This is an exceptionally difficult Message for me to write to you, and the hardest part is just realizing that I have to write it. Many of you had your travel plans disrupted due to the track project in June. The Union Pacific completed the work on schedule, and by the start of July the 90%-or-better on-time performance of your Capitol Corridor service was being restored. Amtrak and Union Pacific have worked exceptionally hard to both get the Capitol Corridor performance back to where it should be and to keep it there.
Unfortunately, external circumstances have wreaked havoc on our efforts to deliver you a reliable train service, and these external factors cannot be controlled by a company, agency or any operating personnel.
It started on Sunday, July 6 when an errant delivery truck driver ran his truck through a properly functioning gate in the down position at a grade crossing near Dixon. The truck ran into the side of a dining car on Train #736 at the grade crossing, slamming against the train, broadside. The train was moving just below the authorized speed limit of 79 mph, and the truck was traveling at about 60mph. Luckily, there was no loss of life; but train crews, passengers and motorists at the crossing were all distressed by witnessing the incident. Additionally, the police activity related to this incident took several hours to conclude, further inconveniencing on-board passengers. Passengers on Train #736 were then transferred to a following train, and the damaged train was taken out of service for repairs that will take several weeks to complete.
Since then, we have experienced a number of events, beginning Thursday, July 17 with an individual illegally walking along the tracks and then deciding to step in front a train. When a fatality occurs, the individual not only takes their own life, but also affects the lives of train crews, who are helpless to prevent incidents like this and many times are too shaken to continue work. The law also requires that a county coroner be located and brought to the scene to do their required work. Local police, Amtrak Police, Union Pacific Police and often other agencies conduct an investigation, sometimes involving interviews with passengers. The railroad must be shut down during this entire time. Not only is the train involved in the incident stopped, but all approaching trains must stop until the tracks are authorized for use, and trains can move. Delays of up to two hours, and often longer, are not uncommon in such incidents. The number of train passengers delayed can run into the thousands, depending on the time of day.
On Friday July 18, in the afternoon, a suspicious device was encountered near Shellmound Street, in Berkeley. This type of incident requires specific police action on and around the tracks, again shutting down service in both directions until the "all clear" is given by law enforcement and other involved entities. Many of you were caught in that delay.
Somehow, we made it through Saturday with only a few delays and unusual incidents. On Sunday morning, train crews reported a potentially suicidal individual along the tracks in Hayward, slowing service on the San Jose end, but not shutting down the railroad. Police were called to investigate. The rest of Sunday was uneventful.
Then it started again Monday, July 21. The first two trains operating between Oakland and Sacramento (#518 from Oakland and #521 from Sacramento) encountered an errant vehicle driven onto the tracks- not at a crossing- and blocking both main tracks. Train traffic was stopped, delaying hundreds of folks. Only after a tow truck removed the vehicle and Union Pacific inspected the tracks to be sure no damage was done, could trains resume their journey.
At approximately 9:55 am, Train #533 reported a passenger who apparently boarded the train at Martinez without a ticket. Upon arrival at Richmond Station (the next stop), he removed the emergency window seals from a designated "Emergency Escape" window on the upper level of the train, kicked out the glass and jumped out the window nearly two stories to the ground below. The passenger left behind a suspicious package having exposed wiring. Passengers were immediately evacuated, the train 'tied-down' and an emergency was reported. The Walnut Creek Police Department Bomb Squad was notified, and all BART service to/from Richmond was also shut down shortly thereafter. Ultimately, the entire process consumed five hours- from evacuating trains, station closures, the Bomb Squad inspection, hosing down of the train interior and exterior with high pressure water hoses, removal of the suspicious device, inspection of the train, removal of the train, and finally to the resumption of service on both Capitol Corridor and BART.
I am relating these events to you so that you might better understand the safety precautions taken by Amtrak, BART, the City of Richmond and Union Pacific for your protection. The delay was extensive, and the impact was felt by tens of thousands of Capitol Corridor and BART train riders all through the late morning and into the mid-afternoon. Meanwhile, Amtrak staff were brought on-site and were making alternate travel arrangements, talking with local bus companies and BART to assist in moving passengers to their destinations. Every attempt was made to get both train crews and trains to locations in preparation for the afternoon travel period with as little afternoon disruption and delay as possible.
From calls to my office, I know some of you did not receive timely or accurate information. It was not for want of trying. I monitored the Amtrak emergency conference call that was in effect throughout the incident, and am well aware of the yeoman efforts of the Amtrak rail and bus staff, the cooperation of BART and Union Pacific, and 'rescue buses' provided by Amtrak private carriers and our local transit agencies, particularly the County Connection buses at Martinez Station.
The cascading effects of the illegal and inconsiderate actions of just one individual disrupted the entire day for thousands of travelers, and for this I apologize to all of you who were impacted by it. Some days, no matter what seems to go right operationally, an external incident throws cold water on all those efforts. Every day, there are hundreds of folks working on the trains, dispatching trains, providing information to the riders, supervising tracks and signals, working at stations, etc. These folks regularly go above and beyond their minimum duty requirements to make your trip reliable and uneventful. Unfortunately, in spite of all that effort, an incident like the one on Monday just unravels all those efforts.
We know that communication could have been better in some areas, and we are working on that. However, I want you to know that every person who could be engaged to help was on the job. Many folks worked hard and long to get everyone to their destinations and to get service back on schedule as quickly as possible after the tracks were released.
I commend all those who worked and helped in this recovery effort, and I apologize to all the riders who were caught in the middle of this unplanned and unnecessary incident, caused by one person who apparently had little regard for their own actions or the impacts of those actions on anyone else.
We do our best to deliver you a quality train service that you can rely on. Sometimes, no matter what we do to make improved service a reality, a single individual finds a way to undermine those efforts.
We will pick up the pieces, regroup, and resume our efforts to deliver you reliable train service, minus a couple of damaged (and badly needed) rail coaches with seats in them. Again, I apologize to all of you impacted by any of these events.
Sincerely,
Eugene K. Skoropowski
Managing Director
The City of Sacramento, Department of Transportation will be re-surfacing and re-striping the front parking lot at the Sacramento station. Parking lot improvements will take place on the following weekends:
- July 19-20
- July 26-27
The Sacramento parking lot will re-open Monday mornings for daily commuters.
During construction, drivers can access the Sacramento parking lot by using the 2nd Street entrance. For your convenience, additional parking is available at the Old Sacramento parking garage, located at 2nd and I Streets.
The main entrance located at 5th and I Streets will not be available to drop off and pick up passengers. Passenger drop off and pick up will be located west of the station at 2nd and I Streets. Please follow detour signs.
View the City of Sacramento flyer
The June track work between Martinez and Suisun/Fairfield is now complete, and there are no longer bus bridges between the two stations. Capitol Corridor has resumed normal service. Please refer to the May 12, 2008 timetable [PDF] for route and schedule information.
We thank you for your patience while Union Pacific Railroad completed this project that will improve reliability and ride comfort.
Another record-breaking month for Capitol Corridor! Check out the latest ridership and revenue results. May 2008 Performance Report (PDF)
Overflow parking at the Davis station is available at the 4th & G St. parking garage.
View area map and rates (PDF)
Buy your discounted multi-ride tickets online! More info
Free WiFi Service is now available at Sacramento Valley Station. Visit the City of Sacramento's website for more information.