 |
Excursion Operations on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
Author: Howard
Date: 02-12-2016 - 12:04
The agenda for the RTC Transportation Policy Workshop was just released and the staff is recommending that the commission approve the following.
Click the link below to read the complete proposal. It starts on Page 14.
[sccrtc.org]
Santa Cruz Rail Tours, LLC
Late last year, RTC staff was approached by Santa Cruz Rail Tours, LLC, owned by, Santa Cruz native, Carl Arnett. As indicated in Attachment 1, Mr. Arnett proposes to run a 6 passenger, self-contained rail vehicle named “Daisy.” The rail vehicle is powered by a 4 cylinder engine. The trolley style vehicle would provide tours of the north coast section of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which is currently minimally used. The tour excursions would operate each weekend day with the possibility of some weekday tours mid-summer. The tours would operate from the west side of Santa Cruz to Davenport and back; and would utilize a bell for movement and grade crossing notifications, instead of horns. The low speed tour would last approximately 1.5 hours round trip. With approval, the excursion service could also travel south to Capitola or Aptos for special events.
Ticket sales would offset operation expenses and insurance. The service would operate in accordance to rules set forth in an agreement between SC&MB Railway, as well as agreements with the RTC. Santa Cruz Rail Tours, LLC proposes to provide the RTC with monthly ticket sales information and compensation at the rate of 10% of sales until gross ticket sales reach $11,500 per year, which is the cost of liability insurance. Thereafter, the RTC would be compensated at the rate of 20% of ticket sales. The term would be for one year with termination options set forth in referenced agreements.
Rail Explorers
RTC staff was also approached by Rail Explorers, a “railbike” operation currently running in upstate New York wishing to expand. Rail Explorers submitted a proposal to launch a Rail Explorers Santa Cruz Division (Attachment 2) and operate locally. Railbikes are custom built, easy to pedal, and operated in groups with a range of ages and abilities. Railbikes accommodate either two or four passengers and typically run in clusters. Ticket sales are sold per railbike at proposed cost of $75 for a tandem bike and $125 for a quad (four-seater). Service is proposed to run between Wilder Ranch State Park and Davenport Beach. An estimated 26 full time and part time jobs will be created per season. Rail Explorers requests a five-year agreement. They project between 35,000 and
45,000 riders in the first season, and are proposing that $1.00 from each ticket sold Excursion on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Page 3 go to the RTC. Projected sales amount to $980,000 for 2016 (assuming a July launch with a 6 month operational time frame), $1,617,000 for 2017, and $1,800,000 for 2018. Liability insurance will be provided by Rail Explorers.
Click the link below to read the complete proposal. It starts on Page 14.
[sccrtc.org]
Santa Cruz Rail Tours, LLC
Late last year, RTC staff was approached by Santa Cruz Rail Tours, LLC, owned by, Santa Cruz native, Carl Arnett. As indicated in Attachment 1, Mr. Arnett proposes to run a 6 passenger, self-contained rail vehicle named “Daisy.” The rail vehicle is powered by a 4 cylinder engine. The trolley style vehicle would provide tours of the north coast section of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which is currently minimally used. The tour excursions would operate each weekend day with the possibility of some weekday tours mid-summer. The tours would operate from the west side of Santa Cruz to Davenport and back; and would utilize a bell for movement and grade crossing notifications, instead of horns. The low speed tour would last approximately 1.5 hours round trip. With approval, the excursion service could also travel south to Capitola or Aptos for special events.
Ticket sales would offset operation expenses and insurance. The service would operate in accordance to rules set forth in an agreement between SC&MB Railway, as well as agreements with the RTC. Santa Cruz Rail Tours, LLC proposes to provide the RTC with monthly ticket sales information and compensation at the rate of 10% of sales until gross ticket sales reach $11,500 per year, which is the cost of liability insurance. Thereafter, the RTC would be compensated at the rate of 20% of ticket sales. The term would be for one year with termination options set forth in referenced agreements.
Rail Explorers
RTC staff was also approached by Rail Explorers, a “railbike” operation currently running in upstate New York wishing to expand. Rail Explorers submitted a proposal to launch a Rail Explorers Santa Cruz Division (Attachment 2) and operate locally. Railbikes are custom built, easy to pedal, and operated in groups with a range of ages and abilities. Railbikes accommodate either two or four passengers and typically run in clusters. Ticket sales are sold per railbike at proposed cost of $75 for a tandem bike and $125 for a quad (four-seater). Service is proposed to run between Wilder Ranch State Park and Davenport Beach. An estimated 26 full time and part time jobs will be created per season. Rail Explorers requests a five-year agreement. They project between 35,000 and
45,000 riders in the first season, and are proposing that $1.00 from each ticket sold Excursion on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Page 3 go to the RTC. Projected sales amount to $980,000 for 2016 (assuming a July launch with a 6 month operational time frame), $1,617,000 for 2017, and $1,800,000 for 2018. Liability insurance will be provided by Rail Explorers.
Excursion Operations on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line