FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer McMahon
510-238-4360
ATK-00-54
May 22, 2000 

AMTRAK RELEASES FIVE-YEAR RAIL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR CALIFORNIA

Almost $4 Billion Plan Is The First Step in a Twenty-Year Program

OAKLAND - Amtrak recently released a $3.9 billion five-year draft improvement plan that would result in additional roundtrips, faster trip times and increased ridership on California's passenger rail routes. The five-year proposal is the first step in the development of a twenty-year vision for existing and emerging rail corridors in the state due out this fall. The twenty-year document and the five-year summary, called the California Passenger Rail Plan, is currently being developed in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), local communities, transportation agencies, commuter railroads, freight railroads and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Amtrak is investing more than $5 million in the community based planning project to develop the comprehensive plan for providing fast, frequent, convenient passenger rail service to all of California's major population centers. The final plan can act as a "blueprint" for rail corridor development in the State.

"Amtrak's mission is to provide high-quality passenger rail service on its intercity corridors," said Gil Mallery, president of Amtrak West. "These services share tracks and stations with the freight railroads and commuter rail agencies. Facing shared challenges, the five-year plan targets improvements in the areas that will benefit all rail users, including shippers and commuters."

While the 20-year long-range plan is needed to address the State's growing and future transportation challenges, California's immediate needs must be addressed. The five-year plan responds to these challenges by proposing immediate solutions to improve current rail service. The plan proposes to: (The complete California Passenger Rail Plan, including statements from elected officials, can be obtained on the Internet at www.amtrakwest.com/califuture.)

• Relieve congestion by targeting track improvements designed to expedite and expand commuter and intercity passenger rail, as well as freight traffic on heavily congested tracks in the San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco Bay areas, along with Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley.
  
• Improve service by upgrading existing track and signals, which will allow passenger and freight trains to operate at higher speeds with less interference over longer stretches of track between the state's major cities.
  
• Improve safety and mobility through grade crossing improvements and selective grade separations.
  
  In turn, these improvements will result in additional service, enhanced reliability and convenience and reduced trip times. For example:
  
• Capitol Corridor service will increase by six roundtrips and ridership will increase by 122 percent.
  
• Pacific Surfliner (formerly San Diegan) corridor service will increase by three roundtrips from San Diego to Los Angeles, three roundtrips from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and an additional extension to San Luis Obispo. Ridership will increase 117 percent.
  
• San Joaquin corridor service will increase by three roundtrips and ridership will increase 79 percent.
  
• Coast corridor service will begin with one roundtrip, connecting downtown Los Angeles to downtown San Francisco returning direct rail service after an absence of more than 30 years, with a first year ridership of nearly 200,000. In addition, four roundtrips will begin from San Francisco to Monterey and Salinas.

A major community-based planning initiative was undertaken in the development of this plan. Four task forces were created, one for each intercity corridor (San Joaquins, Pacific Surfliner, Capitols and the California Coast). The membership of each task force includes local elected officials, Caltrans, freight and commuter railroads, rail advocates and the FRA. The participation of local representatives was determined by the membership of the local managing or advisory group for the existing or emerging corridor.

"Working closely with the task forces we have developed a comprehensive, prioritized plan that demonstrates the costs and numerous benefits of investing in passenger rail in the state of California," said Mallery.

Ultimately, plans call for new or expanded service to Palm Springs, Tahoe-Reno, and Redding from the San Joaquin Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area over Altamont Pass. The plan also proposes providing new rolling stock and station enhancements on existing Capitol, San Joaquin and Pacific Surfliner routes.

For more information about Amtrak, including schedules, fares and reservations visit Amtrak's website at www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.