Update from Managing Director on Service Assistance in Southern California

As you know, this past weekend we transferred several train cars and three locomotives from the Northern California Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) fleet to Southern California. This was to help relieve the overcrowding that the Pacific Surfliner trains have been experiencing since devastating mudslides in Montecito closed US Highway 101, leaving many with no way to travel between Santa Barbara County and the Los Angeles Basin.

Now that the equipment from Northern California is in place to increase capacity on Surfliner trains, I want to express my sincerest appreciation to you for your patience during this difficult time. We are aware that loaning these vehicles has caused some overcrowding on the Capitol Corridor trains. Please know that we are carefully monitoring ridership each day and managing the fleet to avoid standee conditions and minimize disruption to our own passengers.

I also want to inform you that we have been apprised that Highway 101 will not reopen until Monday evening, January 22; thus, we will leave the 11 loaned Northern California cars and locomotives in Southern California. This means these rail vehicles should be back in service, on the Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquins, by Wednesday, January 24.

Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this temporary arrangement may cause and thank you, on behalf of our staff, Board of Directors, service partners, and Southern California colleagues, for your patience and support.

Sincerely,