California Rail News - April/May 2006
I have just uploaded the latest issue of “California Rail News” - the newsletter of the Train Riders’ Association of California - to the website:
“Easing the pain” (at the pump) is counterproductive
It seems like the President and Congress are desperately trying to “ease the pain” of the taxpayers that they supposedly feel when buying gasoline these days. But why do that? In this case, pain is good - it provides a strong incentive to not use too much gasoline in the first place - reduce consumption and you will feel less pain. Maybe people will actually start using public transportation more (and there are indications that this is already happening). If anything, the President and Congress should finally come up with a real transportation policy - one that doesn’t solely rely on automobiles. That would be a much better easing of the pain.
Oh, and don’t bring me the argument about “but it hurts the economy” - I don’t think it does!
California Thruway Bus Service Enhancements
While this is unfortunately not rail service, it’s new bus service in connection with trains, so it’s still good news…
CALIFORNIA THRUWAY BUS SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS - 24APR06
———————————————————- BUSES 4768/4785 ARE EXTENDED NORTH OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TO SAN FRANCISCO OFFERING AN OVERNIGHT THRUWAY SERVICE. AMTRAK NOW OFFERS 5 DAILY COASTAL ROUNDTRIPS TO CONNECT WITH PACIFIC SURFLINER AND CAPITOL CORRIDORS.
- ATASCADERO BUS STOPS WILL CONSOLIDATE AT DENNY’S RESTAURANT, USING CODE ATA. THE CITY HALL STOP (OLD ATA) IS DISCONTINUED. CITY CODE ATD IS DISCONTINUED.
- SAN JOAQUIN BUSES 3701/3704 ARE EXTENDED NORTH OF REDDING TO MEDFORD/MFR, OREGON. INTERMEDIATE STOPS ARE DUNSMUIR-BUS/DBS, MT. SHASTA/MTS, WEED/WDC, YREKA/YKA AND ASHLAND/AHL. WITH THE COAST STARLIGHT/SHUTTLE SERVICE VIA KLAMATH FALLS, ASHLAND AND MEDFORD HAVE DOUBLE DAILY SCHEDULES. THE FIRST NORTHBOUND BUS TO MFR LEAVES SAC 23APR06. SINCE FARES ARE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL 24APR06 FOR THIS BUS, MANUALLY PRICE
THE 23APR BUS AT THE 24APR PRICES.- SUBURBAN ELK GROVE/EKG, SOUTH OF SACRAMENTO, IS ADDED TO 7 DAILY SACRAMENTO-STOCKTON BUSES. THIS CONNECTS ONLY WITH SAN JOAQUIN TRAINS. NO EKG-SAC SERVICE IS OFFERED.
- SAN JOAQUIN BUSES FROM BAKERSFIELD TO THE INLAND EMPIRE ARE REARRANGED. FIRST, THE SUN CITY/SUT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY SOUTH OF PERRIS IS ADDED. SECONDLY, A NEW BUS WILL CONNECT HEMET, SUN CITY, PERRIS AND MORENO VALLEY TO THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF, TRAINS 3 AND 4 AT RIVERSIDE. ONE BAKERSFIELD-HEMET BUS TRIP WILL REQUIRE A SAN BERNARDINO BUS-TO-BUS TRANSFER ALL INLAND EMPIRE BUSES AGAIN OPERATE VIA PASADENA; NONE VIA
LOS ANGELES.
Source: Amtrak Yahoo Group
