Comments on HSR Thru Riverside August 31st, 2010
Comments Compiled from a RailPAC Member
We were recently contacted by a Professional Engineer who has, until recently, done a small amount of work on the CAHSR project. This is a summary of his report. Apparently the concept designs he cites are in the public domain (e.g. used in public outreach meetings) however the conclusions he offers (and are shared by RailPAC) are decidedly not the CAHSRA “message”.
Central Coast Railroad Festival: October 7-11 August 12th, 2010
Festival Organizers Seek Volunteers and Sponsors
Remembering George Gaekle May 26th, 2010
By Russ Jackson, with contributions by Art Lloyd, Bruce Jenkins and several of his close friends
Redding: Come by Train and Bring Your Bike May 19th, 2010
UP Extortion Letter to CA Shows That FRA/Congressional Legislative Guidance Are Needed May 18th, 2010
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.
Demonstrating Why We Need New Railcars Now: Amtrak #763 May 17th, 2010
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.
CSCN Outlines How to Improve Amtrak’s Coast Starlight May 6th, 2010
May 6, 2010 — The Coast Starlight is one of Amtrak’s 15 long-distance passenger rail routes, serving 27 cities between Los Angeles and Seattle. The route has been described as “one of the most fascinating journeys on the West Coast. It will take your breath away.” The route offers unparalleled experiences of the western states as well as incredible untapped potential as a tool for improved mobility. The Coast Starlight has been a proud West Coast asset for nearly thirty-nine years and, as it prepares to enter its fourth decade of service, still has much potential for growth. Like Amtrak’s other long-distance rail routes, the Coast Starlight suffers from chronic underfunding and under-investment.
RailPAC addresses SJVRC on BFD-LAX Gap April 29th, 2010
Statement by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Director and Treasurer
at the April 29, 2010 meeting in Fresno, CA
Three events motivate this statement:
- Development of ideas at the joint RailPAC/NARP meeting in Los Angeles on April 17
- Joint agreement proposals among regional railroads and the HSR
- The 29th anniversary of the last run of the SP San Joaquin Daylight from Sacramento to Los Angeles.
Although the words are now definitely chiseled in the frieze of State Office Building #1, across 10th street from the State Capitol, are the words “Bring me Men … and now Women … to Match my Mountains”. Since that last run April 30, 1971 the Mountains, specifically the Tehachipi Mountains, have more than matched the men. They have stopped people from taking a single seat ride from the north to the south.
RailPAC writes Boardman regarding Daily Sunset Corridor Service April 29th, 2010
April 29, 2010
Dear Mr. Boardman:
Having heard no announcements regarding the proposal to introduce a daily Sunset/Eagle we conclude that negotiations are continuing with Union Pacific regarding the operating details, schedules, etc. It seems to us that if there is capacity for a train three days a week there should be capacity daily, especially given the major investments in double tracking that UP has made over the past few years. We hope these negotiations bear fruit in the very near future. Read the rest of this entry »
Coalition Building at Steel Wheels Conference April 21st, 2010
Commentary by Paul Dyson, President
This year at Steel Wheels in California we tried a couple of innovations. While most of the day consisted of the usual (excellent) presentations by politicians and industry professionals, we also put together a forum of passenger rail advocates from different groups to discuss High Speed Rail, and to attempt to answer the question: “How to spend the first billion dollars?” I had a couple of reasons for doing this. First, however good the speakers might be we needed some variety in the format to keep the audience interested. Second, and more important in the long run, was the thought that such a free form discussion would reveal that we have more common ground than disagreement among passenger rail advocates and that this could form the basis for united action in the future towards achieving our common goals.
