Contact Information:     Thomas Reeves

                                    209.944.6242 office

                                    209.649.1762 cell

                                    Thomas@acerail.com

ACE Rail Trains Delayed Because Of Thermal Misalignment

-High Temperature caused tracks to expand-

July 9, 2008

News Facts 

• High temperatures caused train delays and tracks to expand, resulting in a thermal misalignment (sun-kinks) along ACE tracks 3 miles south of the Pleasanton station between Fremont and Sunol at Hearst Siding. A thermal misalignment is the result of the high temperatures causing the track to warp and/or kink.
• Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) performed maintenance on the track to allow ACE trains to operate; the portion of damaged track was extracted and replaced.
• ACE 04 was ultimately delayed three and one-half hours while ACE 04 and 06 were delayed about 90 minutes.
• Union Pacific Railroad constantly patrols the tracks during hot weather, and because of their efforts, they found the sun-kinks and did not allow ACE trains to operate on the tracks.
• Operating a train on tracks damaged by thermal misalignment is prohibited under federal regulations.

    Quotes

• “Thanks to the vigilance of the UP track inspection department, they prevented ACE from running on the damaged track,” said Doug Honn of Herzog Transit Services Inc., which operate the commuter rail train.
• Today and tomorrow, we are paying for buses and drivers to be on standby.  We have an insider at the UP headquarters in Omaha who will be staying after office hours to alert us if there are any heat related alerts within UP.  If we get the hint of anything along those lines, we will activate the buses to give people an option, regardless of whether the trains are on the move.  We are better prepared today to operate as best we can under these extreme circumstances, and I will be mindful of everyone’s time and concerns,” said Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director of ACE.

Please be advised that we have bike lockers available at the following stations: Lathrop/Manteca, Tracy, Vasco, Livermore and Pleasanton.  Also, due to the increase in bike riders, please bring a bungee cord on the train to secure your bike.  We have a limited number of bike ties and bike racks on the train.  For any questions please contact Susan Payan at susanp@acerail.com.

If you are a passenger from the Riverbank or Oakdale area, please contact ACE Operations Supervisor John Giovannoni for possible commute assistance to the Lathrop/Manteca station.  John can be reached at 209-944-6247 or johng@acerail.com.

Please see the information below regarding the availability of ACE tickets at Amtrak stations:

Effective Wednesday, June l1, Amtrak ticket offices will be able to sell one-way ACE tickets between San Jose, CA, and all ACE stations, and between Stockton, CA, and all ACE stations.  Local intermediate trips between ACE stations as well as multi-ride tickets will not be sold.  Tickets will primarily be sold at Amtrak’s San Jose and Stockton ticket offices although tickets can be purchased at any Amtrak ticketing office.  ACE tickets will not be available at Quik-Trak machines.

Please note that Wifi testing has been moved to cars 03 & 06.  For more information please contact Susan Payan.  Wifi is currently down.  The equipment has been sent in for repairs.  If you have any questions please contact Susan Payan.

UPDATE: Wifi testing will resume the week of July 7th.

The current 5-Day Test Drive program will be ending at the end of May and will be replaced by a new program.  Current applications for the 5-day Test Drive program must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2008.  All vouchers issued for the 5-Day Test Drive program must be used by Monday, June 30, 2008.

The new Employee Test Drive program is implemented through your employer as a way for businesses to promote alternative modes of transport to work.  Contact your employer to see if your business promotes the Employee Test Drive program – If not, contact ACE Rail Customer Service to request an application form.  The program is free and easy, so start recruiting new riders today for the new three FREE days of travel Employee Test Drive ticket.

acerail.com – customerservice@acerail.com

800 - 411 - RAIL

May is National Bike Month and I encourage all of you to participate in Bike-to-Work Week from May 12 – 16.  Try riding your bike to an ACE station and take your bike with you on one of our bike cars.  Also, find out how you can use one of the bike lockers located at our stations.  We have bike lockers available at the following locations: Tracy, Manteca, Vasco and Livermore.  The League of American Bicyclists promotes Bike-to-Work week as well as Bike-to-Work day on Friday, May 16.  Try riding your bike to work and have a safe ride!