Month: May 2011

  • eNewsletter-May 23, 2011

    “You are not going to cut costs far enough on the long-distance trains to make the long-distance trains profitable,” Boardman said…The kindest thing that can be said of Mr. Boardman’s testimony before the Senate Appropriation hearing last week is that he spoke nonsense. If we go back to the 1980’s and early 90’s when W.…

  • April CA Intercity Passenger Rail Performance

    Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA (Download:  April 2011 Performance Report)

  • eNewsletter – May 16, 2011

    U.S. Department of Transportation to Allocate $68 Million for State-of-the-Art Train Cars in California. The award for California fleet cars was included in the US DOT’s $2.02 billion in high-speed rail awards, which were announced yesterday on May 9, by US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.  In addition California received $300 million more for construction of High…

  • San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee April Meeting Report

    Reported by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met at the California State Building on the Mariposa Mall in Fresno for their latest meeting on April 28, 2011. 1. Food Tasting With a delightful change of pace from usual meeting procedure, Chairman John Pedrozo arranged for the presentation and tasting…

  • eNewsletter – May 9, 2011

    It appears at least to this editor that after almost 15 years of planning, economic reality is forcing major replanning for the California High Speed Rail Project. In most cases this seems to be for the best. The possibility of bypassing Palmdale may be motivated to save 30 miles and time to meet the goal…

  • CAHSRA Meeting Report

    “Linking the California High Speed Rail Segments in the North State” – May 5, 2011 Reported by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer The California High Speed Rail Authority met May fifth to receive reports and approve consultant reports for further plans on building four segments of the line from San Francisco to Bakersfield and to approve a…

  • Where are all those bankrupt High Speed Rail Countries?

    Opinion by Noel T. Braymer There is nothing new about participants in a debate being selective in the “facts” they use to make their points. Much of the hysteria about High Speed Rail is based on the claim that around the world there are only 2 High Speed Rail routes that have made any money.…

  • eNewsletter – May 2, 2011

    U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will receive a $100 million grant to purchase domestically manufactured rail passenger cars and locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin corridors. RailPAC E-Newsletter fo May 2, 2011 Opinions expressed in the RailPAC eNewsletter reflect the opinions of the author and…

  • National Train Day in California

    Celebrations of National Train Day in California will take place in many locations. This year is the 40th anniversary of the founding of Amtrak. For a list of what will happen this Saturday, May 7, 2011, see: www.nationaltrainday.com/events/other/?st=CA

  • Sacramento April 28 kick-off event for track relocation and redevelopment of brownfield real estate

    Movement on the Sacramento Railyards Project Report, Comments, and Photos by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer, and Marcia Johnston, RailPAC Director. “Begun!” With this message, dignitaries and the air horn of the California State Railroad Museum’s passenger locomotive ex-Southern Pacific #6051, which operated out of Los Angeles in its active days on the Sunset Limited and…