Month: March 2011

  • Metrolink CEO Kicks off Steel Wheel in California

    On Saturday, March 19 Chair Richard Katz provided opening comments for the 4th Annual Steel Wheels in California conference hosted by RailPAC and NARP. Over 200 rail professionals gathered in the L.A. Metro board room for a conference providing information and education to “opinion formers and decision makers” and grass roots supporters of the rail industry. Chairman Katz…

  • Don Sepulveda joins Metro

    Don Sepulveda has joined Metro has the Executive Officer – Regional Rail.   Don will be leading the regional rail team in working on matters related to high speed rail, Metrolink and intercity rail corridors (such as I-5 and the LOSSAN corridor). Done comes to Metro after spending his career in the private sector as a consulting…

  • Officials Tour Rail Line: San Jose to Soledad

    Officials Tour Rail Line:  San Jose to Soledad

    On March 3, 2011, the Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC) led a tour of the rail line from San Jose to Soledad. Elected officials, agency staff and other interested persons rode the Amtrak Coast Starlight from San Jose to Soledad, with a stop in Salinas. Dave Potter, Monterey County District 1 supervisor and Chair…

  • Write the Governor: Re-allocating the Florida HSR Funds

    We understand that the Federal Railroad Administration plans to re-allocate HSR funds that Florida has refused to accept.  California is among the states vying for a share of the $2.4 billion available. In November of 2009, California was poised to apply for federal funds for improvement of its three intercity rail corridors as well as…

  • Steel Wheels in California 2011 Presentations

    As promised, we are providing the files presented on March 19, 2011 at Steel Wheels in California. Some files are large, so please be patient.

  • Commentary on the March 19th RailPAC/NARP Annual Conference

    By Noel T. Braymer

  • HSR, Commuter Rail discussed at Steel Wheels in CA

    Report by Dennis Lytton, RailPAC Director and NARP Council Representative Saturday I attended the joint meeting of RailPAC and NARP at the Los Angeles Metro headquarters building at [Los Angeles] Union Station. The day of presentations included updates from Metrolink’s CEO on future plans including express service to start in May and PTC implementation. Californians for High Speed…

  • Winter Trip Report: On the Texas Eagle-Sunset Limited

    Photos and Comments by Russ Jackson On January 26 we boarded Texas Eagle train #21 at Ft. Worth and set out for a ten day winter round trip vacation back in California. This report is divided into specific train items, rather than day-to-day train operating reports. Amtrak. A trip report always considers the food service,…

  • Tracking Rail News: March 2011 (Grand finale)

    Photos and Comments by Russ Jackson . . . Rail fans all over the country were chasing newly re-painted Amtrak P-42 locomotive 145 in February as it toured the country leading various Amtrak long distance trains. The new paint job is in Amtrak’s “heritage” colors to commemorate Amtrak’s 40 year anniversary coming up May 1.…

  • Our “Louisiana Purchase”?

    Commentary by Paul Dyson, President Not quite, but a big step forward. I am of course writing about the acquisition of Los Angeles Union Station by Los Angeles County MTA, with the participation of the California High Speed Rail Authority. While there are still some details to be worked out and contracts finalized it seems safe…