Southwest Rail Passenger Association


Upcoming Events:

There are currently no plans for a 2023 California Passenger Rail Summit


News Articles:

Past Events:

April 24 & 25 - 2019 California Passenger Rail Summit: Photos & Text by Carl Morrison. Extensive photos from this 7th annual summit including photos from a tour of the Amtrak Oakland Maintenance Facility. Summit Highlights: Future California Passenger Rail Network, California's Integrted Ticketing Program, The State's megaregional projects, New Equipment, Sustainability, Tourism and travel, Enhancements for the customer experience...
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April 18 & 19 - 2018 California Passenger Rail Summit: Photos & Text by Carl Morrison Extensive photos from this 6th annual summit including equipment displays, reception in the historic Los Angeles Union Station ticket area, and the Patrick Henry Private Railcars. Photos also included from the tour of the LA Metro Regional Connector Transit Project and the LA Union Station Tour... Read More>>
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April 18 & 19 - 2017 California Passenger Rail Summit: Photos & Text by Carl Morrison Conference Purpose: To meet with leaders in the rail industry for discussions regarding the modernization and integration of passenger rail service in California. This modernization and integration effort is... Read More>>

Oct 11, 2016 - Amtrak trains could connect Los Angeles with desert, Pass by David Downey, Staff Writer, Press-Enterprise. John Standiford, deputy executive director for the Riverside County Transportation Commission, said leaders have long sought such passenger service. The agency, which plans and funds... Read More>>

May 2, 2016 - Party train to Coachella festival set to chug next year by Skip Descant, The Desert Sun. The memories of bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 10 during Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival weekends are surely still fresh on many minds. Southern California air quality officials and Amtrak would like to replace those recollections with images of comfy club cars and the spacious accommodations of an Amtrak train... Read More>>

Apr 13-14, 2016 - California Passenger Rail Summit: Report & Photos by Carl Morrison Annual summit of passenger rail agencies of California held in the Los Angeles Union Station Historic Ticket Office. Includes photos of trains on display (3751, Amtrak Metrolink) and tour of the Regional Connector Transit Project...
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Feb 12, 2016 - The Desert Sun: L.A.'s Union Station: a great first stop on trip to Palm Springs by Skip Descant
There are several reasons to arrive early at Union Station for your 4 p.m. train to the Coachella Valley. Report & Video of L.A. Union Station tour ... Read More>>

April 13 & 14, 2016 - California Passenger Rail Summit: Save The Date!
Join us at the fourth annual summit as we meet with leaders in the rail industry for discussions regarding the modernization and integration of passenger rail service in California... Read More>>

April 28 & 29, 2015 - California Passenger Rail Summit: Report & Photos by Carl Morrison
In April of 2015 the Annual California Passenger Rail Summit was held in Sacramento including a reception and display of new passenger rail equipment in the California State Railroad Museum Roundhouse. Read More>>

April 18, 2015 - RIVERSIDE: Rail project awareded $2.98 million grant
A $2.98 million Federal Railroad Administration grant will support plans to provide daily Amtrak service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. Read More>>

April 2 & 3, 2014 - California Passenger Rail Summit: Report & Photos by Carl Morrison
In April of 2014 the Annual California Passenger Rail Summit was held at Los Angeles Metro including a reception in the Harvey House at Los Angeles Union Station. Read More>>

April 27, 2015 - Getting to the California Passenger Rail Summit 2014 by Rail
The 2014 California Passenger Rail Summit was conveniently located in the Metro Building, a few steps from the platforms at the Los Angeles Union Station... Read More>>

Aug 23, 2012 - Another Step for the Coachella Valley Train
The Federal Rail Road Administration requires that any new state passenger rail service must be included in a state rail plan and this plan must be updated approximately every two years. This would of course include the proposed Los Angeles to Palm Springs and Indio train. Fortunately, this train has already been in the state plan since the late 1990s... Read More>>

Jul 09, 2012 - Additional Rail Passenger Service for California
We at Southwest Rail have been focused on encouraging additional passenger rail service from Los Angeles to Palm Springs and Indio... Read More>>

May 31, 2012 - First Sunset Limited Trip on New Schedule
TRIP REPORT: Talk about a change of pace, how about eating a late dinner at Traxx Restaurant which is located directly inside Los Angeles Union Station!... Read More>>

