2017 California Passenger Rail Summit

2017 California Passenger Rail Summit

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 11:30 AM - to - Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:00 PM (PDT)

Report and Photography by Carl Morrison, Comments and Corrections welcomed at: Carl@TrainWeb.com

http://trainweb.org/carl/2017CaliforniaPassengerRailSummit/

All photos available for re-publication. Please keep the copyright on the photo and mention TrainWeb.com in the text next to the photo.

To request a high resolution photo, click the photo in this report once and copy the photo's number (such as: _MG_4708.JPG).
E-mail those numbers to Carl@TrainWeb.com.

Click any photo for a copy with a black background; Any downsized photo will be larger.

Conference Purpose: To meet with leaders in the rail industry for discussions regarding the modernization and integration of passenger rail service in California. This modernization and integration effort is being held by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the Federal Railroad Administration, working with transportation agencies throughout the state, to create an environment of investment in passenger rail infrastructure that has been unparalleled in recent years and will continue to grow.

Speakers will discuss funding, development, and strategic approaches to the growth of passenger rail in the state. Joining us at this event will be state and federal representatives, passenger rail agencies, and other leaders working together to shape the future of passenger rail.

California Passenger Rail Summit 2017 Host Hotel:

Embassy Suites - Riverfront Promenade, 100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-326-5000

(Note the proximity of the tracks in the foreground above on which the Sacramento River Dinner Train runs.)

Tower Bridge, adjacent to the Embassy Suites.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

11:30 AM - 5:30 PM : Sacramento County Administration Center, 700 H Street, Sacramento, California 95814.

The Conference was held here, a $5.10 Uber ride from the Embassy Suites.

11:30 AM - 01:00 PM Registration / Lunch

Each day we had a catered lunch - sandwich, chips, cookie, fruit, and soft drink.

01:00 PM - 03:30 PM Technical Tours

1. Tour of Siemens Rolling Stock Manufacturing Facility in Sacramento

Transportation will be provided from the registration tables at the Sacramento County Administration Center.

Established in the 1980s, Siemens manufactures a large variety of rolling stock vehicles at its Sacramento plant. From light rail vehicles, street cars, single-level coaches to electric and Diesel-electric locomotives. The plant includes carshell and truck production, subassembly, final assembly, commissioning and testing. Currently in production are e.g. street cars for San Francisco, light rail vehicles for Calgary, complete intercity trainsets for the Brightline service in Florida and Diesel-electric locomotives for California, Illinois and Washington. Please note that for confidentiality and competitive reasons, rolling stock manufacturers will not be able to participate in the Siemens Sacramento factory tour.

Photos of Siemens Tour:

To the Bus to Siemens in South Sacramento

Only 27 of the 200+ attendees could be accommodated on the Siemens Tour. Martin Bloedt, Sales and Product Manager, Locomotives No. America, (martin.blodt@siemens.com) led us to the tour bus and explained a few things on the way, including "No Photographs". He did mention that he could provide official photographs to us, which he kindly did in an e-mail to me the next day.

Here is Siemens' Video of the testing of the Siemens Charger Locomotive:

Direct connect to the Siemens videos: http://siemensusa.synapticdigital.com/Charger#relatedMedia

2. Tour of Sacramento Valley Station

The tour group will meet at the Sacramento Valley Station which is within easy walking distance of the event location.

The tour of the Sacramento Valley Station will give an overview of the three-part phase improvements completed and planned for the site. The tour will begin with the Phase 1 Track Relocation and New Passenger Platforms and the northern edge of the site. This segment of the tour will be led by Hank Doll, President of Vali Cooper Associates, Construction Manager for Phase 1, who will explain the challenges and process of this ambitious $70 million project. The Phase 2 Restoration of the historic station will be led by Greg Taylor, AIA, City Project Manager along with Mr. Doll. This segment of the tour will focus on the rehabilitation of the station programmatically, historically, and the sustainable design practices in the design. The tour will include the Main Waiting Room restoration, provisions for ground floor retail in the former baggage area, second floor lease area, and the third floor roof deck. From the roof deck, a brief overview of the Phase 3 Site Master Plan, now in progress, will be summarized and a Q/A session will conclude the tour.

Click any cropped image for a larger copy, click back in your browser to return to this page.

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM : Opening Remarks

Over 200 attendees.

Conference Kickoff - David Kutrosky

Intro: CCJPA Chair Lucas Frerichs

Welcome: CalSTA Secretary Brian Kelly

Time for questions after each presentation or Panel.

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM : CEO Round Table

Don Sepulveda, Michael Baker Intl - Moderator

Click the speaker's last name to link to a selection of his or her power point slides.

Farhad Mansourian, SMART

Jennifer Bergener, LOSSAN JPA

Stacey Mortensen, ACE-San Joaquin JPA

Whitney O'Neill, Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Metrolink

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM : Reception / Dinner

California State Railroad Museum, 125 I Street, Old Sacramento, California 95814.

Registration handled by Steve Grande

Click for larger copies

First display in the round house was the Siemens mock up of a Velaro High-Speed Trainset by Siemens

View from the back. This locomotive cab had seating for the engineer, 15 passengers, and a lounge.

An excellent location for full-length photos was the third floor in the Museum.

The excitement, and what we had all come to see, was the Siemens Charger that was brought in from Oakland and already delivered to CalTrans. More to be delivered.

Co-Chair of the 2017 California Passener Rail Summit, Bob Manning.

Cummins' New Release on this engine:
https://cumminscommentary.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/cummins-unveils-the-world%E2%80%99s-most-powerful-high-speed-diesel/

Click for larger copy.

Welcome:

Co-Chairs of the Conference, David Kutrosky (left), Capitol Corridor, and Bob Manning, Southwest Rail Passenger Association.

Reception and Dinner

These two photos are a bit blurry, not sure if it was the camera or the wine.

Martin Bloedt, Siemens on right

Dinner is served!

Dessert is Served!

Angela Starr, WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff (left) (StarrA@pbworld.com)

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

8:00 AM - 3:45 PM : Sacramento County Administration Center, 700 H Street, Sacramento, California 95814.

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM : Registration / Continental Breakfast

Vendor Tables: