RailPAC: Rail Passenger Association of CA & NV

Year: 2014

  • Metrolink Connections that exist or should exist Now!

    By Noel T. Braymer The counties that control Metrolink need to demand that it make good connections. Right now each line on Metrolink is run as a private fiefdom for each county. As a result the emphasis is on what that county wants or will pay for, not what will produce the best ridership or…

  • RailPAC eNewsletter for September 2, 2014

    Las Vegas rail service plans have seen starts, stops Las Vegas Review-Journal-Aug 31, 2014 Although the loan request’s rejection is now more than a year old, there are indications XpressWest may be gearing for another run. In a recent appearance in Las Vegas, Reid said the loan request may resurface in “a matter of months.”“(California Gov.) Jerry Brown…

  • On Board Electrification and Near Zero Emissions for Regional Rail

    On Board Electrification and Near Zero Emissions for Regional Rail

    Dave Cook and Ian Stewart Rail electrification has been implemented in many urban and regional rail applications in the US and the benefits are numerous. Electrified rail is quiet, quick, clean and generally more reliable and less expensive to operate than similar services with Diesel fueled locomotives. There are significant environmental benefits as well, with the elimination of…

  • Rail Photos of the Month: August 2014

    Here are this month’s photos by RailPAC photographers. NINE (9) of them this time from everywhere! Click on each photo to see it full size! Contributions to this page are welcome. Send your jpg rail photos to Russ Jackson, RailPAC Photo Editor, at [email protected]. 1. Ever wonder where Amtrak’s ex-Santa Fe “Hi Level” cars are?…

  • Price Tops Speed for Attracting Passengers

    By Noel T. Braymer How a person travels depends on several factors. Saving time is nice, but so is saving money. Safety and comfort are also factors in choosing how to travel. The best value for traveling is the best combination of speed, price, comfort and safety. If all things are generally equal, price usually…

  • RailPAC eNewsletter for August 25, 2014

    Deal reached to extend Indiana Amtrak service The Hill-Aug 21, 2014 Indiana transportation officials said they were trying to keep the route viable until a private company could take over the cost of operating the short-distance trains. “For the Hoosier State, we are hoping to build from the experience of North Carolina’s successful Piedmont service, in which…

  • The sun is setting earlier now, but what about the fate of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited?

    Commentary by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Opinions expressed are those of the author, not necessarily those of the RailPAC Board The summer of 2014 is thankfully almost over. As this is written there is a week to go until Labor Day, and then the Congress will return to Washington DC for two weeks of yelling at…

  • Capitol Corridor Monthly Report (July, 2014)

    By David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Service Performance Overview For the fourth consecutive month, ridership increased on the Capitol Corridor over the corresponding month in 2013. A total of 119,425 passengers rode Capitol Corridor trains in July 2014, representing a 2.8% increase compared to July 2013. Revenue for July 2014…

  • Will Driverless Cars Eliminate Passenger Trains?

    By Noel T. Braymer This is the assumption being made by some promoters for the future of automated driverless cars. The thinking behind this is when people no longer drive their cars, all traffic congestion will disappear and road travel will be much faster and easier. This will happen because there will be no accidents…

  • RailPAC eNewsletter for August 18, 2014

    The Truth About Obama’s High-Speed Rail Program TIME-Aug 11, 2014 The administration hasn’t spent anywhere near $11 billion. The projects haven’t gone mostly nowhere. There are legitimate questions about the high-speed rail initiative—and the administration’s hype has outstripped its ability to deliver in an era of divided government—but the public debate over the program has been almost…