A scenic train trip, bicycle rides, museums, electric trolleys and wine tasting (and discounts for being eco-friendly to boot). This is how to do Santa Barbara. For 10 years, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District has run a progressive program luring tourists to the region without a car. Get to the oceanside city by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, a beautiful ride that partially cruises along the ocean in a couple hours (Currently, there's a......

An alleged body covered with sheets was seen by an Amtrak train passenger who was near the Van Nuys Station this afternoon. LAPD Media Relations could not immediately confirm anything, but Francisco Oaxaca at Metrolink said the tracks were closed for about an a hour and a half due to "police activity." Around 4:45 p.m., one track was opened allowing trains to operate on the single track. There were a few delays and one train......

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., left, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif, gives an opening statement during a briefing on the Metrolink crash in Chatsworth on Capitol Hill last month. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) In the wake of the deadly Chatsworth train crash where a Metrolink commuter train and Union Pacific freight train crashed head on killing 25 and injuring 135, technology called positive train control that detects and shut down trains heading towards each other......

Via Streetsblog, we find a report from the Brookings Institution (.pdf) that outlines each candidate's positions on transportation. It goes over twelve issues such as transportation earmarks, the gas tax holiday, telecommuting and smart growth. However, what caught our eye was "View on Amtrak / Intercity Passenger Rail." The results show two extremely different points of view, which is a given, but nevertheless a fresh eye opener. “Obama has been a strong supporter of......

On this November's ballot, we will be voting on Proposition 1, a bond that will help fund a high speed rail route that is planned to have a two hour-forty minute train trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco. USA Today columnist David Grossman writes his experiences and why we need it: When visiting the East Coast I often use Amtrak to traverse the Northeast corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., instead of flying......

Yesterday evening, a southbound Surfliner train from Los Angeles to San Diego ran out of fuel. Amtrak told the Associated Press that is was “an unusual occurrence” and that they will be looking into it. Passengers were stuck for two hours into early Monday morning about 15 miles from the last stop in downtown San Diego.......