High Speed Coastal Train

Board your train in San Francisco. Relax with a drink and a meal, watch the fabulous scenery or talk to friends. Even play cards and games, sleep or work, walk around and visit others. Nine hours later arrive, without the hassle and discomfort of having to drive the entire way yourself or battle your way through miles of airport. In Europe, high-speed rail travel is a given, and travelers zip between countries at breathtaking speeds.

America has been a more difficult prospect due to size, and while there was a time when many people traveled by train, it just isn't as popular as it used to be. Cars are more convenient individually, and flying is faster. The cost of installing high-speed trains is phenomenal, and in California only the Southern, most populated portion, has been covered. But passenger train are more ecologically friendly and less land-intrusive than travel by car, and much more user-friendly than air travel.

The building of a high-speed train down the California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles (and from there to San Diego) began in 1994, when the Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) was formed, including representatives from Los Angeles, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Salinas, Watsonville, San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland. The first coastal train, the Coast Starlight, began running in 1996. Only one train per day currently makes the entire journey, which takes over 11 hours to complete. While this makes the train unpractical for business purposes, it is extremely popular due to the spectacular scenery of the California coastal region.

By 2002, the CRCC is planning to replace the existing trains with high-speed trains using 'tilt' technology, which can achieve 110 miles per hour. The existing system was built nearly a hundred years ago, and is basically outmoded. According to Pete Rodgers, coordinator of the project and representative for SLOCOG (San Luis Obispo Council of Governments), there will be nothing but positive impact by the replacement of existing lines with the new 'tilt' trains. Two trains per day will be able to run, due to the reduced time needed for a run, and new stations will be added along the route.

"The benefits of the project include increased mobility for people on the corridor and improved access to/from the region for tourism and business travellers...the Coast Starlight train is often filled to capacity and not available for local travel. Only long distance passengers can get a seat."The coast highway, (1), has long been a source of contention and problems. It is extremely dangerous during the winter months, when heavy rains cause flooding and landslides. During the winter of 1997-98, when El Nino ravaged California, much of the highway was closed for months. The installation of the high-speed train would help considerably.

Cost is the main problem, and undoubtedly the reason the upgrade wasn't attempted before. The completed project, including upgraded grade crossing warning devices, track upgrades and tilt train equipment runs to $202 million. Amtrak is currently conducting demonstration runs.

For more information contact Brian Rosewald at 213/683-6950.