Where I Would Like to Go by Train; but Can’t October 20th, 2012
By Noel T. Braymer
The best places to go to by train are those with lots of traffic, congestion and expensive parking. One place like that which is hard in California to go to by train are airports. There are several California airports with transit connections to train stations. The last time I tried to take the Coaster to the San Diego Airport I had to be at the airport to catch my flight before the first morning train arrived in San Diego.
The Texas Eagle in Illinois and the San Joaquins in California October 18th, 2012
Commentary by Ralph James, RailPAC contributor
On October 2, 2012, the Railway Age “blog” contained an article by Lyndon Henry, “Texas Eagle highlights passenger train success,” which was included in the October 8 RailPAC weekly e-newsletter. In that article a statement is made that the Chicago-St. Louis upgrades on the Union Pacific will not affect the Eagle’s schedule or connection problems at Chicago. I do not see how the upgrade cannot but help the Eagle and improve at least some of the Chicago connections, although it is evident that not ALL connections in both directions could be made without making a few fairly major adjustments to the Chicago departure and/or the E/B schedules of the Builder and Zephyr.
YES, Long-Distance Amtrak Trains are Crowded! October 18th, 2012
Trip Report on the Southwest Chief and the Empire Builder
Commentary by Andrew C. Selden, MinnARP, Minneapolis
What did I learn from listening to Amtrak’s Brian Rosenwald? September 27th, 2012
Commentary by Russ Jackson, RailPAC
It is safe to say that Amtrak’s Chief, Product Development, Brian Rosenwald is held in very high esteem by rail advocates in this country. His huge success in developing the Pacific Parlour Car and other enhancements for the Coast Starlight in the mid-1990′s is legendary, and he calls those five years the best in his career. But that success has only been partially duplicated on other Amtrak trains since then. Today’s Empire Builder is a very successful off-shoot of what Mr. Rosenwald under his boss at the time, Amtrak West President Gil Mallery, accomplished back then.
Amtrak’s Food & Beverage service is under fire; what can they do? How about 24 hour service, “When You’re Hungry, You’re Hungry”! August 15th, 2012
Steel Wheels Conference is Coming! August 8th, 2012
A New Model For American Passenger Rail July 17th, 2012
By: Dick Spotswood. Originally published in the Steel Wheels newsletter, May/June 2012.
THE DILEMMA:
RailPAC welcomes Bob Hope Airport Transit Center – calls for improved Metrolink service to make it work July 6th, 2012
RailPAC welcomes Bob Hope Airport Transit Center – calls for improved Metrolink service to make it work
Sunset Limited: One month on the new schedule June 6th, 2012
Report and Comments by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Photos!
How is Amtrak’s Sunset Limited doing since the schedule change on May 7, 2012, for the tri-weekly service which dates back to the pre-Amtrak days when the Southern Pacific reduced its departures from daily in the late 1960′s. The new schedule has train #2 depart Los Angeles Union Station at 10 PM on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. Train #1 is scheduled to arrive at LAUS at 5:35 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Restoring connections from the Coast Starlight and the San Joaqins has been beneficial and enhanced revenue even though already nearly-sold-out trains have not resulted in consist expansion to meet increasing demand.
The First Sunset Limited Trip on New Schedule May 31st, 2012
Robert Manning
TRIP REPORT: Talk about a change of pace, how about eating a late dinner at Traxx Restaurant which is located directly inside Los Angeles Union Station! The station is pretty empty at 8 p.m., but then it starts to fill up with passengers planning to depart on the new schedule change for the Sunset Limited at 10 p.m. After a very enjoyable dinner, you take a leisurely walk through the tunnel of LAUS, board the train, and go directly to your bedroom; this is really a no-hassle, easy way to travel. You can only imagine how it was years back when this famous old train always departed from both ends late in the evening. You have to wonder how did people traveling in the southwest, in the heart of the desert, cope with no air conditioning in those early years.
