Passenger Trains > So... the rumor is...

Amtrak has come in SECOND in the bidding to keep Caltrain.... Anyone else heard if this is true?

YES.

And the other half is...the rumored new operator already has a geographic synergy with the CalTrain operation.

Note that the bids came in but the JPB could still make another selection. We shall see. That happened in 1992;
the bidder that came in first could not meet its specifications for insurance coverage, and Amtrak got the contract.

Amtrak's bid is actually by Peninsula Corridor Rail Services, a partnership with Bombardier.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/11 08:58 by GenePoon.

Sounds like Herzog is going to get it.

What are they bidding on for us not in the know?

Caltrain commuter operation which runs from San Francisco to San Jose, Ca.

SandyEgan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Caltrain commuter operation which runs from San Francisco to San Jose, Ca.

Actually, San Francisco to Gilroy.

Amtrak has had it good since 1992. A "sweetheart" relationship with the CalTrain JPB has simply renewed/extended
the Amtrak contract several times with little or no review. That won't work now, with the CalTrain budget crunch.
Simply putting the contract up for bid was regarded as "revolutionary" for CalTrain.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/11 09:57 by GenePoon.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SandyEgan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Caltrain commuter operation which runs from San
> Francisco to San Jose, Ca.
>
> Actually, San Francisco to Gilroy.
>
> Amtrak has had it good since 1992. A
> "sweetheart" relationship with the CalTrain JPB
> has simply renewed/extended
> the Amtrak contract several times with little or
> no review. That won't work now, with the CalTrain
> budget crunch.
> Simply putting the contract up for bid was
> regarded as "revolutionary" for CalTrain.

That's correct--everything is tightening up for sure. I heard that the Amtk contract has been extended until March 2012, but you don't know what to believe, anymore.
Amtk lost big on the MARC deal, and they'll probably lose on this one, too; howver it's not over 'til the fat lady sings!

IC_2024 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GenePoon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SandyEgan Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Caltrain commuter operation which runs from
> San
> > Francisco to San Jose, Ca.
> >
> > Actually, San Francisco to Gilroy.
> >
> > Amtrak has had it good since 1992. A
> > "sweetheart" relationship with the CalTrain JPB
> > has simply renewed/extended
> > the Amtrak contract several times with little
> or
> > no review. That won't work now, with the
> CalTrain
> > budget crunch.
> > Simply putting the contract up for bid was
> > regarded as "revolutionary" for CalTrain.
>
> That's correct--everything is tightening up for
> sure. I heard that the Amtk contract has been
> extended until March 2012, but you don't know what
> to believe, anymore.
> Amtk lost big on the MARC deal, and they'll
> probably lose on this one, too; howver it's not
> over 'til the fat lady sings!


Did the MARC contracts finally go to bid for the CSX Brunswick line, etc? I understood the issue of SNCF / Keolis and the Holocaust had blocked bids and the O'Malley administration didn't want just two bidders (Amtrak and Herzog) on the deal. The French had made a diplomatic issue of it, further complicating the matter.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SandyEgan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Caltrain commuter operation which runs from San
> Francisco to San Jose, Ca.
>
> Actually, San Francisco to Gilroy.
>
> Amtrak has had it good since 1992. A
> "sweetheart" relationship with the CalTrain JPB
> has simply renewed/extended
> the Amtrak contract several times with little or
> no review. That won't work now, with the CalTrain
> budget crunch.
> Simply putting the contract up for bid was
> regarded as "revolutionary" for CalTrain.


not better than the sweetheart deal of the MBTA where the former president of MBTA goes to a contracting company that got awarded the MBTA operating contract with special incentives

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not better than the sweetheart deal of the MBTA
> where the former president of MBTA goes to a
> contracting company that got awarded the MBTA
> operating contract with special incentives


I thought he was the former president of the contractor, then he got hired as the MBTA president where he has worked to reduce fees and increase incentives to the contractor...

Jaanfo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Out_Of_Service Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > not better than the sweetheart deal of the MBTA
> > where the former president of MBTA goes to a
> > contracting company that got awarded the MBTA
> > operating contract with special incentives
>
>
> I thought he was the former president of the
> contractor, then he got hired as the MBTA
> president where he has worked to reduce fees and
> increase incentives to the contractor...


That's how things are done in Boston. "Best government money can buy" they say...

IC_2024 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GenePoon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SandyEgan Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Caltrain commuter operation which runs from
> San
> > Francisco to San Jose, Ca.
> >
> > Actually, San Francisco to Gilroy.
> >
> > Amtrak has had it good since 1992. A
> > "sweetheart" relationship with the CalTrain JPB
> > has simply renewed/extended
> > the Amtrak contract several times with little
> or
> > no review. That won't work now, with the
> CalTrain
> > budget crunch.
> > Simply putting the contract up for bid was
> > regarded as "revolutionary" for CalTrain.
>
> That's correct--everything is tightening up for
> sure. I heard that the Amtk contract has been
> extended until March 2012, but you don't know what
> to believe, anymore.
> Amtk lost big on the MARC deal, and they'll
> probably lose on this one, too; howver it's not
> over 'til the fat lady sings!

If it does go to Herzog, I'm sure there will be a lot of displacements and bumping in OAK and SAC

Jaanfo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Out_Of_Service Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > not better than the sweetheart deal of the MBTA
> > where the former president of MBTA goes to a
> > contracting company that got awarded the MBTA
> > operating contract with special incentives
>
>
> I thought he was the former president of the
> contractor, then he got hired as the MBTA
> president where he has worked to reduce fees and
> increase incentives to the contractor...

you were right J i got that bassackwards