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9/30/2015 Print https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?action=showLetter&umid=2_0_0_1_1419107_AMu+imIAACDjVglrTQEB0PdG9Qs&box=Inbox&src={src}&.rand=… 1/12 Subject: Railroads threaten Amtrak service over PTC deadlineLas Vegas HSR moves ahead. From: Rail Passenger Association of California ([email protected]) To: [email protected]; Date: Monday, September 14, 2015 9:32 AM RailPAC Weekly ENewsletter for September 14, 2015 Edited by Noel T. Braymer Feel free to forward copies of this ENewsletter to your friends or someone who can use this information. If you would like to subscribe to the ENewsletter just send me your name and email address to [email protected] If you'd like to see expanded and improved Rail Passenger Service Join Us! Membership increases our strength in presenting the case for rail to policymakers at all levels!

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Subject: Railroads threaten Amtrak service over PTC deadline­Las Vegas HSR moves ahead.

From: Rail Passenger Association of California ([email protected])

To: [email protected];

Date: Monday, September 14, 2015 9:32 AM

RailPAC Weekly E­Newsletter for September 14, 2015 Edited by Noel T. BraymerFeel free to forward copies of this E­Newsletter to your friends or someone who canuse this information. If you would like to subscribe to the E­Newsletter just send me your name and emailaddress to [email protected] you'd like to see expanded and improved Rail Passenger Service­Join Us!Membership increases our strength in presenting the case for rail to policymakers at alllevels!

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Schools are open again and many students ride the train to school. This is the Palomar College SprinterStation in San Marcos. During morning and afternoon rush hours 2 DMU car trains are run on theSprinter. Photo by Noel T. Braymer

Railroads seek automated train extensionThe Hill­Sep 8, 2015The group that lobbies for freight railroads in Washington is pushing for an extension of a Decemberdeadline for automating trains in the U.S. now that Congress is back in session.Railroads currently have until Dec. 31 to install an automated train navigation system known as PositiveTrain Control (PTC), which regulates the speed and track movements of trains.

Rail showdown in Congress threatens Amtrak routesOmaha World­Herald ­ Sep 9, 2015DALLAS — Amtrak passenger service that runs on tracks owned by freight rail companies may becurtailed unless Congress extends a Dec. 31 deadline to implement a safety system that was mandatedseven years ago.

Taking Amtrak to see Pope Francis? Here's what you need to know.Washington Post (blog) ­ Sep 9, 2015If you are taking Amtrak to Washington, Philadelphia or New York to see Pope Francis later this month,expect long lines, tight security, and changes in boarding procedures.

AMTRAK info for Papal Visit to PennsylvaniaWTAE Pittsburgh ­ Sep 9, 2015This historic event is expected to bring a crowd of a million or more people to Philadelphia and Amtrakis working with city officials to ensure a safe and memorable weekend. Before heading to or through

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Philadelphia for the Papal Visit, here are a few things to note before you head out the door:

Amtrak expands weekend high­speed NEC serviceRailwayAge Magazine­Sep 8, 2015Weekend travelers have another high­speed option for Northeast Corridor (NEC) service between Bostonand New York, as Amtrak expands its Acela Express service between the two cities, the companyannounced on Sept. 4, 2015.

The City' is coming to Marks — Amtrak service will stop in Delta ...Mississippi Business Journal­Sep 10, 2015The announcement that Amtrak will add a flag stop at Marks in the heart of the Delta is alreadygenerating quite a buzz in the Delta and beyond. Marks Mayor Joe Shegog recently did an interview withCNN about the stop in the middle of the Delta for people to hop off to visit Blues Trail sites and otherattractions in the area.According to Quitman County officials, in addition to enhancing tourism visits, the stop would providean essential transportation service for about 200,000 residents living in nine counties in the north Delta.

Red tape delays Amtrak rail improvements in DFW areaFort Worth Star Telegram­Sep 11, 2015As for the negotiating­room delays, the latest example is playing out in Fort Worth, where a nearly 7­year effort to move Amtrak onto less­crowded Trinity Railway Express tracks to speed up its on­timeperformance remains unresolved.And a $7.2 million chunk of federal stimulus funding awarded to the project in January 2010, as part ofan effort to get the nation’s economy going, remains unspent. The money would be used to construct asecond track along the TRE line in the Valley View area, between CentrePort and West Irving stations.Though not required for Amtrak to begin running on the TRE tracks, double­tracking will make it easierfor multiple trains to run on the TRE line simultaneously.

