California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

2005-06 – 2015-16 California State Rail Plan
TEN-YEAR OPERATIONAL AND SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
PLANS
ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
The Department’s goal is to increase OTP to 90 percent by the end of the Plan
period. This goal is based on the full implementation of the unconstrained capital
program described in Chapter II. Increased OTP provides improved service
reliability and faster running times.
The OTP over the years on the San Joaquins has fluctuated considerably. It is
difficult to maintain because over 90 percent of this 314-mile corridor from
Bakersfield to Oakland is single-track. OTP on a single-track railroad is
particularly sensitive to increases in traffic and service disruptions (i.e., crossing
accidents, broken rails, and maintenance of way) because there is no other track to
relieve congestion or accommodate the service disruption.
In FFY 2000-01, OTP was 67 percent, and in FFY 2001-02 OTP rose to
78 percent. Increased OTP in FFY 2001-02 was the result of extensive
Department financed track projects and related negotiations between Amtrak and
BNSF on performance agreements. However, OTP between FFY 2002-03 and
2004-05 averaged 59 percent. Reduced OTP has been to a large extent the result
of increased freight traffic causing track congestion. Also, service delays from
deferred track maintenance and subsequent maintenance work and dispatching
issues have negatively impacted OTP.
The Department has a number of activities aimed to increase OTP and reliability.
First, the Department projects a number of track and signal projects that will
improve reliability will be completed in 2005-06. These projects include
14.3 miles of double-track between Fresno and Hanford and installation of CTC
between Port Chicago and Oakley. In the longer term, a 12.5 mile double-track
project between Wasco and Bakersfield, and on the Stockton-Oakland segment of
the Route, almost 18 miles of double-track between Port Chicago and Oakley will
significantly improve OTP. Additionally, other double-track projects are being
developed. The UP has agreed to maintain 90 percent OTP for all Stockton-
Sacramento San Joaquin trains and BNSF has agreed to 90 percent OTP between
Port Chicago and Bakersfield once two key projects are completed by the end of
2006. (See Chapter II, for additional information about the capital projects.)
Additionally, the Department will work with the UP, BNSF, and Amtrak to
identify and implement measures to enhance schedule reliability.
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