Category: Commentary

  • What’s the Holdup on the Sprinter?

    By Noel T. Braymer The PUC gave approval to start service for the Sprinter two days before the March 9th start up The DMU Light Rail Service between Escondido and Oceanside is now scheduled to start service on March 9th. The North County Transit District last year had hoped to start service on December 16;…

  • RailPAC’s Dyson writes Amtrak IG re Deely letter

    28 February, 2008 Mr. Fred Weiderhold, Jr Inspector General NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION P.O. Box 76654 Washington, DC 20013 6654 Via FAX to 215 XXX-XXXX CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN RAILPAC AND AMTRAK RE-COAST STARLIGHT SUSPENSION – CLAIM THAT LETTER FROM J. DEELY IS FAKE – REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION Dear Mr. Weiderhold: Our organization, Rail Passenger Association of…

  • California High Speed Rail Might Be On The Ballot This November

    Editorial by Noel T. Braymer On this year’s November ballot if the governor doesn’t postponed it again, will be a bond issue for 9.95 billion dollars from the California High Speed Rail Authority. This money will go towards building a start up High Speed Rail (HSR) service between Anaheim and San Francisco. The assumption is…

  • Starlight should go to Klamath Falls and Eugene with bus bridge

    Further communication from the RailPAC President to the Amtrak President NOTE: Full restoration of service for trains 11/14 is anticipated for March 3, but LIKELY will be much later. Also see “Partial restoration” article below. 11th February, 2008 Mr. Alex Kummant President and CEO NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION Washington DC COAST STARLIGHT RECOMMENCEMENT Dear Mr.…

  • RailPAC’s Dyson strongly replies to Mr. Kummant ‘s “explanation” for suspending the Coast Starlight

    NOTE: The original letter from Mr. Dyson, letters of support, and Mr. Kummant’s reply appear as separate posts below on this site. January 29, 2008 Mr. Alex Kummant President and CEO National Railroad Passenger Corporation 60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E. Washington, DC 20002 Via fax to 202 906 2850 COAST STARLIGHT SUSPENSION Dear Mr. Kummant: Thank…

  • SUSPENSION OF COAST STARLIGHT SERVICE

    Amtrak must reverse its decision to cancel the train during the Oregon washout! A letter to Amtrak President Alex Kummant from RailPAC President Paul Dyson RAIL PASSENGER ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA 22nd January, 2008 Mr. Alex Kummant President and Chief Executive Officer NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION 60 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington DC 20002 SUSPENSION OF COAST…

  • Letters written in support of RailPAC position on Coast Starlight suspension

    The following letters have been written in support of RailPAC’s position of opposing Amtrak’s outright cancellation of the Coast Starlight because of the landslide in Oregon. (1) to Senator Boxer (2) from LOSSAN Corridor (3) from SBCAG As other letters are received we will add them here. (1) January 24, 2008 HON. BARBARA BOXER SENATOR,…

  • OCEANSIDE TRANSIT CENTER – A GOOD FACILITY LET DOWN BY POOR EXECUTION

    Commentary By Paul Dyson, RailPAC President On Friday January 11th I had a quick turnaround trip to Oceanside on a RailPAC errand that resulted in my spending about 90 minutes at the Transit Center. My observations are about the Transit Center rather than the trainride and I’m trying to look at it from the point…

  • What is the final word for California High Speed Rail?

    By Noel T. Braymer George Skelton of the Capital Journal from Sacramento wrote some rather discouraging things about what is being proposed for the California High Speed Rail Project. This is what he wrote as published in the December 24 issue of the Los Angeles Times.”Turns out, as a Sacramentan, I wouldn’t be allowed to…

  • America wants more Rail Passenger Service

    By Noel T. Braymer Back in November 4th of last year PARADE Magazine ran a story about Amtrak entitled “With high gas prices and airport delays, could we make our trains…A Better Way To Travel?” With this story PARADE Magazine ran a poll of its readers asking “Should America Invest more in Trains? In the…