RAILforum: Coast Daylight - don't hold your breath

This is topic Coast Daylight - don't hold your breath in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :

I just read the minutes from the August 17th meeting of the Coast Rail Coordinating Council. There are two things holding up the Coast Daylight.

First, the state of California has no funding for it in this year's budget. The slow economy and energy bailout left no money for it this year. Even a reduced fundign request was denied. The state wants to concentrate remaining rail funds on existing commuter corridors.

Second, there appears to be a scheduling dilemma. A market-driven schedule was released earlier in the year which had a departure on each end between 7:30 and 8:00am. Metrolink is concerned it will conflict with their trains, so the and Amtrak proposed a departure just after 6:00am. One member of the CRCC board strongly objected, saying a noon departure would be preferable. However, another board member countered that a noon train would likely catch up with the Coast Starlight, which often runs late, and the trains would end up runing together.

On the positive side, the CRCC seems determined to make it happen, one way or another, eventually.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

Posted by skinsfan31 (Member # 910) on :

Any info on other "delayed" trains, such as the Downeaster, extension of Silver Service to Boston, extension of the Kentucky Cardinal to Nashville/Chattanooga, and the Crescent Star?

Charles