In this issue:
Message to Riders
Temporary Service Change- October 25-26, 2008
Upcoming Timetable Change – October 27, 2008
Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future
Upcoming Holiday Schedule
*************************************************************************************************************** Message to Riders regarding Monday’s (10/20) delay
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Many of you experienced delays during your evening travel home on Monday evening (October 20, 2008), and I wanted to apologize for the lack of communication to you, our riders.
First, what happened Monday evening? It started when a vehicle ignored the crossing gates and bells just east of Richmond and attempted to cross the tracks ahead of San Joaquin train 713. The locomotive struck the rear bumper of the car and the driver of the car continued on without stopping. As a result of the incident, Union Pacific closed the railroad in both directions until the tracks were inspected and the investigation was complete, which is a normal safety procedure when an incident occurs at a grade crossing. Unfortunately, tracks remained closed for nearly an hour, which is more than usual for this type of incident, and the closure excessively delayed the operation of passenger and freight trains and resulted in the delays to trains 538, 540, and 549.
It is my understanding that our passengers were given limited information about this incident and ensuing delays. I understand how frustrating this can be and want to assure you that we are taking steps to improve our communication with passengers during service incidents. We know that timely information allows you to plan for your trip and make alternative arrangements, if needed. To that end, a joint committee of Amtrak and CCJPA staff has been assembled to review Monday’s incident and improve procedures to enhance direct communication to our passengers when an incident such as this occurs. We hope to have an improved communications plan in place within the next month.
While I cannot change the situation you experienced, I felt that you were entitled to as complete an explanation as I can provide. I also want to apologize to those of you who were delayed without information during this service incident.
Sincerely,
Eugene Skoropowski
Managing Director
*************************************************************************************************************** Temporary Service Change- October 25-26, 2008
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On the weekend of October 25-26, Capitol Corridor Trains 732, 733, 734, 737 and San Joaquin Train 716 WILL NOT STOP at the Emeryville station. This will allow a window of time for Union Pacific’s track crews to replace track switches leading in/out of the Emeryville train station.
This is part of a multi-year track upgrade project between Oakland and Sacramento designed to keep the railroad in good condition so trains can operate reliably.
*************************************************************************************************************** Upcoming Timetable Change – October 27, 2008
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Capitol Corridor will publish a new winter timetable on Monday, October 27, 2008, and there will not be any major changes to the current train schedules.
Train 548 and some motorcoach bus routes will have slight schedule modifications.
Motorcoach bus Route 20 A/B will no longer stop at Soda Springs.
As part of our ongoing effort to reduce waste, Capitol Corridor has printed two pocket-sized timetables this October; one for Train Schedules (including the Route 99 San Francisco motorcoach connections) and one with just the Motorcoach Schedules and their connecting trains. This new format uses less paper overall and is also now printed on recycled paper.
Be sure to pick up one of the new schedules at a station near you- they will be available on Friday, October 24th.
*************************************************************************************************************** Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future
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Take Capitol Corridor to the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose for the world premiere of the largest, most comprehensive exhibit of the innovative art, science and engineering works of Leonardo da Vinci and his contemporaries.
This unique inspirational and educational exhibit combines nearly 200 artifacts, including life-size working models, hands-on interactive machines and displays, multimedia presentations and works of art based on Leonardo da Vinci’s engineering, scientific and art principles. More than half the pieces in the collection have never before been seen by the public.
Special pricing is available to Capitol Corridor riders for this exhibit.
View our website for more information about this special offer!
*************************************************************************************************************** Upcoming Holiday Schedule
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Capitol Corridor will operate a weekend/holiday schedule on the following dates:
Thanksgiving Day- Thursday, November 27, 2008
Day after Thanksgiving- Friday, November 28, 2008
Christmas Day- Thursday, December 25, 2008
New Year’s Day- Thursday, January 1, 2009
****************************************************************************************************************For information about Capitol Corridor service, visit www.capitolcorridor.org or call 1-877-9RIDECC (1-877-974-3322).
Try our automated train status feature! Call 1-877-9RIDECC (1-877-974-3322) and press “1”. Or check online at www.capitolcorridor.org/trainstatus
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