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Electrolink North – RailPAC’s vision for ACE and the Mega Region Of Northern California
By Steve Roberts, RailPAC Vice President – Policy and Research ACE – Well short of its potential to move more people – Photo By Arne Brown More Frequent Service Faster Trains Better Connectivity Electrification This post is being updated with new statistics and information and will be republished soon.
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DMU – Horses for Courses
Noel Braymer wrote a good piece about Amtrak CEO Anderson’s musings on the use of Diesel Multiple Units (“DMU”) to replace aging Amfleet cars. (See below). I’d just like to embellish Noel’s thoughts a little. I’ve ridden in a lot of DMUs since the late 50’s when they were introduced as part of British Railway’s…
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Ventura – Santa Barbara “Commuter ” Service off to rocky start – the punctuality problem
LOSSAN retimed the morning train (761) from LAUS to San Luis Obispo to make it a “commuter” train from Ventura County to Santa Barbara and Goleta. (See Surfliner schedule effective 4.1.18). Various efforts were made to try and stop the last train to Goleta at Oxnard and start the morning train from there but none…
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RailPAC Responds to LOSSAN Business Plan 2018
One of RailPAC’s missions is to respond to the Business Plans of the State Rail Corridors. We have concerns about many of the policies adopted and hope that our experience is useful in pointing these Boards in the right direction. The reality is that RailPAC has a longer history of attendance at these meetings, and…
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Amtrak determined to starve itself to death – Paul Dyson
This is a brief posting as I am working on the next issue of Steel Wheels. In the last two days Bob Johnston of Trains magazine has reported on Amtrak’s reduction of consists on the long distance trains. RailPAC’s James Smith tells me that his daughter has been unable to reserve a seat on the…
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High Speed Rail Still Supported by Californians
While this post has already been widely circulated I think that it is worth repeating here, if for no other reason than as a historical marker. It’s easy to be against something, especially a massive long term project, lacking in instant gratification. Kudos to those Californians who understand the long term need for a modern…
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RailPAC response to CHSRA 2018 Business Plan
Steve Roberts, Vice President, Policy and Research. March 2018 The Rail Passenger Association of California since 1978 has supported a modern passenger railroad system for the State of California and the West. We campaigned actively for the passage of 1A, the High Speed Rail bond measure. While frustrated and dissatisfied with progress to date we…
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CANCELLED March 10: Informal Members Discussion at Philippes
Unfortunately due to a conflict, we must postpone this event. We hope to reschedule at a later date. There will be an informal members discussion March 10th at 10 AM within walking distance of LA Union Station and the Chinatown Gold line station at Philippes the Original, 1001 N Alameda, Los Angeles. RailPAC members welcome! Meetings usually…
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Electrolink Will be on the 2020 Ballot
Funding for Metrolink regional rail electrification (#Electrolink for short) is going to be on the ballot in 2020 in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties. And we only need 55% of the vote – so long as we do it in accordance with the recent state supreme court ruling reducing the threshold for citizen-sponsored referendums…