eNewsletter – April 25, 2011   April 27th, 2011

Suppose that we begin by integrating four regional long distance trains serving 16 stations each. If operated as four independent trains they would have 960 city pairs (240 per train). But if they operated as an integrated rail system they would generate a system of 64 stations connected by four integrated trains. Such a system would generate 64 x 63 = 4032 city pairs instead of the 960 (on the same number of train miles) and be more than four times as productive as four independent trains, using exactly the same number of train miles, the same level of market penetration, and exactly the same nature and quality of service.April 25, 2011 Enews

Posted in eNewsletter Archive

eNewsletter – April 18, 2011   April 20th, 2011

The news that there will be cutbacks in High Speed Rail funding in the coming years by the Federal Government is unwelcome but not unexpected by RailPAC. RailPAC has long been concerned that much of the planning for the California High Speed Rail Project has until recently been unrealistic about available funding. In particular the fixation that initial service between Los Angeles and San Francisco run by express trains be no more than 2 hours and 35 minutes has resulted in millions of dollars added to individual projects to save seconds to the running time. This goal has often resulted in upsetting land owners with possible eminent domain of their property and disruption for many communities. Given that the average speed of most passenger trains in this country is around 40 miles per hour, seeing service raised up to 100 miles per hour will by itself be a major improvement. Rising average speeds up to 150 miles per hour and more may have to wait… April 18, 2011 eNewsletter
Posted in eNewsletter Archive

Winter and the Amtrak long distance trains   April 19th, 2011

Report and Comments by Russ Jackson
The western long distance trains had a rough winter in the northern 2/3 of the country. Some trains were canceled altogether for several days. Here is a rundown of some of the activity by train in the past few weeks. Not everything is included, but here are some highlights, using Amtrak’s data. When April is figured in things will look much worse.

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Posted in Tracking Rail News

March CA Intercity Passenger Rail Performance   April 16th, 2011

Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA

(Download:  March 2011 Performance Report)

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Posted in Commentary

eNewsletter – April 11, 2011   April 13th, 2011

Download the April 11,2011 eNewsletter

Posted in eNewsletter Archive

What is being planned for our future?   April 7th, 2011

Editorial by Noel T. Braymer

It is ironic that at the same time some politicians are busy opposing expanding rail service and alternative energy to fossil fuels; we now see years of frustration blowing up through out the Middle East as one by one dictators are being pushed out or threaten in this region. This highlights the insecurities and the dependence on oil, particularly for transportation in this country.

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Posted in Editorials

Amtrak Updates Fleet Strategy Plan   April 1st, 2011

Commentary by Jarrod DellaChiesa, Director

I wish this was an April Fools prank, but it isn’t. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Commentary, Issues