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Dec 10, 1970.
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California votes funds for passenger
rail equipment and improvements
California stands to receive $400 million for intercity passenger rail from Prop 1B, passed by the state's voters on Nov 7. Of that amount, $125 million or more will go to new passenger equipment--cars and locomotives. Capitol Corridor Managing Director Eugene Skoropowski reports that "We have heard that Caltrans Director Will Kempton may want to supplement the Prop 1B $125 million amount for new coaches and locomotives, perhaps purchasing an intercity fleet valued substantially higher (such an action would not only take care of current capacity needs and short-term growth, but would prepare the state for more services and expanded train capacities over the next 10 years or so). The remainder of the $400 million is for infrastructure improvements. According to Skoropowski, "The project list includes building the crossovers at West Causeway (Davis side), new track crossovers/platform work at Emeryville, a new crossover at Bahia (north of the Martinez drawbridge), funds for the Sacramento Station track/platform relocation plan, funds for the Sacramento-Roseville third track (design, environmental to get things started), triple track from Port of Oakland (Emeryville) to Stege (where the BNSF joins the UPRR lines) and extending possibly to Pinole, and added track just south of Martinez Station to avoid freight interference at Ozol Yard." But there's more--$2.3 billion more for goods movement improvements,
road and rail. Skoropowski: "These funds require a non-state 'match' of
dollar-for-dollar (50-50 match). There are several rail goods movement
projects in Northern California designed for freight service that will
also benefit passenger services. These include the Oakland-Reno/Sparks
(via Donner Summit) to Chicago 'Central Corridor' of Union Pacific, as
well as the I-580 rail corridor from Oakland and San Jose to the Central
Valley via the Union Pacific's Altamont Route."
New Illinois Trains Set to Start Oct 30 Amtrak President Kummant: Another Arthur Lewis? Miscellaneous News Briefs Amtrak appoints new President & CEO Amtrak acknowledges Starlight problems Refuting some myths about long-distance train travel Amtrak reaches age 35 Tunnel work is disrupting Coast Starlight service in Southern California VIA's CANADIAN is back partially on Canadian Pacific rails Amtrak funding action in the Senate Spring-summer schedule changes for St. Louis-Kansas City coming Killing Amtrak slowly from within
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