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Thursday, December 14, 2006 The TrainBlog.com 2007 CalendarPosted by Marcel Marchon at 11:55 PM.This is a bit of an experiment - we've been creating and giving away calendars with family pictures to our relatives for a couple of years now and I've always wanted to do a calendar with train pictures. So here it is ...:
The TrainBlog.com 2007 Calendar
Monday, December 04, 2006 Caltrain Holiday TrainPosted by Marcel Marchon at 2:55 PM. The Caltrain Holiday Train in Mountain View
Saturday, October 21, 2006 ACE suffers from Union Pacific dispatching problemsPosted by Marcel Marchon at 9:55 PM.The Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr were/are not the only trains affected by, ahem, suboptimal dispatching and congestion on Union Pacific tracks - ACE, the Altamont Commuter Express commuter rail operator that runs a line from Stockton over Altamont Pass to San Jose, also reports very bad on-time performance for the month of October and the whole year of 2006:
As of today, the ACE train is running at 52% on-time for the month of October and 77% for the year thus far. This is unacceptable considering Union Pacific’s contractual obligation to dispatch the ACE trains at 95% on-time.[ Hot Topics - Get The Latest News & Updates | ACE - Altamont Commuter Express ]
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Will California ever get High Speed Rail?Posted by Marcel Marchon at 9:54 PM.The other day, there was an opinion piece in the Fresno Bee, where Russ Minick remembers having taken a trip to Japan 30 years ago and took his first ride on a "Bullet Train". And ever since, he's been wondering whether California will ever get High Speed Rail ...
There always seems to be a more urgent need. And I begin to wonder whether our elected leaders will ever find the wisdom and the courage to get high-speed rail done.[FresnoBee.com: Other Opinion: RUSS MINICK: Will state ever get high-speed rail? ]
Monday, October 16, 2006 Additional Light Rail segments to open this fallPosted by Marcel Marchon at 10:40 PM.The latest issue of NARP's newsletter contains the following overview of new Light Rail/Streetcar line segments that are scheduled to open for service this fall:
Illinois Governor and Amtrak announce schedule of new Chicago-St. Louis trainsPosted by Marcel Marchon at 10:33 PM.The state-supported service on the Chicago-St. Louis route will be known as "Lincoln Service" and will consist of a total of five daily round-trips. Three of those are state-sponsored trains and the two others are part of the national Amtrak network (those are the Texas Eagle and the Ann Rutledge).
This latest announcement completes the service increases on three Illinois routes for the October 30 timetable change. [ Amtrak Press Release ]
Capitol Corridor train to stop at NilesPosted by Marcel Marchon at 10:22 PM.On November 5, 2006 (a Sunday), Capitol Corridor trains #727 (southbound Oakland - San Jose) and #734 (northbound, San Jose - Oakland) will be making exceptional stops at Niles. This has been arranged by the Train Riders Association of California with the help of Capitol Corridor, Amtrak and Union Pacific. The reason for the stop is a special excursion organized by the group following their Annual Meeting and Conference at Oakland on November 4. In between the trains, the Niles Canyon Railway will operate a train up to Sunol and back. Both the extra Capitol Corridor stop and the Niles Canyon Railway trains are available to the public.
Approximate schedules: - Arrival of train #727 at Niles: 10:00am - Departure of Niles Canyon Railway excursion: 11:25am - Departure of train #734 at Niles: 1:25pm Riding the Capitol Corridor trains requires a ticket to/from Fremont, the next scheduled regular station on the route. The fares for the Niles Canyon exursion is $10. If this extra stop is successful and enough people participate in the event, this may eventually lead to future additional stops at Niles.
Saturday, October 14, 2006 Roaring Camp Railroads Shay #7 "Sonora"Posted by Marcel Marchon at 11:21 PM.Video recorded on July 29, 2006 - Roaring Camp Railroads Shay #7 "Sonora" starts the climb up the hill. [ YouTube ] (recorded at Day Out with Thomas)
Caltrain Cab Ride from Santa Clara towards SunnyvalePosted by Marcel Marchon at 10:46 PM.Video recorded on September 1, 2006 - We're riding along in the Cab car of a Caltrain local from Santa Clara northbound towards Sunnyvale. [ YouTube ]
Friday, October 13, 2006 A note about the Capitol Corridor Transit Transfers ...Posted by Marcel Marchon at 11:23 PM.I was reminded of this offer by today's CC Rail Mail - Capitol Corridor offers a free Transit Transfer program, where if you ride a Capitol Corridor train, you can ask the conductor for a Transit Transfer, which is then valid with any one of a number of connecting Transit Agencies.
My first thought when reading this was - gee, why do I always keep forgetting about this when I actually ride the Capitol Corridor? On the train, I've never heard anyone mention this or seen it advertised anywhere (the only thing that you see on the train is the discounted BART tickets that they sell). Or even heard anyone ask a conductor to get one of these. My second thought then was - ok, good idea, but bad execution! Why do I even have to ask for a Transfer in the first place? Why can't I simply show my Amtrak Ticket stub to the driver or fare inspector to ride connecting transit? Free connections to local transit services[ ::: The Capitol Corridor: Transit Transfers ::: ]
Two Caltrain Express Trains meet in Mountain ViewPosted by Marcel Marchon at 10:30 PM.Video recorded on September 19, 2006, at the Castro Street grade crossing next to the Mountain View station. [ YouTube ]
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© 2004-2006 by Marcel Marchon.