California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

2005-06 – 2015-16 California State Rail Plan
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE
Figure 8B shows ridership and financial performance data on an annual basis from
the start of State-supported Amtrak rail passenger service in 1991-92 through
2004-05. Ridership and revenues have increased over that period, as have
expenses, loss, and State cost. The farebox ratio on this Route has not fluctuated
as much as on the San Joaquins and Pacific Surfliners for a number of reasons.
First, when the Capitol Corridor service started, Amtrak had already begun
increasing costs that are included in the farebox ratio. By 1996-97, Amtrak was
charging a cost basis similar to the current basis. Also, the Capitol Corridor
service is still relatively new and has added frequencies at a relatively fast rate.
Thus, the growth tends to be offset by new costs for increased frequencies. The
Capitol Corridor service has a lower a farebox ratio than the other two routes,
primarily as a result of its shorter trip length. The Capitol Corridor farebox ratio
(37.8 percent in 2004-05) has ranged between a high of 43.4 percent in 1995-96
and a low of 29 percent in 1996-97.
OTP on the Capitol Corridor was fairly low during the initial years of the service.
With the completion in early 1999 of major track and signal work over much of
the route, OTP improved considerably. In 2004-05, OTP averaged 86.6 percent.
The planned new trackage and signal improvement projects between Oakland and
San Jose will improve the Capitol Corridor’s reliability and OTP by facilitating
both passenger and freight train movements and by providing more opportunities
for trains to pass each other.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
The Capitol Corridor now has four weekday round-trips between Oakland and
San Jose (six on weekends), twelve weekday round-trips between Oakland and
Sacramento (nine on weekends), and one daily Sacramento to Auburn round-trip.
Scheduled running time between Oakland and Sacramento averages
1 hour-50 minutes (for trains starting or ending in Oakland) with the overall speed
averaging 44 mph. Scheduled running time between Oakland and San Jose
averages 1 hour-13 minutes with the overall speed averaging 36 mph. Scheduled
running time between Sacramento and Auburn averages one hour and four
minutes with the overall speed averaging 33 mph.
The Capitol Corridor extends 169 rail miles from Auburn to San Jose (35 miles
east of Sacramento and 134 miles west of Sacramento.) Except for three miles of
ROW owned by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, UP owns this entire
route. Amtrak operates the Capitol Corridor under provisions of its contract with
UP. Figure 8C describes the current ownership, segment mileage, and track and
signal characteristics of the Capitol Corridor.
98