{"id":32507,"date":"2024-03-27T13:42:23","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T20:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=32507"},"modified":"2024-03-27T13:42:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T20:42:25","slug":"dreamstars-sf-la-night-train-signs-collaboration-with-union-pacific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/03\/27\/dreamstars-sf-la-night-train-signs-collaboration-with-union-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"Dreamstar’s SF-LA night train signs ‘collaboration’ with Union Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\u00a0Bill Buchanan<\/a> March 25, 2024 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
FILE: A southbound\u00a0Metrolink train passes through San Onofre State Beach near Lower Trestles in San Clemente in August 2019.\u00a0MediaNews Group\/Orange County Re\/MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The California company working to start a deluxe overnight passenger train between San Francisco and Los Angeles<\/a> says it has signed a \u201clandmark memorandum\u201d with Union Pacific Railroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not a final contract, but Dreamstar Lines of Newport Beach said the memorandum of understanding \u201cformaliz[es] the parties\u2019 negotiations toward a comprehensive final agreement\u201d and \u201cidentifies the fundamental terms for Dreamstar to operate its trains\u201d on UP\u2019s Coast Line via Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and San Jose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreamstar wants to start the service in summer 2025. Union Pacific owns most of the 470-mile route. To complete the link between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Dreamstar also needs agreements to use tracks owned by regional transit operators Caltrain and Metrolink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in talks with both and working towards acceptable terms for track access,\u201d said Dreamstar CEO Joshua Dominic. \u201cBoth have been wonderful to work with and communicated interest toward getting our trains rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union Pacific, responding to Dreamstar\u2019s press release announcing the MOU, said only that it \u201chas entered into formal negotiations with Dreamstar regarding proposed overnight passenger service between Los Angeles and San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coast Line is home to Amtrak\u2019s Coast Starlight, which runs from San Jose to Los Angeles during the day. The route once hosted Southern Pacific railroad\u2019s fabled overnight first-class Lark<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most U.S. travelers abandoned trains for driving or flying decades ago, but Dreamstar believes congested roads and the hassles and environmental cost of air travel create an opening for its service. Passengers could sleep most of the way. No\u00a0night train\u00a0has connected the Bay Area and Los Angeles<\/a>\u00a0since 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Features and fares<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dreamstar\u2019s train would offer \u201ca range of classes, from economy roomettes to deluxe first class staterooms,\u201d the press release said. Services would include showers, high-speed internet, \u201capp-based arrangements for tickets, on-board food, beverage and hospitality services,\u201d and \u201clast mile\u201d transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passengers could get snacks, small plates, desserts and drinks in the train\u2019s lounge. \u201cWe\u2019re also looking at onboard delivery options for breakfast,\u201d Dominic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fares, not yet decided, \u201cwill be on the low end of overnight rail travel in North America,\u201d he said. Walk-up fares \u201cwould be competitive\u201d with plane tickets bought \u201cwithin the typical business travel window, less than three weeks before departure, or the cost of a flight with advance purchase plus a hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dominic added they\u2019re \u201clooking at family accommodations\u201d that would cost less than airfare for a group of four or more, he said, or possibly lower \u201cif demand comes in at the higher end of our projections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BEST OF SFGATE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel <\/strong>| Inside the fast food industry’s secret Calif. test kitchens<\/a>
Outdoors <\/strong>| This surreal NorCal hike takes you to the 1989 quake’s epicenter<\/a>
History<\/strong> | Did Alcatraz’s most famous escapees survive?<\/a>
Local <\/strong>| \u2018Why is there so much poop?\u2019: What tourists ask about SF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limited coach seating would be available \u201cfor shorter trips near the ends of the route,\u201d Dominic said. The train would make limited intermediate stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreamstar plans to use remanufactured\u00a0bi-level cars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passengers might be able to bring along their vehicles, Dominic said. Without disclosing specifics, he said customers would \u201cpull up to the station, board the train, and when you exit the train, your automobile will be waiting for you in the parking lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreamstar said it plans to offer services in other major travel markets \u201clocated one good night\u2019s sleep apart by rail\u201d in and outside the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur collaboration with [UP] is a significant milestone for Dreamstar Lines and for the future of private rail travel in the United States,\u201d Dominic said. \u201cWe are not only offering a luxurious and eco-friendly travel option but also revitalizing the rich heritage of overnight rail travel in America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MOU \u201cis a preliminary agreement memorializing the status of our discussions to date, and to identify the basic compensation formula for track access,\u201d Dominic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreamstar hopes it becomes a template for similar arrangements with the other track and facility owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, Dominic says he plans to nail down the final track access and operations and maintenance agreements and complete the required insurance policies. He also needs to \u201craise the remaining funds to launch the service,\u201d but the MOU is a momentum boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re targeting having all of the agreements finalized roughly one year before our intended launch date in late summer 2025,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 25, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0Bill Buchanan<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bill Buchanan is a freelance writer. He’s also an editor and host of the radio program\/podcast \u201cDavisville\u201d on KDRT-LP 95.7 FM in Davis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Bill Buchanan March 25, 2024 The California company working to start a deluxe overnight passenger train between San Francisco and Los Angeles says it has signed a \u201clandmark memorandum\u201d with Union Pacific Railroad. It\u2019s not a final contract, but Dreamstar Lines of Newport Beach said the memorandum of understanding \u201cformaliz[es] the parties\u2019 negotiations… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32507"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32507"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32510,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32507\/revisions\/32510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}