The group members would visit the sites of the proposed Castroville and Pajaro Stations, plus the existing Salinas train station.  The recommendation passed. The RPC has recently met with the operators of the Capitol…

  • Redding: Come by Train and Bring Your Bike

    What does Redding Offer the Traveler? Report by Robert L. Reynolds

  • Tracking Rail News: May 2010

    Commentary and PHOTOS by Russ Jackson . . . On Time Performance. April was again a good month for the Amtrak western long distance trains. There were more “on time” than late, but when it was late was it late! The big exceptions were #6, the California Zephyr, was almost 11 hours late into Denver…

  • UP Extortion Letter to CA Shows That FRA/Congressional Legislative Guidance Are Needed

    Commentary by Dennis Lytton, Director Earlier this week, the Union Pacific Railroad distributed to the media, particuarly the San Jose Mercury News, their letter to the Authority of April 23, 2010.  In it they outline their most forceful position thus far of not cooperating with high speed rail. Significantly, their letter above asserts the following claims:…

  • Transportation: Following the Money

    Editorial by Noel T. Braymer Raising money for any transportation project, but particularly rail passenger service is always difficult. Adding to the difficulties are the high price tags for many rail projects. Already there is increasing concern about the price tag for the California High Speed Rail project. There are estimates of 6 billion dollars…

  • Demonstrating Why We Need New Railcars Now: Amtrak #763

    Commentary by Jarrod DellaChiesa, Director and Website Editor On Saturday, May 15 Amtrak passengers were not allowed to board Pacific Surfliner #763 in Chatsworth.  Would-be passengers reported the Conductor designated the train as “overcrowded and unsafe”.  Ridership was high on this run due to passengers traveling to the Strawberry Festival. We desperately need new railcars in…

  • TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report

    April 5, 2010 Meeting Reported by Chris Flescher, Associate Director Presentation from planners working on the HSR segment San Jose – Merced In 2035, if the fare is at the lower planned level, then the expected ridership is 100 million people per year.  The run time from San Francisco to Los Angeles, phase 1, will…

  • April California Intercity Passenger Rail Performance

    April California Intercity Passenger Rail Performance

    Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA After the first increase in 13 months, ridership for the Capitol Corridor in April 2010 was just slightly below April 2009 by 0.5%. As mentioned in previous monthly reports, the greatest impediment to ridership gains is the on-going mandate of three (3) Friday furloughs per month for state government employees (which…

  • Our Vision for Rail in California and Nevada

    Our Vision for Rail in California and Nevada

    CONNECTIONS!  It’s all about connections. Depending on your journey you may live close to a station that has a direct service to your destination.  But there’s a good chance that you’ll need to transfer, from bus to train, light rail to high speed rail, Surfliner to long distance Amtrak.  RailPAC’s campaign is all about connections…