TrainBlog - Blogging about passenger trains, high-speed rail, Amtrak, Caltrain, VTA, railroads, transit, public transportation, passenger rail advocacy and related politics.
In This Edition:
* Subsidies Can’t Save the SUV
* Auto Apologists Vs. Amtrak
* Letters To The Editor
* Altamont Commuter Express Seeks New Route
* L.A. Times Claims Gas Is Cheaper Than Metrolink
* Coast Observations
* Why Do Montpellier’s Trams Attract So Many?
* FRA Regs Are Based On Bad Science
* Union City Plans Intermodal Station
* BART To S.J. Ducks FTA Cost Review
* Cal Rail 2020 In Burbank Oct 15 (don’t forget to sign up!)
On the TRAC Website, I have posted the details for this year’s California Rail 2020 Conference (October 15 in Burbank, CA).
I have just updated the TRAC Website with a list of short bios of all the board members.
Read it here.
CC Rail Mail E-Newsletter — August 9, 2005
In this issue:
1. Motorcoach Riders: Show your tickets!
2. Oakland Art & Soul Festival- September 3rd-5th
3. Tailgate Train to Cal vs. Sac State game on Sept. 3
4. Special Deals available on Capitol Corridor website===================================================
1. Motorcoach Riders: Show your tickets!
Beginning this week, motorcoach drivers are required to inspect all tickets upon boarding. In order to ride the motorcoach portion of the trip, you must have one of the following along with a valid photo ID:
- Designated ticket for the motorcoach portion of the route
- Ten-ride ticket that includes the motorcoach portion of the route (The motorcoach driver will manually mark off the bus usage on these tickets.)
- Monthly ticket that includes the motorcoach portion of the routeIf you are beginning your trip on the motorcoach and do not have a ticket, you must give your photo ID to the driver. Upon arrival to your transfer destination, the driver will escort you to a station agent or QuikTrak machine to purchase a ticket for your full route. Your photo ID will be returned to you at this time.
Capitol Corridor is enforcing this policy for both security and revenue tracking purposes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
2. Oakland Art & Soul Festival- September 3rd-5th
Meet in Downtown Oakland this Labor Day weekend at Comcast Art & Soul Oakland! Get out of the summer heat, cool off near the bay. Groove to 50 bands on four stages, stroll past hundreds of crafts, and enjoy dozens of kid-friendly carnival rides. For more information about the festival visit: www.artandsouloakland.com or check out the Art & Soul page on Capitol Corridor’s website.3. Tailgate Train to Cal vs. Sac State game on Sept. 3
On Saturday, September 3, climb aboard Capitol Corridor’s tailgate train and see the California Golden Bears take on Sacramento State at UC Berkeley’s football home-opener. Get out of the traffic and start the party early with Capitol Corridor and Pyramid Brewery! Click here to Learn more!4. Special Deals available on Capitol Corridor website
If you’re booking your tickets on Amtrak.com you’re missing out on special deals available to Capitol Corridor passengers! This summer, visit www.capitolcorridor.org for hot deals - including our Friends Ride Free on weekends promotion - that could save you money on tickets. Only three weekends left!So don’t pay more for tickets than you have to; visit www.capitolcorridor.org for our latest promotions and discounts. The website is also a great place to check train status, get service updates and find out when we’ll be hosting a rider appreciation party on board your train.
Tags: Amtrak | Capitol Corridor
This happened on July 28, but I just heard about it through TRAC over the weekend. Here’s a summary of the legislation (through TRAC):
Summary of Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act
Overview
The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) is a six year reauthorization bill (FY 2006-2011) — the same time frame as the Amtrak Board’s strategic plan. The bill authorizes funding for Amtrak’s capital and operating needs to maintain current operations, upgrade equipment, and return the Northeast Corridor (NEC) to a state of good repair. Over the life of the bill, Amtrak’s operating subsidy is reduced by 40% through cost cutting, restructuring, and reform while capital funding is increased. The bill creates an intercity passenger rail capital grant program for the States.
Funding Summary
6 Year Funding
Totals Average Amtrak Operating Subsidy $3.3 billion $556 million Amtrak Capital Grants $4.9 billion $818 million State Grants $1.4 billion $340 million Existing Amtrak Debt $1.7 billion $287 million Total $11.4 billion $1.9 billion Amtrak Reforms
Management Improvement: The bill requires a financial accounting system for Amtrak operations and a five year financial plan. The system is monitored by the Department of Transportation Inspector General.
Debt: The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and Amtrak, to negotiate the restructuring of Amtrak’s debt within one year. If a restructuring results in significant savings, the Secretary of Treasury assumes the restructured debt, with the full faith and credit backing of the Treasury.
If no restructuring is possible, Amtrak must pay the debt. Such debt is solely the responsibility of Amtrak, without any implied federal guarantee.
Corporate Governance: This bill adds the Amtrak President to the Amtrak Board, bringing the total number of members on the board to nine. Members are required to have either rail, transportation, or a business background.
