California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

Chapter VII – San Joaquin Route
In 2002, the Department requested that the UP do a State-funded rail capacity
study between Bakersfield and Los Angeles to examine intercity passenger rail
service on the line. The railroad declined to do the study stating that because there
is no excess capacity on this line, the addition of regularly scheduled passenger
service would have a detrimental impact the UP’s ability to provide competitive
freight rail service.
However, the Department remains interested in extending San Joaquin rail service
to Los Angeles. The San Joaquin Corridor Strategic Business Plan RFP
mentioned above includes the study of: (1) extending one round-trip on a
overnight schedule on the UP route to Los Angeles; and (2) extension of the Route
south to the foot of the Grapevine with new track, extension of certain
Pacific Surfliner trains from Los Angeles north to Santa Clarita on existing track,
with both extensions connected by a short bus ride via I-5 over the Grapevine.
The Department decided to examine the second option as a potential alternative to
use of the UP’s line between Bakersfield and Los Angeles.
ROUTE HISTORY AND PERFORMANCE
Two daily trains served the San Joaquin Valley until May 1971 when Amtrak was
formed. Each train used a different route through the Valley, and was operated by
different railroads. SP operated the San Joaquin Daylight between Oakland and
Los Angeles and a connecting train, the Sacramento Daylight, from Sacramento
that provided cross-platform connecting service with the San Joaquin Daylight at
Tracy. The ATSF operated the San Francisco Chief between the Bay Area and
Chicago via Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield.
Amtrak’s initial route structure in May 1971 used the SP’s Coast Line for service
between Northern and Southern California, leaving the San Joaquin Valley
without rail passenger service. Public pressure for restoration of rail service began
almost immediately after the formation of Amtrak. As a result, Amtrak’s
appropriation for FFY 1974 included funding for service in the San Joaquin
Valley. Amtrak selected a joint SP-ATSF route using a connection between the
two railroads at Port Chicago (near Martinez). In March 1974, the new
San Joaquins entered service between Oakland and Bakersfield and were entirely
funded by Amtrak.
In 1979, a major reduction in Amtrak’s nationwide route structure was proposed,
including the termination of the San Joaquin Route. However, the State reached
an agreement with Amtrak to continue the train with State support under the
provisions of Section 403(b) of the Amtrak Act. Thus, State support of the route
started in February 1980 when the second Oakland-Bakersfield round trip was
added.
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