Month: June 2013

  • How to Have More Rail Passengers

    By Noel T. Braymer Simple: run more passenger trains faster, more often to more places. While you are at it also offer travel deals and discounts for rail service to fill up trains that have extra room. This sounds simple but it is proven to work. An example of this is New York’s Metro North.…

  • eNewsletter for June 24, 2013

    Re: Rising Train Fares. With Metrolink’s board voting to increase the fares to ride on Metrolink Trains do you ever think we will see Metrolink’s fares being at or even higher then Amtrak’s fares? With all the increases we have with Metrolink fares it seems like the fares will match Amtrak’s fares. Jerry Martin. My…

  • 2013 Steel Wheels Conference, October 5th

    2013 Steel Wheels Conference, October 5th

    Joint RailPAC-NARP members meeting, Saturday, October 5, 2013 Port of San Francisco Community Room Pier 40 • Embarcadero, San Francisco 10:30 am-3:00 pm with a break for lunch (not provided) Doors Open 10:00 am RailPAC members business meeting 3:00 pm Registration: Register on line here: Member or Non-Member? Member $35.00 USDNon-Member $45.00 USD OR Complete…

  • Capitol and other CA Corridor Statistics (May, 2013)

    From David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority May 2013 results signal that the decline in ridership has tapered off for the Capitol Corridor–156,521 passengers rode Capitol Corridor trains in May 2013. Ridership was 1.5% below May 2012, yet it represents the third highest total for May and the sixth highest in…

  • LAX and West LA needs Rail Passenger Service

    By Noel T. Braymer The 405 and 10 freeways in Los Angeles County are among the busiest and most congested in the United States. The 405/10 intersection is in the heart of West LA. LAX is served by both the 405 and 105 Century freeways. Both of these freeways are often congested around LAX most…

  • eNewsletter for June 17, 2013

    These comments from Rep. Denham like much that comes out of Washington are nonsense but perfect for making headlines. There is little chance that the current money for California High Speed Rail will be diverted. To do this would require the cooperation of the administration which is unlikely. To do this through legislation would have…

  • Pinching Penny’s while Blowing Bucks

    By Noel T. Braymer I went to the Metrolink Board meeting in Los Angeles on June 14th largely because I had the day off. I expected the Board to approve the 5% Fare increase on the agenda. Still, going to this meeting was an educational experience. I caught Metrolink 607 at 6:36 AM with a…

  • eNewsletter for June 10, 2013

    This contract may not be the bargain the bid for it would lead you to believe. But this doesn’t mean High Speed Rail service will be unsafe. …Rail structures are built to much higher standards than most construction. While buildings and freeways collapsed both during the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 and the Northridge Earthquake…

  • What is the True Value of Passenger Trains?

    Story and Photos by Noel T. Braymer In London, England they are spending 15 billion pounds which is 23 billion dollars to connect 2 existing commuter rail lines in central London with 13 miles of tunneling. This out of 24 miles total for tunneling which also includes a tunnel for a branch to Heathrow Airport…

  • eNewsletter for June 3, 2013

    Here is a quote from the motion LA Metro Chair Supervisor Antonovich made on this issue of expanding Metrolink service. Since Los Angeles County has 40 percent of the votes on the Metrolink board and Supervisor Antonovich is also on the Metrolink (SCRRA) Board, it sounds like he means business. NB “Furthermore, in contrast to…