Dec 17, 2012 - Another Small Step
Will we ever have a daily train from Los Angeles to Palm Springs and Indio? Many folks have asked that same question, and I can only say that it takes a very long time. Read More>>

Dec 21, 2011 - Special Report - Passenger Train Service in the West - Meetings in Washington, DC
Often we complain about things but fail to correct the problem. Yes, I'm referring to the underserved passenger train service in the west. This conveys the sad... Read More>>

Dec 05, 2011 - Congratulations Union Pacific: Steam arrives into Indio
The temporary Transportation Center in the heart of downtown Indio, witnessed more people then anyone could have imagined on this special day... Read More>>

Aug 14, 2010 - The Future of the Sunset Limited
America's oldest "named" train, the Sunset Limited, started service in 1893 and was Southern Pacific's premier train. It still operates today between Los Angeles and New Orleans... Read More>>

Jun 16, 2010 - Amtrak Meeting
On behalf of Amtrak, a special train trip for California elected officials and other invited guests was provided by Amtrak President and CEO, Joe Boardman and his board of directors, including Chairman, Thomas Carper, Vice Chair, Donna McClean, Director Nancy Naples and Federal Railroad Administrator, Joe Szabo. Also included in this trip were Mark Yachmetz, Associate Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, and Joe McHugh, Amtrak Vice President Government Affairs along with other Amtrak officials... Read More>>

Apr 23, 2010 - Historic Rail in La Plata, Missouri
Taking the Amtrak's Southwest Chief, afforded us the opportunity to stop off at La Plata, MO, which is approximately a five hour train ride from Chicago... Read More>>

Mar 04, 2010 - Barstow Veterans Home : A Tour of the Barstow Museum and Depot
I had made arrangements about six weeks ago to provide a guided tour for some of the residents of the California Veterans Home in Barstow, CA... Read More>>

Nov 6 & 7, 2009 - Coast Starlight To Seattle!
My girlfriend April and I just returned from a weekend trip up to Seattle from Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight and I just wanted to jot down a few thoughts while they are still fresh in my mind... Read More>>

Oct 19, 2009 - Coachella Valley Association of Governments Meeting.
Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Transportation Committee, had on its agenda, to consider funding Schiermeyer Consulting Services, to complete the 2009 Update of the Coachella Valley Passenger Rail Study... Read More>>

Oct 11, 2009 - Letter to Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.
I greatly appreciate the time you took with me and my two colleagues yesterday (Thursday October 8) discussing the many challenges Amtrak faces. This is especially true with... Read More>>

Sep 26, 2009 - Texas Eagle Marketing and Performance Organization (TEMPO) Meeting.
It was suggested that I attend the TEMPO meeting which was held Saturday, September 26, 2009 in Temple, Texas... Read More>>

Sep 02, 2009 - Train Meeting with Loma Linda City Officials.
I met recently with Loma Linda City Councilman Bob Ziprick and City Manager T.Jarb Thaipejr both of whom expressed a strong desire to have Amtrak trains serve their city... Read More>>

Jun 10, 2009 - Sunset Limited Marketing Meeting.
I have just arrived home after attending the Sunset Marketing and Revitalization Team (SMART) meeting which was held June 6, 2009 in New Orleans, LA... Read More>>

Apr 13, 2009 - Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Permission to R. Manning.
Robert Manning. Joyce Manning and Steve Oliver representing the Southwest Rail Passenger Association attended the monthly CVAG meeting on Transportation today. Bob was also representing RailPAC at this meeting... Read More>>

Apr 06, 2009 - Meeting with Joe Yannuzzi, Amtrak General Superintendant, Southwest Division.
Mr. Joe Yannuzzi advised that a demonstration train for the Coachella Valley for the year 2010, requiring three daily trains would not be in the realm of possibility before 2011, and... Read More>>

Feb 17, 2009 - Washington D.C. By Train, Report by Robert Manning.
Realizing that this may be the best funding period in Amtrak's history, the RailPAC board of directors thought that we should have a hand in helping this come to fruition. RailPAC sent Dick Spotswood (RailPAC Secretary) and this writer to Washington D. C., in order to meet with senior Amtrak officials, members of our California Congressional Delegation and NARP in order to discuss the Amtrak stimulus package and how this may benefit California and Amtrak. Read More>>