Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Capitol Corridor Service Performance For the first time in FY2013, the monthly Capitol Corridor ridership experienced an increase above the prior year month. A total of 140,533 passengers rode the Capitol Corridor trains in July 2013, an increase of 2.3% compared to July…
By Noel T. Braymer There has been some hysteria from the media about the future of High Speed Rail in California after the recent Train crash in Spain. There is a great deal California can learn from Spain about rail passenger service and High Speed Rail. Spain is slightly larger in size, its population is…
By Noel T. Braymer Graphic from LOSSAN Why is ridership declining on Metrolink? There are many reasons. Much of the rise in ridership recently in public transportation is directly the result of spikes in the price of gasoline and cost of driving a car. Since last year the price of gasoline has more…
By Noel T. Braymer I recently got a copy of Trains Magazine’s extra edition of Railroad Maps. It is a compilation of material and graphics from previous Trains issues about changes in American Railroading mostly since 1980. A fact that stood out was Cajon Pass in Southern California is the busiest railroad pass in the…
NOTE: The following letter was published in the July 29, 2013 RailPAC e-newsletter as a “letter to the editor” after Ralph James’ article on the subject in the July-August issue of the “Steel Wheels” newsletter. Ralph James has now replied to Mr. Heywood, and those comments are published here. Bob Heywood, Modesto, CA, wrote, I…
Here are 5 photos by RailPAC photographers. Click on each photo to see it full size! Contributions to this page are welcome. Send your jpg rail photos to RailPAC Photo Editor, at info@xg1.b3e.myftpupload.com. THIS MONTH: Los Angeles Union Station, Newhall station, North Hollywood, the Ft. Worth Intermodal Center, and BICYCLES! 1. There is still no…
Commentary by Russ Jackson, RailPAC It’s time we took another look at the continuing saga of the future of the Southwest Chief, which requires action as to whether 1) It will continue on its historic route from Albuquerque to Kansas via the Raton Pass route, or, 2) It will be moved to the BNSF “Transcon”…
Reported, with an editorial, by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President I traveled to Fresno Friday 26th July for the San Joaquin JPA meeting, the third of this newly formed corridor agency. Travel both ways from Burbank Airport via Thruway bus and San Joaquin train was on time and uneventful. The trains were well loaded, about 95%…