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May California Intercity Passenger Rail Performance
Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA The Capitol Corridor yielded positive results for May 2010 compared to May 2009 in all relevant performance statistics – ridership, revenue, and on-time performance. Ridership for May was 1.4% above last year as was revenue (+2.9%). On-time performance (OTP) set the record for the fiscal year at 95.9% – making the…
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Tracking Rail News: June 2010
Comments and PHOTOS by Russ Jackson . . . Good news for Los Angeles Union Station. The lack of a variety of food items available in the LAUS waiting room has been lessened with the news that by July Peets Coffee and Tea, Subway Sandwiches, and Wetzel’s Pretzels will open, and later in the summer…
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Dunsmuir Railroad Days
Dunsmuir, California is a historic train town that celebrates Railroad Days annually. This year’s event is taking place June 11-13 at the Dunsmuir Amtrak Station. We are excited that Dunsmuir is wanting to increase awareness of the Coast Starlight this year. RailPAC and Coast Starlight Communities Network will have materials displayed. Amtrak is supplying Coast…
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Remembering George Gaekle
By Russ Jackson, with contributions by Art Lloyd, Bruce Jenkins and several of his close friends George Gaekle, 88, passed away May 24, 2010. He was a RailPAC Director and associate director, NARP Director, and a long time advocate of improving the rail passenger opportunities particularly in the San Joaquin Valley. One of the founding…
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TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report
May 3, 2010 Meeting Reported by Chris Flescher, Associate Director There was a recommendation to create an Ad Hoc Committee for proposed stations. The group members would visit the sites of the proposed Castroville and Pajaro Stations, plus the existing Salinas train station. The recommendation passed. The RPC has recently met with the operators of the Capitol…
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Redding: Come by Train and Bring Your Bike
What does Redding Offer the Traveler? Report by Robert L. Reynolds
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Tracking Rail News: May 2010
Commentary and PHOTOS by Russ Jackson . . . On Time Performance. April was again a good month for the Amtrak western long distance trains. There were more “on time” than late, but when it was late was it late! The big exceptions were #6, the California Zephyr, was almost 11 hours late into Denver…
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UP Extortion Letter to CA Shows That FRA/Congressional Legislative Guidance Are Needed
Commentary by Dennis Lytton, Director Earlier this week, the Union Pacific Railroad distributed to the media, particuarly the San Jose Mercury News, their letter to the Authority of April 23, 2010. In it they outline their most forceful position thus far of not cooperating with high speed rail. Significantly, their letter above asserts the following claims:…
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Transportation: Following the Money
Editorial by Noel T. Braymer Raising money for any transportation project, but particularly rail passenger service is always difficult. Adding to the difficulties are the high price tags for many rail projects. Already there is increasing concern about the price tag for the California High Speed Rail project. There are estimates of 6 billion dollars…
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Demonstrating Why We Need New Railcars Now: Amtrak #763
Commentary by Jarrod DellaChiesa, Director and Website Editor On Saturday, May 15 Amtrak passengers were not allowed to board Pacific Surfliner #763 in Chatsworth. Would-be passengers reported the Conductor designated the train as “overcrowded and unsafe”. Ridership was high on this run due to passengers traveling to the Strawberry Festival. We desperately need new railcars in…