SNRPC

The Sonoran National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as SNRPC, is a passenger railroad service that provides local- medium- and long-distance intercity service in Sonora California and United States. Founded in 1965 as a quasi-public corporation to operate rail transport in Sonora. The company receives state and federal funds. SNRCP serves all of Sonora's territory and operates in limited ways in California and the United States.

SNRCP was the first North American rail company to develop a high-speed rail program. SNRCP operates a long-distance bus service as a For-profit corporation

Private passenger service
In 1916, 98% of all commercial intercity travelers in Sonora moved by rail, and the remaining 2% moved by Ships Passenger trains were owned and operated by the same privately owned companies that operated freight trains. As the 20th century progressed, patronage declined in the face of competition from buses, air travel, and the automobile. New streamlined diesel-powered trains such as the Pioneer Zephyr were popular with the traveling public but could not reverse the trend. By 1940, railroads held just 67 percent of commercial passenger-miles in the United States. In real terms, passenger-miles had fallen by 40% since 1916, from 42 billion to 25 billion.

Traffic surged during World War II, which was aided by troop movement and gasoline rationing. The railroad's market share surged to 74% in 1945 After the war, railroads rejuvenated their overworked and neglected passenger fleets with fast and luxurious streamliners. These new trains brought only temporary relief to the overall decline.Even as postwar travel exploded, passenger travel percentages of the overall market share fell to 46% by 1950, and then 32% by 1955.

The causes of this decline were heavily debated. The Sonoran Highway System and airports, both funded by the government, competed directly with the railroads, who paid for their own infrastructure. Sonoran car culture was also on the rise in the post-World War II years. Progressive Era rate regulation limited the railroad's ability to turn a profit. Railroads also faced antiquated work rules and inflexible relationships with trade unions.

Matters approached a crisis in the 1950s. The diversion of most Sonora Postal Service mail from passenger trains to trucks, airplanes, and freight trains in late 1967 deprived those trains of badly needed revenue. In direct response, the Fresno, and Imperial Railway filed to discontinue 33 of its remaining 39 trains, ending almost all passenger service on one of the largest railroads in the country. The equipment the railroads had ordered after World War II was now 20 years old, worn out, and in need of replacement.

Formation
In 1955 the government of James Peterson launched an investigation to establish the state of the Railways of Sonora. After the technicians showed that the railways were in a disastrous state. The government passed the National Railway Corporation Act where all private railway companies were disbanded, rolling stock along with railway lines passed to the government of Sonora.

In 1956, the Sonoran National Railroad Passenger Corporation (SNRCP) was born to manage the sound rail network. In this period, rolling stock is replaced with more modern versions. Many railway lines were refurbished to comply with safety regulations. Many long-distance rail lines are activated using EMD E9.

Reconstruction of the sonoran railway took almost 10 years. At this time the railway along with the motorway network were the two major projects that the sonoran government was investing. During this period the railway resumed the conquest of the market, but nevertheless it was resumed very timidly. In 1964 the railway had 52% market share in passenger and freight transport. Many rail companies in California and the United States operate their own trains but pay a "rail maintenance fee" to SNRCP which is calculated based on the distance traveled. "The maintenance fee" is not applied on routes where there is a joint venture with SNRCP.

The first high-speed rail line
With the increase in traffic between San Diego Los Santos and Phoneix it was decided to build a new railway line capable of sustaining high speeds. Passenger demand became high while locomotives had very low speeds. In 1962, the design of a high-speed railway was approved and construction of the first high-speed railway line began. The construction of this line took a long time to plan because of the special features it must have. During this time, the new San Diego train station was built as the Santa Fe Deport train station was deemed unsuitable for rail traffic.

In the planning and construction of the iron ore line and rolling stock, Sonora's most prestigious universities participated in the project. Many civil, mechanical and aerodynamic engineers were called in to build this railway line. During the construction phase many workers were employed and the SNRCP had to manage many construction sites at the same time. Universities also participated in the construction of a new rail signalling system for speeds of more than 200 km/h. The first computers were used to manage rail transport and the TCS (Train Control System) was invented. The high-speed rail project encountered several obstacles due to the budget which was becoming very excessive. But SNRCP had government support along with the Sonoran Rail Passengers Association.

In 1964, the Tōkaidō Shinkansenwas inaugurated, attracting a strong public interest in the Sonora and especially in the railway project that was built in Sonora that had similar characteristics. With strong public support, SNRCP was able to complete the first high-speed rail line in 1966 and finally opened the new high-speed rail line connecting San Diego-Los Santos-Phoneix. The new line was a great success allowing the railway to get 69% of the market in passenger transport. On July 12, 1966, exactly five months after the opening of the new high-speed rail line, the Federal High Speed Rail Project Act was approved by a unanimous vote. At the same time, the Federal High Speed Rail Honor resolution was passed by a unanimous vote. President Conrado Murphy and his predecessor James Peterson handed out the Presidential Medal of Freedom to all people who worked on the project.

