7 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

From Ventura County, CA Star, 8/18/04:

Talk of a coastal commuter train has been making the rounds in Santa Barbara County for nearly a year.

The full story is here. Free registration required.

It's not clear whether this is going to be an extension of Metrolink commuter rail service beyond its current terminus at Montalvo, or a separate company that would connect at Montalvo with Metrolink, much as Coaster does (sort-of) at Oceanside.

[KevinKorell]

From Santa Barbara, CA Independent, 4/26/07:

Union Pacific Railroad’s two representatives at the April 11 Santa Barbara Rail subcommittee meeting gave the impression that double-tracking between Santa Barbara and Oxnard is necessary for commuter trains to begin operation.

Complete column here.

[KevinKorell]

From Santa Barbara, CA Independent, 8/22/07:

The Santa Barbara City Council made an unequivocal policy statement Tuesday that commuter rail in Santa Barbara isn’t dead — just in hibernation.

Story continues here.

[KevinKorell]

From Santa Barbara, CA Independent, 9/22/07:

New Allies, Diminished Expectations for Commuter Rail

Normally restrained, reticent, and cautious to a fault, Santa Barbara City Councilmember Roger Horton was uncharacteristically jubilant about the prospects for commuter rail after last Friday’s meeting with his counterparts in Ventura County. “It was kind of a miracle,” Horton gushed.

This is where the story is.

[KevinKorell]

Santa Barbara, CA Independent, 2/3/17:

 

 

Hey, Where’s the Train?

 

In 2008, Santa Barbara County voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase with the understanding the proceeds would widen the freeway and create a commuter rail connection between Ventura County and Santa Barbara. In the intervening years, considerable progress has been made widening the freeway, but to date votes have received nothing but complicated explanations when it’s come to establishing a rail link.

Update

[KevinKorell]

Editorial in Pacific Coast Business Times, 2/24/17:

 

 

Our view: Ventura-Santa Barbara rail study a good start

 

 

Words of wisdom attributed to Chinese sage Lao Tsu hold that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

 

Perhaps the journey to improve rail transportation between Santa Barbara and Ventura begins with a single grant.

 

Entire editorial

[KevinKorell]

Santa Barbara, CA Independent, 1/31/18:

 

 

Early-Morning Train on the Horizon

 

Rail commuters who packed the trains while Highway 101 was out of commission might be inspired to pile back in this spring. A Joint Powers Authority led by Jennifer Bergener, encompassing railway between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, is on the verge of accomplishing a feat widely viewed as impossible: an early-morning train.

 

 

Update

[Springfield Pete]

Santa Barbara, California, and the neighboring city of Goleta have become employment centers in recent years, with a number of high-tech businesses developed at the University of California campus in Goleta.  Many of the workers drive in from Carpinteria, Ventura, and other area cities along the coast.  On a good day, there is heavy traffic congestion on Highway 101.  And this past January, when 101 was closed for 3 weeks due to mudslides, there was no way to make the drive without a 100 mile detour. During that emergency Amtrak's trains were standing room only, even with extra cars borrowed temporarily from the Capitol Corridor.

 

Many of the people who discovered the train service in January asked whether a regular commuter service could be started -- Amtrak's first morning Pacific Surfliner train does not arrive in Santa Barbara until 10:20 AM, far too late for commuters.  Local politicians and planners met with Amtrak and the Union Pacific RR, and they have worked out an agreement, in a surprisingly short time.

 

Beginning Monday, April 2, Amtrak train 761, which ran from San Diego to Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, arriving in Santa Barbara at 10:20 AM will be discontinued.  It will be replaced on weekdays with two new trains:  759 will run between LA and Santa Barbara 3 1/2 hours earlier than 761, arriving Santa Barbara at 6:47 AM and Goleta at 7:15 AM.  561 will operate San Diego to LA on the same schedule as the old 761, serving commuters to LA with a 7 AM arrival.   New bus routes will meet the train at SB and Goleta stations and shuttle workers to employment centers.  In the afternoon these workers can take a 4:40 PM train out of SB, this is an existing run, no change in April.  On weekends the old schedule will be maintained, with train 1761 running from San Diego to Santa Barbara.  

 

Part of the reason for getting quick agreement from Amtrak for the new schedule is that it can utilize existing equipment sets.  It will take some juggling of equipment allocation, since one set can no longer cover both the SD - LA and LA - SB segments.  Up until now, Amtrak needed 6 trains sets for the SD-LA-SB route and 5 for the SD-LA route.  Now there will be 5 sets dedicated to each route and 1 set travelling over both routes.  

 

This article has more details:  https://www.noozhawk.com/article/pacific_surfliner_commuter_train_service_races_toward_reality