WHAT AMTRAK CAN TEACH RETAILERS ABOUT LOYALTY PYMNTS @pymnts What's Next In Payments® Sep 10, 2015Simplicity, in fact, is at the heart of any successful loyalty rewards program — and that’s a truth thatextends even beyond the retail space. Recently, a company in the travel industry reworked its owncustomer loyalty structure following a few basic guidelines that could stand as an example for retailerswho are trying to build longstanding relationships with customers…or perhaps even win back some thatthey’ve lost.

The Unexpected Pleasure of Travel by AmtrakTravelPulse­Sep 8, 2015Karen and I were returning from Miami by train because a surgical procedure I’d had done had made ittoo risky to fly back to New York. After thinking over our options, we decided on Amtrak.

Four ways American travel could live up to Swiss standardsTrains Magazine Sep 8, 2015I returned just over a week ago from my first extensive experience with intercity travel outside of NorthAmerica. I was spoiled to have at my disposal for two weeks the Swiss Travel System, perhaps theworld’s densest interconnected system of public conveyances. While it may be unrealistic to expect thatAmerica’s public transportation network will ever grow to truly rival — in size, scope and quality — thatwhich the Swiss enjoy, I will share a few areas in which I feel I have the right to expect the world’srichest country to do better.

What America can learn from Germany's high­speed trains

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What America can learn from Germany's high­speed trainsVox­Sep 13, 2015The German Marshall Fund put out a report in June on the lessons California could draw from the well­developed HSR systems in Germany and France. Most of the different points it lays out boil down to oneessential, overarching approach: Make HSR central to a larger transportation system that includes otheralternatives to driving and is focused around smart growth. Successful high­speed rail requires more thanjust laying tracks between cities and buying fancy new rail cars.

High Speed Rail in The Northeast: What Next?RailwayAge Magazine­Sep 9, 2015The recent nationwide initiative for the introduction of high­speed (or “higher” speed) passenger servicein the U.S. has experienced mixed success. While California is progressing on its challenging path toVHSR (Very High Speed Rail), other initiatives have been criticized in political venues for their failureto introduce European­ or Asian­style “bullet trains” across America.Much of this criticism is unfair. In many cases, 100­ to 110­mph service that operates with highreliability with reasonable frequencies is sufficient to meet demand and fits within North America’sexisting freight railroad framework.

China still on track to triple high speed rail network from 17000 km ...Next Big Future­Sep 9, 2015Beijing’s grand plans to extend China’s high speed rail network, which would propel revenue growth forCRRC, appear to remain on track. China Railway Corporation said last weekend that the nation’s railnetwork “will soon stretch considerably further,” to a length of 50,000 kilometers by 2020 from 17,000kilometers. Most of the new lines will be built in the western provinces, where Beijing is ramping upinfrastructure development in a bid to rebalance economic activity away from the crowed east coast toinland regions.

Three new stations to join high speed rail line on Dec. 1Focus Taiwan News Channel­Sep 13, 2015Taipei, Sept. 11 (CNA) Three new stations on Taiwan's high­speed rail line will soon undergo on­siteinspections and are expected to be opened on Dec. 1, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications(MOTC) said Friday.What is interesting about Taiwan's high speed rail service, is that it is the closest to the overbudget, money losing "Bullet Trains" that the opposition tries to paint the California High SpeedRail Project. Taiwan's HSR service is in financial reorganization and the government is bailing outthe project. But the people of Taiwan don't seem to regret building High Speed Rail. Funny howthe HSR opponents never point to a clear cut example of High Speed Rail failing anywhere in theworld. NB

High­speed train to be tested across StorebæltThe Copenhagen Post ­ Danish news in english­ Sep 11, 2015The work is expected to be finished in 2018, when the one­hour model will also roll out, allowingpassengers to travel from Copenhagen to Odense, from Odense to Aarhus and from Odense to Esbjerg inunder one hour.The high­speed train runs at 230 km/h and the existing rail line will need to be upgraded to withstand thespeed. (That's about 143 miles per hour) NB.

Sandoval appoints 5 to Nevada high­speed rail boardLas Vegas Review­Journal ­ Sep 10, 2015The authority must select a franchisee on or before Oct. 1. That franchisee is expected to be Las Vegas­

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based XpressWest, which has been working since 2010 on a system to link Las Vegas with Victorville,Calif. Once XpressWest received a record of decision in November 2011, it began working onenvironmental approvals on the route and opened discussions with California rail officials to tie its systemto that state's high­speed rail system at Palmdale, 50 miles west of Victorville.The system remains a private entity, but as a franchisee it should get state help when developmentroadblocks occur.

