RailPAC: Rail Passenger Association of CA & NV

AMTRAK Long Distance trains at 40 And, what they still need is more cars!

Comments by Russ Jackson That was then: Forty years is a long time. In this report let’s first take a look at where the western long distance trains started for Amtrak, and then look at today. Charting will be for two trains that were in the Amtrak official timetable #1 for May 1, 1971, which…

June 1, 2011
eNewsletter-May 23, 2011

“You are not going to cut costs far enough on the long-distance trains to make the long-distance trains profitable,” Boardman said…The kindest thing that can be said of Mr. Boardman’s testimony before the Senate Appropriation hearing last week is that he spoke nonsense. If we go back to the 1980’s and early 90’s when W.…

May 26, 2011
April CA Intercity Passenger Rail Performance

Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA (Download: April 2011 Performance Report)

May 18, 2011
eNewsletter – May 16, 2011

U.S. Department of Transportation to Allocate $68 Million for State-of-the-Art Train Cars in California. The award for California fleet cars was included in the US DOT’s $2.02 billion in high-speed rail awards, which were announced yesterday on May 9, by US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. In addition California received $300 million more for construction of High…

May 18, 2011
San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee April Meeting Report

Reported by Mike Barnbaum, RailPAC Associate Director The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met at the California State Building on the Mariposa Mall in Fresno for their latest meeting on April 28, 2011. 1. Food Tasting With a delightful change of pace from usual meeting procedure, Chairman John Pedrozo arranged for the presentation and tasting…

May 11, 2011
eNewsletter – May 9, 2011

It appears at least to this editor that after almost 15 years of planning, economic reality is forcing major replanning for the California High Speed Rail Project. In most cases this seems to be for the best. The possibility of bypassing Palmdale may be motivated to save 30 miles and time to meet the goal…

May 11, 2011
CAHSRA Meeting Report

“Linking the California High Speed Rail Segments in the North State” – May 5, 2011 Reported by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer The California High Speed Rail Authority met May fifth to receive reports and approve consultant reports for further plans on building four segments of the line from San Francisco to Bakersfield and to approve a…

May 11, 2011
Where are all those bankrupt High Speed Rail Countries?

Opinion by Noel T. Braymer There is nothing new about participants in a debate being selective in the “facts” they use to make their points. Much of the hysteria about High Speed Rail is based on the claim that around the world there are only 2 High Speed Rail routes that have made any money.…

May 9, 2011
eNewsletter – May 2, 2011

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will receive a $100 million grant to purchase domestically manufactured rail passenger cars and locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin corridors. RailPAC E-Newsletter fo May 2, 2011 Opinions expressed in the RailPAC eNewsletter reflect the opinions of the author and…

May 4, 2011
National Train Day in California

Celebrations of National Train Day in California will take place in many locations. This year is the 40th anniversary of the founding of Amtrak. For a list of what will happen this Saturday, May 7, 2011, see: www.nationaltrainday.com/events/other/?st=CA

May 3, 2011