Despite the high costs of this railway line, the subsequent high-speed rail lines that were built had a low cost due to the new construction techniques that were applied during the first construction. The high-speed railway is regarded as one of the causes of the intensive development of nuclear power plants to support a very high demand for electricity

The 1980s and 1990s


During the 1980s SNRCP made massive investments in rail safety. The entire line rail traffic lights are manageable through the computer. At the same time, many diesel trains were replaced with electric locomotives. The development of the high-speed rail line continues. During this period many lines were built and technological research on fast trains continues.

21st century
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Intercity bus service
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Local and regional rail service
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Intercity rail service
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High-speed rail service
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Cargo service
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Rail maintenance
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Classes of service
As of 2016 SNRCP offers four classes of service:Standard Class,Business Class,Executive Class,Sleeper Class


 * Standard Class:Standard Class is the base class of SNRCP. Seats in coach recline and feature a fold-down tray table, foot rest, individual reading light, and power outlet. Coach cars on long-distance trains are configured with fewer seats per car so that passengers have additional legroom and seats which are equipped with leg rests. This class is located on all SNRCP trains.


 * Business Class:Business Class is a class found on intercity and high-speed trains. While the specific features vary by route, many include extra legroom and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks. Seats in business class recline, are typically appointed in leather and feature a fold-down tray table, foot rest, individual reading light, and power outlet.


 * Executive Class:Executive Class is the most expensive class in the SNRCP. It is only found in modern high-speed trains. Executive Class is equipped with all the comforts. The seats are designed leather and the service is included in the price. In the carriages there is the presence of a small conference room.


 * Sleeper Class:Sleeper Class is the standard class of night intercity operated by SNRCP. This class is generally found on night-time Intercities and intercity that travel long distances where they stop in the cities of California, United States and Lower Columbia. Rooms are classified into roomettes, bedrooms, accessible bedrooms, and family bedrooms (on some trains). Included in the price of a room are attendant service and on most routes, full hot meals. At night, attendants convert rooms into sleeping areas with fold-down beds and fresh linens. Shower facilities with towels and bar soap are available. Complimentary juice, coffee and bottled water are included as well. Sleeper car passengers have access to all passenger facilities aboard the train.

Wi-Fi and electronic services
SNRCP launched an e-ticketing system on Coast Daylight in June 2011 and rolled it out nationwide on March 30, 2012. SNRCP officials said the system gives "more accurate knowledge in realtime of who is on the train which greatly improves the safety and security of passengers; en route reporting of onboard equipment problems to mechanical crews which may result in faster resolution of the issue; and more efficient financial reporting". On all intercity trains and high-speed trains, electrical outlets are available to be able to charge computers and mobile phones. Since 2010, SNRCP has provided free Wi-Fi service only on high-speed trains. Since 2011, the introduction of intercity and regional trains has begun. Train stations have undergone renovations to install fibre optics to enhance Wi-Fi service at stations.

Baggage
SNRCP allows carry-on baggage on all routes; services with baggage cars allow checked baggage at selected stations. SNRCP Cargo provides small-package and less-than-truckload shipping among more than 100 cities. SNRCP Cargo also offers station-to-station shipment of human remains to many express cities. At smaller stations, funeral directors must load and unload the shipment onto and off the train. SNRCP hauled mail for the Sonora Postal Service.

Fast Cargo
Since 2018, SNRCP has activated a service for transporting goods using high-speed railways. The Cargo Fast service was experimental and was used along the San Diego, Los Angeles and Los Santos rail lines. From 2019 the service has been extended to all cities of Sonora

Routes
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Influence and legacy
SNRPC has inherited a cultural and technological heritage ranging from the first railway lines to modern times. Many railway stations have been built with different architecture schemes. To preserve this heritage, several projects have been created to safeguard the railway history of Sonora. Many initiatives have been created with the support of railway enthusiasts and people who want to relive past periods.

SNRCP Foundation


SNRCP Foundation manages the old locomotives that were in service in SNRCP and the old railway companies. This foundation manages the restoration of trains and the management of railway museums. This foundation also includes train enthusiasts and former train drivers and train controllers.

Art Deco Society
Art Deco Society is a non-profit organization tasked with safeguarding the art deco, futuristic and Streamline Moderne architectures and historical re-enactments of the Roaring Twenties. SNRCP participates in this organization safeguarding the architectural heritage of existing railway stations and collaborates in historical re-enactments by putting inoperation the trains that were in service during those years. SNRCP is viewed in a positive way in public opinion because it seeks to defend the cultural and technological heritage of Sonora. SNRCP also collaborates a few times with art deco society of California and art deco society of Los Angeles.

Merchandising
SNRCP has developed a series of personalised merchandising as postcards to the point of historic and modern rail train models. In the railway stations there are these shops where they sell these products. At Sonora International Airports there are these shops but they are considered as Duty-free shops.

Rail modelling
In the railway museums of the SNRCP there are sections where there is the presence of railway modeling. San Diego has one of the largest existing rail models in the world.