RailPAC-NARP March Meeting Postponed January 31st, 2012
Due to logistical and organizational problems we are postponing the March 16 meeting. We will be organizing a members meeting for Train Day, May 12, 2012, in Los Angeles. The next “Steel Wheels Conference” in California will be in Sacramento on Saturday, September 15, 2012, in the Stanford Gallery at the California State Rail Museum. Confirmed Keynote speaker: Assemblymember Roger Dickinson. Please check for announcements. Paul Dyson, RailPAC President
San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee takes stand on Closing the HSR Gap January 29th, 2012
January 26 Meeting Report by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director
Part 1 of 2 reports from that day. Headlines: Read the rest of this entry »
Capitol Corridor considers Draft Business/Operating Plan January 29th, 2012
Report and a Commentary by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director
Part 2 from January 26, 2011 day of two meetings. Headlines: Read the rest of this entry »
Coast Daylight/CRCC Policy Meeting Report December 22nd, 2011
By Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director
The Coast Rail Coordinating Council (Coast Daylight) held it’s Policy Meeting on Friday, Dec. 16th in Monterey.
Southwest Chief and the snow delays December 22nd, 2011
Report by Russ Jackson, RailPAC
The first major snow storm of the winter affected Amtrak trains 3 and 4, the Southwest Chief starting December 19, and is still affecting the train’s on time performance as of this writing. As the winter progresses we will see how prepared this season the Amtrak system is for this year’s inevitable weather problems, but this storm showed two regular, continuing flaws: locomotive failure problems and yard turnaround problems. This first storm showed fast recovery on both issues, and hard work keeping the trains running out on the road.
Amtrak Advisory: Coast Starlight Train 14 and Amtrak Cascades Schedules December 22nd, 2011
From Amtrak.com 12/19/11:
Coast Starlight Train 14 and Amtrak Cascades Trains 508 and 1514:
Track Work Affects Schedules and Service
Effective January 3 through February 8, 2012
Track work being performed by Union Pacific Railroad will affect the
northbound Coast Starlight and Amtrak Cascades on select dates, as
described below:
Congratulations Union Pacific: Steam arrives in Indio, Thursday November 17, 2011 November 17th, 2011
Report and photos by Robert Manning, RailPAC Executive VP
The temporary Transportation Center in the heart of downtown Indio, witnessed more people then anyone could have imagined on this special day. Two temporary modular buildings now house the Greyhound bus station and the future passenger train facility which will be built.
Capitol Corridor November 16 meeting report: changes are coming November 17th, 2011
Report by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director
The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board of Directors met for the final time in 2011 on November 16 in the City Council Chambers at the City of Suisun City. Chair Bob Franklin (San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District) opened the meeting with his “Report of the Chair” that included news of all-time records being set for the Capitol Corridor in three key categories of Ridership, Revenue, and On-Time-Performance. Chair Franklin also mentioned that there will also be $42 Million coming in in Proposition 1B Funds that will include 42 rail cars and 6 Locomotives for Amtrak California, of which the Capitol Corridor will get 10 cars and two locomotives. Chair Franklin went on to highlight Section 209 in regards to Amtrak Operations Pricing Policy and that December 11th is the 20th Anniversary for the Capitol Corridor.
Update: Texas Eagle burglarized at San Antonio October 18th, 2011
Gene Poon has updated this story for us, giving more details of a story that has implications for Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle passengers going through San Antonio and laying overnight on the train there.
Amtrak advisory, and a comment September 9th, 2011
See the special commentary at the end.
Special employee advisory
September 8, 2011
