A team led by RLBA and CalTrans are bringing to a conclusion RLBA’s evaluation of California’s competitive options with respect to procuring intercity passenger rail service despite some disruption caused by California’s fiscal crisis. The report focuses on potential outsourcing of some or all service functions in the context of Amtrak’s continued presence as one possible candidate service provider.

The Rail Division of the California Department of Transportation provides financial assistance to 60 daily passenger trains which were projected to carry 3.8 million riders in 2002/03 in three intrastate corridors (Surfliner, San Joaquin and Capitol). State support of those intercity passenger trains totaled $62.9 million in FY 2001. Nearly all of the service functions supporting those train operations are supplied by Amtrak, which also oversees operation of Thruway Bus Service, the nation’s largest connecting and complementary bus operation, carrying over 700,000 annual riders.

RLBA was selected by CalTrans to study state-supported, rail passenger services in California, to evaluate the feasibility of contracting service, given existing contractual arrangements between the State and Amtrak as well as Amtrak’s legal status and physical resources, compare the advantages and disadvantages of feasible methods by which to ensure continuity and enhancement of the services and to present recommendations regarding: continuation of the status quo with Amtrak as the sole provider through a contractual relationship contrasted with the solicitation of competitive bids from one or more contractors to operate and maintain California’s intrastate rail passenger services.

In conducting the study:
1) RLBA identified and interviewed rail passenger service stakeholders;
2) reviewed Amtrak’s current financial and legal environments and
3) made recommendations aimed at improving service performance assuming Amtrak’s continued presence in its various roles as potential service provider, connecting carrier and operator of other California passenger services.