Officials Tour Rail Line: San Jose to Soledad March 28th, 2011
On March 3, 2011, the Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC) led a tour of the rail line from San Jose to Soledad. Elected officials, agency staff and other interested persons rode the Amtrak Coast Starlight from San Jose to Soledad, with a stop in Salinas.
Steel Wheels in California 2011 Presentations March 25th, 2011
As promised, we are providing the files presented on March 19, 2011 at Steel Wheels in California. Some files are large, so please be patient.
HSR, Commuter Rail discussed at Steel Wheels in CA March 23rd, 2011
Report by Dennis Lytton, RailPAC Director and NARP Council Representative
Saturday I attended the joint meeting of RailPAC and NARP at the Los Angeles Metro headquarters building at [Los Angeles] Union Station.
Winter Trip Report: On the Texas Eagle-Sunset Limited March 19th, 2011
Photos and Comments by Russ Jackson
TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report March 8th, 2011
February 7, 2011 Meeting
Reported by Chris Flescher, Associate Director
Thank you from the Friends of Caltrain February 13th, 2011
The Friends of Caltrain attracted an overflow crowd of 200 grassroots community and business groups and residents to our Caltrain Summit a little over a week ago. Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Sierra Club national executive director Michael Brune came to keynote.
What Happens if the Southwest Chief is Rerouted? November 8th, 2010
Commentary and Photos by Russ Jackson, RailPAC
Would Amtrak return to the historic Amarillo, Texas station used by the AT&SF "San Francisco Chief"?
Every once in a while the rerouting Amtrak Trains 3 and 4, the Southwest Chief, off the traditional line from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Hutchinson, Kansas arises, because the line has almost no BNSF freight traffic in Colorado and New Mexico any longer. That is a true statement, the railroad no longer uses it and has diverted through freights to the soon-to-be fully double tracked “Transcon” line farther south which was the historic route of Santa Fe’s San Francisco Chief prior to Amtrak. In recent months Amtrak has been forced to add 40 minutes to the Chief’s schedule due to a BNSF lowering of the speed limit on the very rough trackage in western Kansas and Colorado. Train 4 now departs Los Angeles at 6:15 PM. The BNSF has offered to move the train to the Transcon line, which as we will see is more populated. The State of New Mexico now owns the line within its borders and runs the very successful Railrunner trains on the portion south of Santa Fe to Albuquerque. The BNSF still owns the rest.
So, what would happen if Amtrak must abandon the line? Read the rest of this entry »
San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee Meeting Report November 8th, 2010
November 4, 2010 Meeting in Madera
Reported by Michael Barnbaum, Associate Director
TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report November 7th, 2010
September 13, 2010 Meeting
Reported by Chris Flescher, Associate Director
High Speed Rail: The View on November 4th November 4th, 2010
Report by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer
November 4, 2010 — Public commentary opened and closed the meeting of the California High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) held today in the State Capitol. In his opening remarks, San Mateo’s Assemblyman Jerry Hill announced that he will introduce legislation dealing with expenditures, transparency and disclosure by the HSRA. This proposed legislation will address possible conflict of interest matters which have arisen in a recent state audit. Details of his presentation can be found here.
