Amtrak California
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Amtrak California train at San Jose Diridon Station
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| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Caltrans Division of Rail | ||
| Locale | California | ||
| Transit type | Inter-city rail | ||
| Number of lines | 3 | ||
| Headquarters | Sacramento, California | ||
| Website | Amtrak California | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 1976 | ||
| Operator(s) | Amtrak | ||
| Reporting marks | CDTX | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
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Amtrak California (reporting mark CDTX) is a brand name used by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Rail on three state-supported Amtrak rail routes within the U.S. State of California, the Capitol Corridor, the Pacific Surfliner, and the San Joaquin. It also includes an extensive network of Thruway Motorcoach bus connections, operated by private companies under contract. The three lines shared the use of state-owned "Amtrak California" branded Thruway buses and trainsets.
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) assumed operation of almost all intercity passenger rail in the United States in 1971. Service in California, as in most of the United States, was basic and infrequent. In 1976 California began providing financial assistance to Amtrak. At the same time, Caltrans Division of Rail was formed to oversee state-financed rail operations and the brand Amtrak California started appearing on state-supported routes.
In 1990, California passed Propositions 108 and 116, providing $3 billion for transportation projects ($5.5 billion after inflation), with a large portion going to rail service. As a result, new locomotives and passenger cars were purchased by the state, and existing inter-city routes expanded. A more distinct image for Amtrak California, such as painting locomotives and passenger cars in "California Color", was established with the arrival of new rolling stock.
In 1998, while still funded by the state, the management of the Capitol Corridor was transferred to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), formed by local jurisdictions of the line serves. In 2015 the management of the Pacific Surfliner and the San Joaquin were similarly transferred to the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN), respectively. As a result, the "Amtrak California" brand become less prominent in the websites and marketing materials.
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