High Speed Rail planning starts Tuesday in SF for Peninsula corridorGreen Caltrain Sep 7, 2015Tuesday, September 8th in San Francisco is the first of four meetings starting the planning for HighSpeed Rail on the Peninsula corridor from San Francisco through Gilroy. All of the meetings will havethe same program – an open house format starting at 4pm, with a presentation at 6pm.

High­speed rail shifts focus back to the Bay AreaThe Almanac Online­Sep 15, 2015In launching environmental review, officials hope to placate critics on Peninsula, elsewhere...The rail authority plans to complete the environmental analyses for the two segments by late 2017 andbegin construction shortly thereafter. If all goes well, the new rail system will be in place by 2029.

A view of the Cab Cars used on Metrolink at Los Angeles Union Station. At the request of the NationalTransportation Safety Board, Metrolink is pulling these cars out of service to investigate possibleproblems these cars may have clearing debris on the track which could cause these cars to derail, whichseems to have happened in Oxnard this February. Photo by Noel T. Braymer

SLO Railroad Museum to host Central Coast Railroad Festival

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Paso Robles Daily News­Sep 8, 2015The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum will be hosting the 2015 Central Coast Railroad Festival fromOct. 1 – 4. The festival spotlights several types of railroading in the heart of the California Central Coast,including: rail history, exhibits, programs, music, safety education, art displays, rail excursions, andmodel railroading of all types.Activities will take place at railroad, historical and educational locations throughout San Luis ObispoCounty. The Railroad Festival is designed for both, “casual train buffs” and, ‘avid rail fans” as well asdelight tourists and locals of all ages. Most activities will be free and all will be family friendly.

All Aboard for the 2015 Central Coast Railroad Festival The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum will be hosting the 2015 Central Coast Railroad Festival fromOctober 1st to 4th. The Central Coast Railroad Festival is a broad based festival which spotlightsnumerous types of railroading in the heart of the California Central Coast. The Festival focuses on railhistory, exhibits, programs, music, safety education, art displays, rail excursions, and model railroadingof all types. Activities will take place at numerous railroad, historical and educational locationsthroughout San Luis Obispo County. The Railroad Festival is designed to please both casual train buffsand avid rail fans as well as delight tourists and locals of all ages. Most Festival activities will be free andall will be fun and very family friendly.

Routing oil trains through densely population California towns is a bad ideaThe San Luis Obispo Tribune­Sep 6, 2015With the possible exception of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, we can’t recall a single project inSan Luis Obispo County that’s been so negatively received; The Tribune reported in July that more than40 government agencies or public officials in the state have opposed the project.

California enacts two­person crew legislationProgressive Rail Roading­Sep 11, 2015The legislation — which was introduced by Sen. Lois Wolk (D­Davis) — prohibits a freight train orlight engine from being operated in the state with a crew of less than two individuals, beginning Feb. 1,2016. The law also authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to assess civil penaltiesfor any violations..."Today's freight trains carry extremely dangerous materials, including Bakken crude oil, ethanol,anhydrous ammonia, liquefied petroleum gas and acids, that may pose significant health and safety risksto communities and our environment in the case of an accident,” said Wolk in a press release.

Major Calif. Climate Bills Hinge on Moderate Democratic HoldoutsCourthouse News Sep 8, 2015SACRAMENTO (CN) ­ Two California climate change bills calling for a 50 percent reduction in vehiclefuel use and expansion of renewable energy are in limbo, facing holdouts by moderate Democrats daysbefore a critical deadline.

WEATHER: Is Inland area ready for a strong El Niño?Press­Enterprise­Sep 10, 2015While Southern California desperately needs precipitation, the El Niño predicted for this winter andspring could be strong enough to bring destructive flooding, so officials aren’t waiting for the firstumbrella to pop open before taking action...Others, including Caltrans, Southern California Edison and Metrolink, say they are always in a high stateof readiness for conditions that can quickly change because of heavy snow and rain, fire or earthquakes.

Transportation Fix Delayed, Bills Move Forward As Legislature Nears Deadline

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KQED ­ Sep 9, 2015Wednesday’s debates in the state Assembly and Senate saw dozens of bills with final (or almost final)actions taken by lawmakers. And it saw a major shift on two topics: A concession to the oil industry onthe year’s biggest climate change legislation, and a delay in finding a solution to long­term funding forCalifornia’s transportation needs.The delay on transportation was a clear signal of how tough the issue had become as the end­of­sessiondeadline approached.The oil industry was able to block passage of segments of 2 new state laws for now, requiringreductions in oil consumption. The future is still full of problems for oil. Gasoline prices are muchlower now because of low oil prices. But the oil industry is losing money because of the glut of oilon the market. As oil production slowly winds down, oil and gasoline prices will go back up. At thesame time people will be using less gasoline by moving closer to their jobs, driving less and withcars that get better mileage or don't use gasoline. Traffic congestion and poorly maintain roadswill continue to make rail travel more desirable. Alternatives to oil will continue to get cheaper asthe price of pumping and refining oil will continue to rise. NB

