Save Our Trains Michigan
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Herzog may replace Amtrak in Calif.
SAN DIEGO -- A transit district committee is recommending that the agency hire a new company to maintain and operate the Coaster trains and to maintain the 60-mile railroad track between Orange County and San Diego, according to this report by Michael Burge published by the Union-Tribune.
The North County Transit District Board monitoring committee voted unanimously yesterday to recommend that the full board award a five-year, $45 million contract to TransitAmerica, a subsidiary of Missouri-based Herzog Transit Services Inc.
The full board will consider the matter Dec. 15.
If hired, TransitAmerica will take over maintenance and operation of the trains and tracks from Amtrak, which has done the job since 1995 when the Coaster passenger train first went into service. Amtrak's contract expires June 30.
Lane Fernandes, the district's director of commuter rail services, said the amount may be slightly less than $45 million, as the district is negotiating final contract points with TransitAmerica.
Amtrak submitted a bid of $48.6 million for the five-year contract, and Connex bid $58.3 million.
Fernandes told the committee that TransitAmerica also scored the highest in an evaluation of five performance criteria: technical approach; maintenance and operating plans; qualifications and experience; innovation and customer service; and cost.
TransitAmerica maintains or operates nine other rail lines, including the Altamont Commuter Express between Stockton and San Jose, and the Trinity Railway Express between Dallas and Fort Worth.
The contract also includes maintenance of the tracks between Oceanside and Escondido after construction of the Sprinter passenger rail project is completed in December 2007.
(The preceding report by Michael Burge was published by the Union-Tribune on Friday, Dec. 2, 2005.)
December 2, 2005
SAN DIEGO -- A transit district committee is recommending that the agency hire a new company to maintain and operate the Coaster trains and to maintain the 60-mile railroad track between Orange County and San Diego, according to this report by Michael Burge published by the Union-Tribune.
The North County Transit District Board monitoring committee voted unanimously yesterday to recommend that the full board award a five-year, $45 million contract to TransitAmerica, a subsidiary of Missouri-based Herzog Transit Services Inc.
The full board will consider the matter Dec. 15.
If hired, TransitAmerica will take over maintenance and operation of the trains and tracks from Amtrak, which has done the job since 1995 when the Coaster passenger train first went into service. Amtrak's contract expires June 30.
Lane Fernandes, the district's director of commuter rail services, said the amount may be slightly less than $45 million, as the district is negotiating final contract points with TransitAmerica.
Amtrak submitted a bid of $48.6 million for the five-year contract, and Connex bid $58.3 million.
Fernandes told the committee that TransitAmerica also scored the highest in an evaluation of five performance criteria: technical approach; maintenance and operating plans; qualifications and experience; innovation and customer service; and cost.
TransitAmerica maintains or operates nine other rail lines, including the Altamont Commuter Express between Stockton and San Jose, and the Trinity Railway Express between Dallas and Fort Worth.
The contract also includes maintenance of the tracks between Oceanside and Escondido after construction of the Sprinter passenger rail project is completed in December 2007.
(The preceding report by Michael Burge was published by the Union-Tribune on Friday, Dec. 2, 2005.)
December 2, 2005
