What will happen to Amtrak California when the HSR gets built?

[west point]

California has big plans for the coast route from LAX - San Jose/

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail...nd-san-jose-every-few-hours-one-day-heres-how

 

[lordsigma]

The feds haven't subsidized state routes in 15 years when the last of the under 750 mile base network was given to states.

They do indirectly. Amtrak can lose money and spend federal funds operating PRIIA 209 routes - provided that state entities contribute as per PRIIA requirements. But the state supported business line does not break even - it is not essentially a straight operation for hire situation. Amtrak is allowed to bid on competitively bid regional services outside of PRIIA 209 intercity service but it must do so at a market rate as the ancillary business line (the business line that operates market based competitive services for profit) is not one of 3 things that Amtrak is allowed to spend federal money on and has to be revenue positive. They operate 3 commuter services - one in California one in Connecticut and one in Maryland under that model. That’s why just throwing away Amtrak (for PRIIa 209 services) is a little more complicated private operators don’t have the federal backing nor do they have any obligation to continue operating a service they don’t want to. The contracts that I know of that Amtrak has been replaced on have been ancillary non intercity services that they were operating at a market rate. Amtrak spent $234.7 million in federal funds operating state supported routes last year - including $15.1 million in fully allocated costs operating the San Joaquins, $19.2 million operating the Surfliners, and $7.6 million operating the Capitol Corridor.

 

[lordsigma]

To expand further - for Q4 of FY2023 (according to the FRA’s quarterly documents) the San Joaquins had $25,386,581.739 in fully allocated costs. When state payments are left out they received $7,328,931.865 in fare box revenue - a 28.9% fare box recovery. They received $21,164,628.005 in revenue when state payments are included - essentially $13.8 million in state payments. However with ticket revenue and state payments together that’s still less than the fully allocated costs of over $25 million. That difference is borne by Amtrak’s operating loss and federal funds from the national network account.

 

[TransitTyrant]

California has talked about before leaving amtrak and going to someone else. I'd prefer if we just brought that all in house along with metrolink, caltrain and ACE.
The feds haven't subsidized state routes in 15 years when the last of the under 750 mile base network was given to states.

This would be a good move if we weren’t talking about California. The state government is mostly incompetent when it comes to anything transit related. Not to mention the current governor is aloof when it comes to public transport.

 

[GDRRiley]

This would be a good move if we weren’t talking about California. The state government is mostly incompetent when it comes to anything transit related. Not to mention the current governor is aloof when it comes to public transport.

The state ran a great rail department till we pulled it apart and gave all the power to JPAs.