What’s Needed for Rail Service to Reduce Traffic in San DiegoBy Noel T. BraymerSANDAG , the regional planning agency for San Diego County is appealing a ruling by 2 lower courts tothe California Supreme Court of a lawsuit brought by a coalition of environmental groups. The lawsuit isover SANDAG’s transportation planning for the County. The basis of this lawsuit is SANDAG’s currentplanning expects a net increase of today’s levels of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from increasedvehicle traffic by 2050. State Law calls for a reduction of GHG emissions by 2050 to levels lower thanwhat they were in 1990.

Aerial Views of the Ventura County LineMetrolink YouTube Video Sep 8, 2015

LA's Olympic hopes inspire subway dreams89.3 KPCC­Sep 9, 2015The Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Olympics has revived hopes for a faster completion of the so­called"Subway to the Sea."Right now, funding is only in place to build the Purple Line extension along Wilshire Boulevard toWestwood, with the final stretch scheduled to open in 2035.

September update on Crenshaw/LAX Line workThe Source Sep 8, 2015Here’s the latest roundup of construction along the Crenshaw/LAX Line alignment. The light rail linewill run between the intersection of Exposition and Crenshaw boulevards to a junction with the GreenLine just south of Los Angeles International Airport. The project is funded by Measure R and is forecastto be complete in 2019.

Crash on 210 Freeway Hurtles SUV onto Goldline Tracks...Pasadena Now­Sep 11, 2015An SUV which had been involved in a collision with a second car on the eastbound 210 Freeway justwest of the Madre Street offramp was hurtled onto the K­rail, coming to rest partially on the MetroGoldline train tracks about 10:23 p.m. Thursday...Power was shut off to the affected track, and train traffic diverted to a second track.

Sacramento drivers upset over long wait at new light rail crossing

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KCRA Sacramento­Sep 8, 2015After Regional Transit opened the new four­mile extension of its Blue Line from the MeadowviewStation to Cosumnes River College, complaints have poured in over wait times at new road crossings...The wait times are more than double those at other Light Rail crossings, where Regional Transit said itstrives for wait times of about two minutes.

BART back to normal after largest­ever single track replacementKRON4.com­Sep 8, 2015UPDATE 5:04 AM – BART officials are warning riders of delays throughout the morning.The delays are system wide, according to BART officials.BART officials say the delays are caused by a mandatory system restart after the repairs...UPDATE 11:03 AM – BART service is now back to normal after the agency’s largest­ever single trackreplacement project prompted the shutdown of the Transbay Tube over the Labor Day holiday weekend.About 12,000 feet of rail was replaced in the Transbay Tube, as well as an aerial section of trackwaybetween the West Oakland station and downtown Oakland, during the three­day closure, BART officialssaid.

Man Snaps Selfie On BART Tracks Prompting Systemwide Delays Monday NightCBS Local­Sep 8, 2015A person who reportedly took a selfie on BART tracks Monday night caused systemwide delays.According to the Contra Costa Times, BART trains were delayed for approximately 30 minutes after arider laid down on the tracks at an Oakland station.

BART Kills Off Three­Car Trains, Beefs Up Schedule To Ease Over­CrowdingSFist ­ Sep 11, 2015In an effort to deal with overstuffed rush­hour trains, BART will, as of Monday, make several schedulechanges and do away with those dumb three­car trains. In an official announcement, BART says theyhope these improvements will "help provide some crowding relief while we wait for the Fleet of theFuture to arrive." And that new fleet of train cars doesn't get put into service until Fall 2016.The changesinclude lengthening all Dublin/Pleasanton­Daly City trains to nine cars during commute hours, andadding trains to the Pittsburg/Bay Point­SFO line.

Signs of life in San Bernardino despite bankruptcyPress­Enterprise­Sep 13, 2015The transit center, which opened Tuesday, brings together a dozen bus lines and the San Bernardinoexpress bus between Loma Linda and Cal State. It’s expected to serve 6,000 to 8,000 people each day,Davis said.When the Metrolink line is extended to the center by 2017, you’ll be able to get anywhere in SouthernCalifornia from one place, he said.That should be a shot in the arm for downtown.

