Passenger Trains > Caltrans

Is Caltrans run by Amtrak and where all does Caltrans go?

Thanks.

Randy Lundgren
Elgin, TX

Caltrans may not be what you think it is.

For information about Caltrain, start here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltrain

Wikipedia can also get you started on Caltrans, which is an agency unit of the state of California, the equivalent of other state Departments of Transportation.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/18 15:13 by toledopatch.

As a practical matter, it would be more accurate to say that Amtrak is run by Caltrans, with respect to the state-funded corridors.

It's the golden rule: those with the gold make the rules.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/drmt/

Posted from Android

Caltrans subsidised trains – AKA Amtrak California – run:

San Diego to San Luis Obispo, through Los Angeles and Santa Barbara (Surfliner).
San Jose to Auburn, through Oakland and Sacramento (Capitol Corridor)
Bakersfield to Oakland and Bakersfield to Sacramento, through Fresno and Stockton (the San Joaquins).

All three of those corridors are managed by individual joint powers authorities, which are made up of representatives from local agencies along the way.

Caltrain, on the other hand, is a separate JPA that runs from San Francisco, through San Jose, to Gilroy.

The core cities see more trains. There's limited service beyond Santa Barbara on the Surfliner, east of Sacramento and south of Oakland on the Capitol Corridor, and south of San Jose on Caltrain.

Yeah, CalTrans is the California Department of Transportation.
Rail transportation is just a small part of what they do.
Highway construction and maintenance is their main function.

Lets see now. The Capitol Corridor trains are funded and supervised by the CCJPA and the San Joaquins by the SJJPA, which are creatures of the counties where the trains operate, not much different in structure and funding than the JPB for the Peninsula Commute service. Amtrak is merely the contract operator (except for the PCS). I'm pretty sure Caltrans has been out of the picture for quite a while with all of these services (not sure about the Surfliners). "Caltrans" was formerly the Calif Department of Highways.

EtoinShrdlu Wrote:
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> Lets see now. The Capitol Corridor trains are
> funded and supervised by the CCJPA and the San
> Joaquins by the SJJPA, which are creatures of the
> counties where the trains operate, not much
> different in structure and funding than the JPB
> for the Peninsula Commute service. Amtrak is
> merely the contract operator (except for the PCS).
> I'm pretty sure Caltrans has been out of the
> picture for quite a while with all of these
> services (not sure about the Surfliners).
> "Caltrans" was formerly the Calif Department of
> Highways.

CalTrans is still in the loop, but the various Joint Power Agencies and Board handle the day to day operations.

Caltrans is the California State Department of Transportation (DOT). Like other state DOT's it funds certain intercity corridor trains. Those DOT's often own the rolling stock but contract with Amtrak to provide operating crews and maintenance services for the equipment.

BART manages the Capitol Corridor.

Posted from Android

EtoinShrdlu Wrote:
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> "Caltrans" was formerly the Calif Department of
> Highways.

For only 11 years 1896 - 1907

1895  California Bureau of Highways
1896  California Department of Highways
1907  California Department of Engineering, Highways Division
1911  California Highway Commision of the California Department of Engineering
1921  California Highway Commision of the California Department of Public Works
1972  California Department of Transporation, Division of Highways

1976 California Deparment of Transporation, Division of Rail created.