TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . . August 10th, 2009
. . . Commentary by Russ Jackson, and PHOTOS by Trainweb’s Carl Morrison and Russ Jackson
TRACKING RAIL NEWS for July. . . July 5th, 2009
and PHOTOS from everywhere!
. . . Commentary by Russ Jackson
July, 2009. Summertime and the living is easy, right? It is for people who go on vacations, and for some that means riding Amtrak.
Tracking Rail News for June June 19th, 2009
TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . .
. . . and Commentary by Russ Jackson
June, 2009. On Time and other performances. Yes, it’s the economy that can be charged with the recent on time performance improvements of Amtrak’s western long distance trains. Freight traffic has dropped over the past months which coincides with the increase in Amtrak trains arriving on time or early.
TRACKING RAIL NEWS for April April 6th, 2009
TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . .
. . . PHOTOS and Commentary by Russ Jackson
Let’s start with good news. On Time Performance of some Western long distance trains. For the two weeks, March 8 to 20:
TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . .and PHOTOS March 7th, 2009
. . . and Commentary by Russ Jackson . . . March, 2009. 
February will go down as an important month for rail funding in the U.S. and California. As you saw in the Kerby-Jackson report, the California Rail Program received an increase, not a decrease, in operating funding for 2009!
Tracking the News for February February 2nd, 2009
TRACKING THE NEWS . . .
. . . PHOTOS, and COMMENTARY by Russ Jackson
February, 2009. Superliners! When you “GoogleEarth” to their U.S. map and zoom in on the Beech Grove, Indiana, Amtrak shop you see a yard area at the top (north) of the property. While the date of the photo is unknown, and you can’t get real close, there are 43 Superliner cars stashed there. The clue is there are at least two Sightseer Lounge cars, unmistakable by their roof windows. That has to be the “weeds” we’ve referred to here regarding cars that should be put into service ASAP.
TRACKING THE NEWS . . . and Photos for January January 5th, 2009
. . . Photos and Commentary by Russ Jackson… January, 2009. Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s start with some good news from the Capitol Corridor’s holiday message to its riders: “You have spoken…and we listened. Back by popular demand is the pot roast sandwich on an onion roll. Visit the Cafe Car today and enjoy a hot sandwich on your ride home.”
Tracking the News: December 2008 December 3rd, 2008
. . . PHOTOS and Commentary by Russ Jackson
. . . December, 2008. Dare I say “what a month” again? What else can you say about a month that saw the election of a new direction for our country and presumably for passenger rail transportation, and the approval of many rail initiatives including RailPAC-supported high speed rail in California. The same month saw gasoline prices falling faster than the stock market and the economy, with corresponding implications for continued high ridership on commuter and light rail trains.
Tracking the News: November 2008 November 19th, 2008
Commentary and Photos by Russ Jackson
NOTE: This column first appeared in the November, 2008, issue of the Western Rail Passenger Review. Tracking the News will now also appear here monthly, with color pictures added. Your comments will be appreciated.
