 |
Re: Amtrak expensive now???? Yeah really?
Author: Erik H.
Date: 08-30-2015 - 08:51
BOB2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> America is suffering from a shortage of trains,
> rail line capacity, train cars, and engines.
> America is not suffering from a shortage of rail
> passengers willing to pay even higher prices to
> use trains.
Load factor at 55%...the equipment is out there, it is not being properly utilized. And as long as I've been reviewing Amtrak's Monthly Performance Reports, it is a persistent problem Amtrak refuses to address.
The problem is not a shortage of trains, capacity, cars and engines. The problem is a refusal to address the load factor problem by moving equipment from where it is not being used, to where it is needed. A perfect example is the Cascades Corridor - Amtrak needs to show some backbone and say it's a waste of equipment to send a Talgo train to Eugene that has nearly 300 seats, but can barely attract 90 riders day in and day out; while trains from Portland to Seattle routinely sell out. Even though Oregon may pay for the train, it's still an Amtrak asset that Amtrak is responsible for. If Oregon insists on the train then Amtrak should relinquish it, and maybe operate it merely as a contracted service to get it off its own books.
Say the Coast Starlight...maybe it needs to become less of a "stops everywhere" train, and become more of a luxury cruise train only stopping at the larger destinations, and reintroduce the Coast Daylight as a coach only train with much lower expenses...imagine the two Wisconsin Talgos painted in red and orange on the Coast Line.
-------------------------------------------------------
> America is suffering from a shortage of trains,
> rail line capacity, train cars, and engines.
> America is not suffering from a shortage of rail
> passengers willing to pay even higher prices to
> use trains.
Load factor at 55%...the equipment is out there, it is not being properly utilized. And as long as I've been reviewing Amtrak's Monthly Performance Reports, it is a persistent problem Amtrak refuses to address.
The problem is not a shortage of trains, capacity, cars and engines. The problem is a refusal to address the load factor problem by moving equipment from where it is not being used, to where it is needed. A perfect example is the Cascades Corridor - Amtrak needs to show some backbone and say it's a waste of equipment to send a Talgo train to Eugene that has nearly 300 seats, but can barely attract 90 riders day in and day out; while trains from Portland to Seattle routinely sell out. Even though Oregon may pay for the train, it's still an Amtrak asset that Amtrak is responsible for. If Oregon insists on the train then Amtrak should relinquish it, and maybe operate it merely as a contracted service to get it off its own books.
Say the Coast Starlight...maybe it needs to become less of a "stops everywhere" train, and become more of a luxury cruise train only stopping at the larger destinations, and reintroduce the Coast Daylight as a coach only train with much lower expenses...imagine the two Wisconsin Talgos painted in red and orange on the Coast Line.
