 |
Re: Sacramento-bound Starlight at Elkhorn Slough-The Short History of the Coast Ghost?
Author: Sgt. Joe Friday
Date: 12-02-2021 - 14:48
I think in order to successfully market an overnight service on the Coast Line some unconventional thinking might be needed. To wit:
a) The Lark departed LAUPT at 9 PM and arrived in SFO at 8:30 the next morning. Assuming a 14 hour schedule, move it up one hour to 8 PM so that arrival in OAK is between 7:30 and 8 AM, and SMF is around 10 AM.
b) Make receiving only suburban stops at Glendale, Burbank Airport, Van Nuys and/or Chatsworth, and Simi Valley to encourage suburban patronage. By way of comparison, the Lark stopped only at Glendale and then not again until Oxnard.
c) The big draw for the Starlight is scenery, which is negated at night. So how about a lounge car with multiple hi-def TVS showing a variety of sports and entertainment? I think it goes without saying that there has to be a bar serving beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Maybe get sponsorships from Firestone Walker (it's right along the route), San Antonio Winery (ditto), and one of the purveyors of spirits.
d) Formal sit down meal service is hardly needed, but you should be able to get bar food and snacks in the evening, and a basic AM breakfast. See if Applebee's or one of the other casual dining chains would be interested in designing the service.
e) Run periodic promotions for events like the annual USC and UCLA Bay Area football games with discounted fares or train/hotel/car packages.
f) A (seasonal?)setout sleeper at SLO would be great for encouraging wine tasting and/or Hearst Castle tourism. There are over 200 wineries on the Central Coast, and if enough of them agreed to sponsor the service it might work.
Oh well, one can dream, can't one.
a) The Lark departed LAUPT at 9 PM and arrived in SFO at 8:30 the next morning. Assuming a 14 hour schedule, move it up one hour to 8 PM so that arrival in OAK is between 7:30 and 8 AM, and SMF is around 10 AM.
b) Make receiving only suburban stops at Glendale, Burbank Airport, Van Nuys and/or Chatsworth, and Simi Valley to encourage suburban patronage. By way of comparison, the Lark stopped only at Glendale and then not again until Oxnard.
c) The big draw for the Starlight is scenery, which is negated at night. So how about a lounge car with multiple hi-def TVS showing a variety of sports and entertainment? I think it goes without saying that there has to be a bar serving beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Maybe get sponsorships from Firestone Walker (it's right along the route), San Antonio Winery (ditto), and one of the purveyors of spirits.
d) Formal sit down meal service is hardly needed, but you should be able to get bar food and snacks in the evening, and a basic AM breakfast. See if Applebee's or one of the other casual dining chains would be interested in designing the service.
e) Run periodic promotions for events like the annual USC and UCLA Bay Area football games with discounted fares or train/hotel/car packages.
f) A (seasonal?)setout sleeper at SLO would be great for encouraging wine tasting and/or Hearst Castle tourism. There are over 200 wineries on the Central Coast, and if enough of them agreed to sponsor the service it might work.
Oh well, one can dream, can't one.
