Train Riders Association of California | Bringing More Train Travel To California

The Adventures of “Miss Alignment” at L.A. Union Station, Part Deux

Posted on November 5, 2018 by admin

It’s very attractive architecture inside Union Station, but it’s a jungle!

Episode Deux

Bureaucrats do nothing:

Dear Ms. MacAdams,

Thank you for contacting us to share your experience at Union Station on August 14. We are sorry to hear your property was stolen and you had difficulty getting assistance from Union Station’s security and law enforcement.

Please know that the safety and security of our riders, as well as the patrons of Union Station, are a top priority to us. While Metrolink security at Union Station is limited to our train platforms, we will follow up with Metro to see how we can be of support.

If you have any questions about Metrolink service, please visit our website at www.metrolinktrains.com or call us at (800) 371-5465.

Sincerely,

Metrolink Customer Relations

Moral: Watch your valuables at Los Angeles Union Station! If they get lifted, you’re out of luck!

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Rail-Related news, Monday, November 5, 2018

Posted on November 5, 2018 by admin

Conductor stops train on tracks to rescue dog in New Jersey

From the Dark Side(tm) & Sun Rises in East Dept.: Uber, Lyft clog SF streets according to study

Could self-driving cars leave high-speed rail in the dust?

More in the saga of the Salesforce Transit Center: contractor sues for $150 million
http://m.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Contractor-sues-Transbay-center-authority-for-13315295.php?t=a866355e3c

From the Dark Side(tm) Dept.: Bid to repeal gas tax sparks debate over how transportation spending occurs in California
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gas-tax-diversion-20181018-story.html

New proposed high-speed rail through Bakersfield skips downtown, would cost $22 million less

Light rail system expands in Mesa, Arizona through roundabout

Los Angeles begins tunneling of Purple Line (Wilshire Subway) extension

Rider safety is top priority to candidates in BART board race

Due to its problems with cracked beams et al, San Francisco Transportation Authority holds up additional $10 million for Salesforce Transit Center

Santa Clara County’s latest transportation sales tax funding BART extension and other projects is legal, judge rules

Elon Musk’s test tunnel for “rapid transit” (sic) to be open for public review on December 10th

After major cost overruns and delays, downtown Berkeley BART station plaza reopens and homeless get fancier rain shelter

CBS 60 Minutes: Why has the New York City subway run off the rails?

The Salesforce Transbay Transit Center isn’t the only mega project with problems: bacteria and rust on the new S.F.-Oakland Bay Bridge

Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) announces “visionary” proposals in transportation beauty contest

Some researchers claim Uber [and Lyft] help increase transit ridership, contrary to some other findings

From the Dark Side Dept.: Bay Area’s worst commutes [starting with Bay Bridge corridor]

When will the Salesforce Transit Center reopen? Many weeks into the future

European architects to design revamp of San Jose Amtrak/Caltrain station

Shiny new BART cars finally running in regular service

From the Dark Side Dept.: What [may] happen when a cop pulls over a driverless car [if the car recognizes cops, among other things]

Judge tentatively rules against high-speed rail opponents, again

SMART, City of Santa Rosa spar over proposed Jennings Avenue pedestrian/bicycle crossing

Due to unexpected demand, BART to double available parking at Antioch eBART station

Just prior to Halloween, it could have been the BART Chainsaw Massacre! High weirdness on BART

SMART details its plans to extend service to Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale

Caltrain electrification continues to progress between San Francisco and San Jose

Los Angeles Metro begins next steps to extend Eastside Gold Line

Envisioning a Southern California Metrolink frequent service network like the Paris RER

Is Los Angeles Union Station obsolete? (should there be tunnels under Downtown L.A., e.g., like in Zurich, Switzerland?)

You CAN get to/from Stockton via bus from Dublin/Pleasanton BART station [if you want to]

SMART grapples with change in its 2nd year of service

In races for board seats, how BART faces the future at stake

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Rail-Related News, Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Posted on October 16, 2018 by admin

Bill signed by Governor Brown gives BART direct control over housing and other development on its station properties

Some state politicians say it’s time to “hit the pause button” on high-speed rail

Contractor who handled problematic cracking beams at the new Transbay Transit Center also involved in problems with San Jose BART extension

Due to quirks in state law, San Mateo County BART stations exempted from fare evasion crackdown

California highs-speed rail needs a keeper, er, conductor

From the Dark Side Dept: Correcting an oversight, cops can now impound non-licenses self-driving cars