Metrics and Standards: In consultation with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the operating freight railroads, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak shall jointly develop metrics and standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity train operations. Such metrics and standards shall include cost-recovery, on-time performance, ridership per train mile, on-board and station services, and the connectivity of routes. The Federal Railroad Administration shall publish a quarterly report on train performance and service quality.
Route Methodology: The FRA must retain a consultant to develop and recommend objective methodologies for route and service decisions. The methodologies shall give consideration to cost recovery and on-time performance of existing routes, connections with other routes, transportation needs of communities not served by other public transportation, and the methodologies used by rail service providers in other countries. Amtrak shall consider adoption of the methodologies recommended by the consultant.
Access to Amtrak Equipment and Services: States wishing to use operators other than Amtrak for the provision of state-supported services shall have access to Amtrak facilities for the purpose of operating that particular route.
Northeast Corridor and Short-Distance Routes
Northeast Corridor: Amtrak must develop a capital spending plan to return the NEC to a state of good repair by the end of 2011. The capital funds authorized in the bill are used to carry out the plan at a 100 percent Federal share. This bill establishes an advisory commission to provide advice and oversight of the NEC’s operations and infrastructure. The commission members represent Amtrak, the FRA, and each State in the NEC. The commission must develop a proposal for determining the proper costs and access fees for NEC passenger and commuter trains. If Amtrak and the States fail to implement the proposal, the STB is authorized to impose restructured fees for the users of the NEC.
State-Supported Routes: Amtrak must develop, after consulting the States and the FRA, a uniform cost allocation methodology to assign costs and determine compensation for State-supported services. Currently, States pay different rates depending on when their contracts with Amtrak were negotiated. If Amtrak and the States don’t implement the proposal developed by the commission, the STB is authorized to impose restructured compensation rates.
Long Distance Trains
Service Improvements: The FRA, in consultation with Amtrak, must develop system-wide performance metrics for all Amtrak services in 2006 to evaluate the financial and on-time performance, and customer satisfaction of each train. These metrics will be collected and published on a quarterly basis. In 2007, Amtrak is required to establish performance improvement plans for 5 long distance routes (1/3 of the 15 intercity passenger trains) with the worst performance. As Amtrak develops these plans, it must consider restructuring the route, improving on-board service, changing amenities such as sleeper car service and food service, and changing the frequency of the trains. In 2008, Amtrak must implement the plans. In future years, the remaining long distance routes will undergo the same restructuring process.
Competitive Bid Program: The bill establishes a competitive bid program allowing freight railroads to bid for long distance trains. FRA administers the bid process. Any employees adversely affected by the cessation of the operation of a route will either be relocated to other positions within Amtrak, provided financial incentives in exchange for the voluntarily termination of their employment, or paid termination payments guaranteed under existing collective bargaining agreements.
Other Provisions
Service Improvements: The bill requires the STB to issue a quarterly on-time service report. If a train’s on-time performance record falls below 80% for two consecutive quarters or fails to meet other requirements set by the FRA, the STB must investigate the cause. The STB then recommends to Amtrak or a freight railroad how to fix the problems that cause the service delay. If the STB determines that delays to passenger trains are the result of freight railroads not providing priority access to Amtrak, as required under law, the Board may take appropriate action to enforce priority access.
Capital Grants: The bill creates a new State Capital Grant program for intercity passenger rail capital projects. The program makes grants to a State, or a group of States, to pay for the capital costs of facilities and equipment necessary to provide new or improved intercity passenger rail. The federal match is 80 percent. Projects are selected by the Secretary of Transportation based on economic feasability, expected ridership and other factors. . State Rail Plans: The bill establishes a State rail planning process. New projects funded by the grant program must be on the plan.
Security: The bill includes the Amtrak and passenger rail security and tunnel life/safety provisions from the Rail Security Act of 2004 that passed the Senate.
Bond Financing: Contains a sense of the Congress in support of multi-year, predictable funding for inter-city passenger rail. Reserves sections for provision in the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction.
Tag: Amtrak
Read it here.
… instead of 18. This was just announced in a press release (german).
Recently, I’ve been wondering - maybe Amtrak California, Caltrain or ACE should/could offer special trains for Oakland Raiders games - now that the new Oakland Coliseum station is open? There don’t seem to be any convenient trains for a Sunday 1 pm game time right now - coming from San Jose, one has to take either train 728 arriving at 10:39 am or train 734 arriving at 1:38pm. The first one is way too early and the second one too late for the game. For people wanting to go to a game, there should be a train departing San Jose at around 11:30am, arriving 12:30pm at the Coliseum.
Equipment can’t be a big issue - especially for Caltrain, since they must have quite a few trainsets idling in San Jose on weekends.
Update: I meant for any of these three operators to run San Jose-Coliseum trains (I’m sure some deal could be worked out if all are willing). I figured that maybe Capitol Corridor might want to do the trains but not have any equipment and therefore go and borrow them from Caltrain or something like that.
And yes, maybe ACE could actually do Stockton - Coliseum. That would be an idea as well.
