MEETING REPORT

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAIL COMMITTEE

January 9, 2004

Reported by Russ Jackson

The BNSF was represented by D. J. Mitchell from Ft. Worth, Texas. Mr. Mitchell spoke at the November meeting, and returned to answer several items. Perhaps the most interesting to us was his official statement that the BNSF was interested in talking to California about extending trains across the Tehachapis from Bakersfield to Los Angeles. That line is jointly owned by them with the UP, so even if the BNSF agreed as a result of the talks it would still need to be ratified by the UP, which has already told this group "no way."

Mitchell also told the group that in response to the recent On Time problems on the line they have not only dismissed two high executives in California, but are reorganizing to put a "much higher priority" on corridor running by augmenting staff in their San Bernardino office. They did not like it that they did not earn incentive payments last fall. They are also talking to the UP about a "capacity exchange," where they would trade with the UP for trackage rights in the San Joaquin Valley while the UP would get some of theirs in Missouri, which would allow better dispatching of freights by moving some trains over to the UP's line to help the San Joaquin passenger trains. This "does not mean directional running," however. It will be done within a month. Since December the OTP has improved, and this past week there were no dispatcher related delays. So far the busing between Fresno and Bakersfield has been going smoothly, while the BNSF does extensive maintenance to that segment of the line. The buses are being paid for by the BNSF.

The SJVRC has formed a subcommittee to look into "Business Class" on the trains, as is done on the Surfliners. RailPAC members Art Lloyd and Bruce Jenkins will meet with Caltrans' Eric Schatmeier to look into this idea for the San Joaquins.

I was told that while the Capitol Corridor is still having problems with its "Real Time" message signs, that Caltrans is sitting on the funds for the same signs on the San Joaquin corridor, letting that money earn interest until the Capitol Corridor signs are working the way they should. This morning the big electronic message board in the Sacramento station was showing solid red, followed by solid orange, followed by other colors. It made the station look colorful, but wasn't very helpful. This afternoon the schedule was visible again, however.

Another SJVRC subcommittee is also looking into how to better reach potential Hispanic riders, who now make up 20% of the ridership

Groundbreaking for the LONG awaited Fresno station improvement project will be February 6 at 10:30 AM. It's a $5 million, one year project to be done on the site of the present station. (Late note: This event has been rescheduled to February 20.)

The SJVRC tabled until March a resolution supporting the concept of high speed rail, which would NOT have included an endorsement of the current CAHSRA plan. Two of the rail projects mentioned for delay because of the Governor's budget cutback are the Stockton-Escalon double tracking Phase 2, and Pittsburg-Antioch double tracking. Any capital project that is not now under contract (for highways as well as rail) is chopped. This means 12 Caltrans personnel assigned to the capital projects will have to be reassigned. No new projects will be accepted. At least the operating funds are safe for another year. After that, who knows?

The next scheduled SJVRC meeting is March 12 in Fresno.


RailPAC Contacts Publications Issues Meeting Reports 2004 Reports 2004-11 Monterey 2004-11 San Joaquin 2004-09 Coast Rail 2004-09-15 Capitol 2004-09 San Joaquin 2004-08 Coast Rail 2004-07 San Joaquin 2004-06 TAMC 2004-04-26 Coast Rail 2004-04-21 Capitol 2004-04-13 LOSSAN 2004-04-13 CAHSRA 2004-03-23 Fresno Station 2004-03-12 San Joaquin 2004-02-18 Capitol 2004-02-02 Monterey 2004-01-09 San Joaquin 2004-01-07 LOSSAN Membership Links	MEETING REPORT SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAIL COMMITTEE January 9, 2004 Reported by Russ Jackson The BNSF was represented by D. J. Mitchell from Ft. Worth, Texas. Mr. Mitchell spoke at the November meeting, and returned to answer several items. Perhaps the most interesting to us was his official statement that the BNSF was interested in talking to California about extending trains across the Tehachapis from Bakersfield to Los Angeles. That line is jointly owned by them with the UP, so even if the BNSF agreed as a result of the talks it would still need to be ratified by the UP, which has already told this group "no way." Mitchell also told the group that in response to the recent On Time problems on the line they have not only dismissed two high executives in California, but are reorganizing to put a "much higher priority" on corridor running by augmenting staff in their San Bernardino office. They did not like it that they did not earn incentive payments last fall. They are also talking to the UP about a "capacity exchange," where they would trade with the UP for trackage rights in the San Joaquin Valley while the UP would get some of theirs in Missouri, which would allow better dispatching of freights by moving some trains over to the UP's line to help the San Joaquin passenger trains. This "does not mean directional running," however. It will be done within a month. Since December the OTP has improved, and this past week there were no dispatcher related delays. So far the busing between Fresno and Bakersfield has been going smoothly, while the BNSF does extensive maintenance to that segment of the line. The buses are being paid for by the BNSF. The SJVRC has formed a subcommittee to look into "Business Class" on the trains, as is done on the Surfliners. RailPAC members Art Lloyd and Bruce Jenkins will meet with Caltrans' Eric Schatmeier to look into this idea for the San Joaquins. I was told that while the Capitol Corridor is still having problems with its "Real Time" message signs, that Caltrans is sitting on the funds for the same signs on the San Joaquin corridor, letting that money earn interest until the Capitol Corridor signs are working the way they should. This morning the big electronic message board in the Sacramento station was showing solid red, followed by solid orange, followed by other colors. It made the station look colorful, but wasn't very helpful. This afternoon the schedule was visible again, however. Another SJVRC subcommittee is also looking into how to better reach potential Hispanic riders, who now make up 20% of the ridership Groundbreaking for the LONG awaited Fresno station improvement project will be February 6 at 10:30 AM. It's a $5 million, one year project to be done on the site of the present station. (Late note: This event has been rescheduled to February 20.) The SJVRC tabled until March a resolution supporting the concept of high speed rail, which would NOT have included an endorsement of the current CAHSRA plan. Two of the rail projects mentioned for delay because of the Governor's budget cutback are the Stockton-Escalon double tracking Phase 2, and Pittsburg-Antioch double tracking. Any capital project that is not now under contract (for highways as well as rail) is chopped. This means 12 Caltrans personnel assigned to the capital projects will have to be reassigned. No new projects will be accepted. At least the operating funds are safe for another year. After that, who knows? The next scheduled SJVRC meeting is March 12 in Fresno.
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