High Speed for California
Posted by Lou on Apr 16, 2009
Major Cities: San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland), Sacramento, Merced, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego
Overview: California is pursuing continued improvements to existing passenger rail corridor services and a new high-speed rail (HSR) system. Since the 1980s, the State of California and Amtrak have made significant investments in equipment and facilities to develop three passenger rail corridor services: the San Joaquins (Bay Area/Sacramento–Central Valley, with bus connections to L.A.); Capitols (San Jose–Oakland–Sacramento–Auburn); and Pacific Surfliners (San Luis Obispo–L.A.–San Diego). In 2008, total intercity ridership on California’s State-supported corridor trains–at 5.5 million–accounted for one fifth of Amtrak’s passenger-trips nationwide. A strategic plan was prepared for improvement of the Pacific Surfliner Corridor from Los Angles to San Diego eventually to speeds of up to 110 mph.
New HSR System: California is developing a new, electrically powered, HSR system of 800 miles serving major population centers from San Francisco and Sacramento to Los Angeles and San Diego. Such a system would operate at sustained speeds of 220 mph over much of its length on dedicated rights of way except for access to certain urban areas (e.g. San Jose – San Francisco.) Phase 1 involves San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim.
Status: The HSR Programmatic (Tier 1) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is complete. Site-specific EIS and preliminary engineering is underway for Phase 1. Also, a Tier I EIS has also been completed for conventional improvements to the Los Angeles to San Diego Pacific Surfliner corridor. An EIS and preliminary engineering are in an advanced stage for run-through tracks at L.A. Union Station to enhance Pacific Surfliner service. More information about environmental review processes is is available at the current environmental reviews page .
Source: Federal Railroad Administration
Who is left ?
Posted by Lou on Feb 8, 2009
Leftovers
In a few days is my 2nd anniversary Railroad wise. In November 2006 I joined the Railroad and my Seniority date was set to February 2007. Sadly, since they go by your date of birth, I was born on the 25th. That means I have to blame my mother for the situation I am in now. Why couldn’t she have squeezed me out on the 1st? That would be so much easier for me. But I am sure if I was born on the 1st the seniority date would be after my shoe size or the circle size of my Middle Ear. But what the heck, everybody from my class is now furloughed. Everybody who is left, that is. The smart ones figured out very quickly, from which side the wind is blowing and left the Railroad after a few months. Some other ones, who did not get pregnant during that time, got back to their old jobs. Some changed their positions and are now watching homeless people under bridges so they don’t get rolled over by trains. Some are no longer in California and chose to get furloughed in other States. And than there are the many who got fired. You know it’s very easy to get fired when you are not experienced enough to find out what’s going on between the Rails. So there are only a few left. We are the Hardliners, the War Socks, the Foamers who would never admit to be one of them. The positive thinking souls who are still thinking of better times to come. The one’s who are dreaming about a Conductors Position on the Extra Board. About a guarantee that will be payed every half month. Dreamers of not being nervous about getting bumped after every trip. The one’s who dream about making plans to get settled down and having the fridge level always above 80%. Dreaming about earned Vacation and regular time at home with family and friends. My only friends during the first 2 years with the railroad are the ones who have eMail. Who are sharing the few adventures on the Train. The diehards, the ones who are left …..