Flight Rail Corp. near Ukiah reinventing train travelUkiah Daily Journal­Sep 11, 2015 Is high­speed train travel revolutionizing the modern commute in, say, Northern California?Max Schlienger and John Reardon hope so. They are, respectively, the president and Pilot ProgramManager at Flight Rail Corp. on Henry Station Road south of Ukiah.Their Vac Trac passenger rail system is a variation on the theme of pneumatic transit, or the use ofatmospheric pressure, to propel a train.

Exclusive: SunRail to ink funding deal for Phase 2 South

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Orlando Biz Journal Sep 10, 2015The Florida Department of Transportation will join federal and local officials later this month to sign thedeal that will kickstart construction on the expansion of SunRail into Osceola County...The south extension is a critical one for SunRail as Osceola County is expected to have a huge portion ofworkers use the system to commute to the area’s major job centers. Having the stations operational alsocreates opportunities for real estate redevelopment surrounding the stops.

Twin Cities transit triumphRailway Age Sep 9, 2015Bolstered by the success of the Green Line LRT, Metro Transit is setting ridership records...• Initial projections for the Green Line predicted about 27,000 riders on an average weekday. That figurewas not projected to top 41,000 until 2030, but on April 15, 2015, the line had a ridership of 44,651.And in May, Metro Transit had a week where average weekday ridership topped 40,500.• Combined ridership on bus routes 16, 94 and the Green Line is double what it was when service wasprovided by buses alone.

People at the Vista Civic Center Sprinter Station waiting for a trains at the stations to depart so they cancross the tracks. The cloudy weather and humidity in much of California along with heat this Septemberis reflected in the sky in this picture. Photo by Noel T. Braymer

We Get EmailsRe:Why did Amtrak drop it's Credit Cards?I was completely surprised to receive a letter stating that Chase Master Card and Guest Rewards weresevering their relationship that has been going on for fifteen years. Chase is really happy to be replacing

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the AMTRAK card with another one. So what should one do? I called Guess Rewards and very quicklyfound out that the Guest Rewards program will continue with a different credit card which will beannounced soon. So, the program will remain intact. This reminds me of the recent article which statedthat many passengers were not aware of the changes on the Meteor in food service policy until theyboarded the train. Once again, communications are essential to good customer relationships. Andy Sack, Banning, CA

Re: Guest Rewards MasterCard terminating?I did not say anything up until now, because I had only heard rumors that the announcement might becoming this weekend, that BofA will be issuing them for a $79 annual fee. Apparently it is now public. It's still a MasterCard. (Chase is converting their MasterCards to Visa, because Visa's current presidentcame from Chase.) There is also a no annual fee version of the card, with fewer benefits. There is someirony in this contract change, as BofA (through MBNA, which they bought), had the contract beforeChase, so it just went full circle,Marcus Jung

Re: Metrolink new LocomotivesAny photos of the new state of the art locomotives that Metrolink plans to buy?Carl MorrisonNo photos, nothing has been delivered yet. I found from EMD, which is now owned by Caterpillara drawing of their EMD F125 Locomotive that Metrolink is buying.

Re: Article­"California Is About to Do Something Great That No State Has Ever Done Before"You have a link to Mother Jones. A communist publication.

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Anton LazzaroThat is a surprise to me. NB

Re: What happened to my train last Saturday?I was on the Capitol Corridor from Emeryville to Sacramento last Saturday. Evidently we hit atrespasser and were stalled for almost three hours. I have seen nothing in the news or in your newsletter. Still wondering what were the circumstances.Dick HewetsonThe reality is there are so many, often fatal accidents of people on the tracks getting hit by trains,it is rarely is considered news by the media. I was able with some searching to find one news storyfrom the 4th. NBReports: Train hits, kills pedestrian in ElmiraFairfield Daily Republic­Sep 5, 2015A train hit and killed a pedestrian midmorning Saturday along the railroad tracks at Elmira Road,various authorities report.The incident was under investigation. Initial reports indicate the man may have committed suicide.A crew from the Vacaville Fire Protection District responded to the incident minutes after it was reportedat 10:34 a.m.

Enclosed is a picture from this morning's (9/12/2015) dedication of the Monrovia light rail station. Monrovia's mayor Tom Adams was the speaker. This is part of the Gold Line extension from SierraMadre Villa to Azusa. There is no specific opening date for the line; the current estimate is Spring 2016. Mike PalmerTorrance, CA

Opinions expressed in this enewsletter are those of the authors and not necessarilythose of the Rail Passenger Association of California.

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The RailPAC Mission: Passenger Rail advocacy, Publications…both print andelectronic, Representation at regional meetings, and Rail education.Join us! More memberships increase our strength in presenting the case for rail topolicymakers at all levels!

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