Amtrak Archives - Page 3 of 3

Categories : Amtrak Fresno TransitTags : amtrak california capitol corridor pacific surfliner san joaquin talgo wisconsin2 Comments

Amtrak California gets new funding, trainsets (thanks Wisconsin!)

On August 19, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

Early this week, the California State Transportation Agency sprinkled $390 million in grants around the state, courtesy of the successful Cap and Trade program. Streetsblog California highlighted the projects, but I would like to give special attention to the Amtrak funding.

California has shown the strongest support for intercity rail in the country. Aside from developing High Speed Rail, three of Amtrak’s busiest routes exist entirely within California, and are funded by the state. Earlier this year, the San Joaquin saw a new 7th daily train, and now the other lines will get some love.

Particularly poetic is the lease of Talgo train-sets to run between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. What makes these trains special is that they were purchased by Wisconsin for their High Speed Rail Project. That project was cancelled by Scott Walker, but not before the trains were built, and the state was put on the hook for not following through. Click to read more!

Categories : Amtrak High Speed Rail TransitTags : central california fresno streetsblog california3 Comments

Help Bring National Attention to Central California Transportation Issues

On June 29, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

If you’re reading this blog, you know that Central California is not all sunshine when it comes to planning, development, and transportation. You also probably have a strong desire to see improvement.

For example, Fresno’s half-cent transportation tax has been devoted almost entirely to highway expansions and roadway widening. Road diet projects have been halted due to right-wing elected officials. Fresno’s pedestrian mall is being ripped up, and the BRT project is no longer BRT. Sprawl, of course, continued unabated. This pattern is true across the valley. Sure, there are bright spots and individual wins, but since I started this blog over five years ago I’ve seen much more bad than good. Click to read more!

Categories : Amtrak Fresno TransitTags : 7th daily 8th daily amtrak california bakersfield expansion fresno new oakland sacramento san joaqin san joaqins train1 Comment

7th daily San Joaquin train launches on June 20 – a look at the new schedule!

On June 9, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

Amtrak’s new 7th daily San Joaquin train will launch on June 20!

A few months ago, I reported that final touches were being put on a new 7th daily train between Bakersfield and the Bay Area. Although they missed the predicted launch date of June 6, you can now purchase tickets reflecting the new schedule that kicks off on the 20th.

That’s how I was able to see what the new times look like, because the full version has not been posted on Amtrak’s page, Let’s take a look!

We start by looking at northbound trips from Bakersfield to Oakland. The blue trains in the image go to Sacramento. That means that in Stockton you transfer to an Amtrak bus if you want to reach Oakland or San Francisco. The red “train” in this image is actually a bus. It is intended for folks coming from Southern California, and terminates in Fresno. It requires purchase of a connecting rail ticket, due to lobbying by Greyhound. Click to read more!

Categories : AmtrakTags : 7th daily amtrak amtrak san joaquins california capitol corridor fresno oakland ridership ridership highs sacramento san joaquinLeave a comment

A look at Amtrak California ridership – February 2016

On April 27, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

The recent news that the Amtrak San Joaquin line is getting a 7th daily train inspired me to ask, how is ridership doing? Long-time readers might remember that Amtrak ridership updates used to be a frequent (quarterly) feature on this blog, but the last one I did was in December…of 2012! Oops. Well, I’ve updated my spreadsheets, so let’s take a look at how ridership has been doing on California’s three state-supported Amtrak lines.

We begin with a chart showing all three California lines over the past 15 months. That allows us to see seasonal changes over the course of the year, and get a brief reference of year-on-year progress. Click to read more!

Categories : AmtrakTags : 7th daily amtrak bakersfield expansion fresno oakland rail sacramento san joaqinLeave a comment

Amtrak San Joaquin finally getting 7th daily train!

On April 18, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

June 6 is the planned date for when a 7th daily train will begin service on the Amtrak San Joaquin route which serves California’s Central Valley. Currently, 4 trains a day run from Bakersfield to Oakland, with two running from Bakersfield to Sacramento. Additional thruway bus service offers connections to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and a dozen other cities. The new train will run between Bakersfield and Oakland.

Final preparations for this addition to the schedule have been underway for about 6 months now. Although the service is run and branded by Amtrak, it is funded by California and currently managed by the “San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority” which took over from Caltrans in 2015. Since they took over, they have pushed to make the new 7th trip a reality. The new service will cost $7.4 million a year. Click to read more!

Categories : Amtrak Fresno TransitTags : amtrak downtown fresno greyhound high speed rail HSR photo tour santa fe11 Comments

A look at Greyhound’s New Downtown Fresno Station

On March 15, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

I’ve mentioned a few times in this blog that as part of the High Speed Rail (HSR) project, Gryehound has moved from their old location to the Amtrak station. For a couple of years, the old station will be used by HSR personnel, and then it will be demolished when it is time to build the new rail station in that very spot. Presumably, Greyhound will then move back.

Let’s start by taking a look at the old station.

Here we see the station with the baseball stadium in the background.

The iconic bus signs.