Valley rail supporters discuss more trains, more stations

North Fresno may get its own Amtrak station. If so, it’s probably years away. That it’s even being discussed, however, shows how serious transportation officials are about revolutionizing passenger rail service in the San Joaquin Valley.

Several officials and a handful of advocates gathered Tuesday evening in downtown Fresno to discuss the future of regional train travel.

The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and its business plan were the star attractions at the 90-minute meeting.

The Authority was born last year from dissatisfaction with the bureaucracy of conventional passenger train service in much of Central California. It’s complicated machinery even now, but in essence the Authority is taking over the management of Amtrak service from Bakersfield to Sacramento and into parts of the Bay Area.

Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/05/27/3668338/valley-rail-supporters-discuss.html#storylink=cpy