MEETING REPORT

San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee

Meeting Report for January 14, 2005

Reported by Bruce Jenkins

The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met in Hanford on Friday, 1/14/05. It probably was the most abbreviated meeting yet. Committee Vice Chair Bob Waterston, Fresno, presided. There was lots of tardiness due to fog. D.J.Mitchell and Rick Depler of BNSF were unable to attend due to BNSF weather problems.

Division of Rail report:

The two Shoppers Special trains were very successful (2 weekends), and will extend south to Fresno next year.

The Fresno transit passes have been started. They are also extending the Hispanic program to include the Asian population in the Valley.

The Fresno station dedication will be on February 12 at noon.

A BNSF maintenance Blitz from Fresno to Stockton will shut down the line on 1/23 thru 2/4. Two train sets will be kept south of Fresno. A bus bridge will be in effect Fresno - Stockton, but Madera and Antioch will not be served.

On budget matters, the good news is that there are no cuts for operating funds; the bad news is there will be no funds for capacity increases until at least '07 or '08.

The High Speed Rail Authority will probably go to the Division of Rail, policy will go to the California Transportation Commission. HSRA got funding to cover pending legal issues.

Division of Rail Chief Warren Weber has retired, and the retirement party is February 11 in the evening at the Rail Museum in Sacramento.

Amtrak report:

The San Joaquins are at 76.7% OTP (our trains to the meeting, #702 and #715, were right on time).

The new maintenance facility is yielding very positive results, especially in car cleanliness and locomotive reliability.

Ridership on the San Joaquins is up June/July 6% , 3% Oct, 5% Nov, 7% Dec.

Note: It was Good to see a stack of "Western Rail Passenger Reviews" on the sign- in table.