Proposed 2nd Transbay Tube may be routed under City of Alameda, include Amtrak and other regional trains

Transbay Transit Center may remain closed through at least early November

“Who dunnit?” remains open question for cracked steel beams at Transbay Transit Center

Redwood City to study future grade separations of Caltrain line, emphasizing Whipple Ave

SMART sells site next to downtown Santa Rosa station for housing project

The problematic Transbay Transit Center shows why we need to fix how we do mega projects

Sophisticated quake alerts lets BART trains stop before shaking starts

Legendary bus and train bandit winds up locked up in mental hospital

Cox, Newsom clash in debate over gas tax repeal and other transportation issues

Safety concerns of passengers remain high on BART

New parking garage at Dublin-Pleasanton BART station begins

What California’s recent gas tax increase actually costs you

BART to quadruple sidewalk washing at 16h St and 24th St stations in San Francisco

BART fined $1.3 million over track worthier deaths in 2013

If voters repeal recent gas tax increase, major projects in jeopardy

Maybe the SMART extension to [0.3 miles away] from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal will reduce pressure on parking

Southern California Metrolink considers extending discount fares on San Bernardino line

Dramatic improvements in T-Third Street light rail service promised when Central Subway opens in 2019

Sandy Springs, GA floating gondolas as possible alternative to light rail

High-speed rail could transform Fresno. Or it might not.

New renderings of Airport Metro connecting station on L.A. Crenshaw/LAX line

Posted in News | Comments Off

TRAC Position Paper 2018-2 POTENTIAL FOR EXCURSION RAIL SERVICE: SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Posted on October 11, 2018 by admin

TRAC Position Paper 2018-2

POTENTIAL FOR EXCURSION RAIL SERVICE: SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

This paper is now available on the California Rail News website at http://www.calrailnews.org/trac-position-papers

Posted in News | Comments Off

Rail-Related News, Friday, September 28, 2018

Posted on September 28, 2018 by admin

Photo credit: Sharon Hahn Darlin via Curbed SF

Additional train between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul feasible, study finds

Backs of California gas tax repeal start new initiative to scrap high-speed rail project in 2020

“Transit Week” gets off to normal start with train delays—while politicians are on the trains

BART considering adding unarmed train monitors and “ambassadors” to improve security and visibility

“Homeland Security” (sic) officers now patrolling BART system when they can

Despite concerns about high percentage of Black people being cited for fare evasion, BART board votes to expand fare checking

BART faces pushback from proposed new security measures

New Salesforce Transbay Transit Center shutdown after finding cracked support beam

What went wrong at new Transbay Transit Center? Here are possible explanations

Caltrain cancelling weekend train service within S.F. for six months for electrification construction

Proposed upgrade of Clipper fare payment system biased towards existing vendor, other vendors say

According to poll, repeal of gas tax opposed by majority of potential voters

Transbay Transit Center to remain closed through at least October 5th since 2nd cracked beam found

Contractors that installed steel beams that cracked at Transbay Transit Center already up to eyeballs in lawyers

MTC decides to throw some money at studying redundant rail line over the Altamont Pass

Bay Area officials choose not to simply convoluted transit fares before upgrading Clipper fare system

Posted in News | Comments Off

Rail-Related News, Monday, September 24, 2018

Posted on September 24, 2018 by admin

Bart fare inspectors check riders for valid tickets as they enter the platform at the West Oakland station in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. The inspectors travel in a group and setup at an entrance, an exit or board a train and check every rider according to a bart spokesman. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Improved rail technology prompts ideas for light rail to Ontario, CA airport and DMUs on Metrolink San Bernardino line

Despite BART’s efforts, plaza at 16th Street station in S.F. remains yucky

Is the Trump Administration purposely holding up New Starts transit project funding?

One in four cable car passengers apparently aren’t asked to pay – audit

Florida’s Brightline purchases controlling interest in proposed high-speed rail Dersert Xpress between Las Vegas-Southern California

World’s first hydrogen fuel cell train enters service in Germany

Marin-Sonoma SMART to begin construction of Sonoma Airport-Windsor extension

Los Angeles Metro may change rail line designations from colors to numbers or letters

BART’s fare evasion fines hit African Americans the hardest [Key point: does the inspection rate of AA’s match BART ridership rates by race?]

Portland TriMet fare inspections conducted inconsistently, so judge rules it unconstitutional

Napa County looks at congestion-reducing ideas, including trains

Posted in News | Comments Off