Go to: Message List•New Topic•Search
Re: Learn from passenger train history
Author: Erik H.
Date: 12-02-2012 - 19:04

Phoebe Snow's Boyfriend Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Airlines and intercity bus companies have both
> been deregulated. With a few exceptions, the
> airline industry continues to lose money and
> provide lousy service and Greyhound has abandoned
> much of its network. Megabus is too new to draw
> any generalizations.

Actually most of the airlines are, and have been, profitable. The "lousy service" I experienced on JetBlue a couple weeks ago made my best trip on Amtrak seem worse than Greyhound. Greyhound is still very much alive and well, and doing far better today than in years past. Of course it jettisoned many unprofitable (and lesser used) routes...something Amtrak needs to consider doing, considering that Amtrak's systemwide load factor is 50% - meaning that on any given day, only half of Amtrak's seat-miles have a butt in them. Not good...the airlines are well over 80% and approaching 90% (because while having an empty row of seats is popular for passengers, it's not good for the airlines - and they've realized they needed to right-size and reduce flights, or use smaller planes).

Since my Coke and Terra Blue Chips weren't subsidized by the federal government (and they were included in the air fare I paid, as opposed to an additional cost like Amtrak) there's no reason Amtrak needs to operate anything besides a single locomotive and three or four coaches. Spin off the dining and sleeper cars to a private company (a reincarnation of the Pullman Company?) That will eliminate a significant amount of Amtrak's staffing, the commissary functions, much of the car maintenance, a good chunk of locomotives - all of which support a "first class" service that hardly needs any government subsidy.

Navigate: Previous Message•Next Message
Options: Reply To This Message•Quote This Message


Subject Written By Date/Time (PST)
  Amtrak: Throw Money from the Train SPKid 11-30-2012 - 14:22
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Money from the Train Stash 11-30-2012 - 14:50
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Money from the Train 49 Yews 11-30-2012 - 15:29
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train BOB2 11-30-2012 - 15:29
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train SPKid 11-30-2012 - 16:07
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Phoebe Snow's Boyfriend 11-30-2012 - 19:09
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Michael Mahoney 11-30-2012 - 16:09
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Severe Duty 11-30-2012 - 16:18
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train mook 11-30-2012 - 18:57
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Drew Jacksich 11-30-2012 - 19:23
  Re: A couple of real gems: Peter Griffin 11-30-2012 - 20:44
  Roads vs. trains reality check 12-01-2012 - 08:29
  Re: reality check Severe Duty 12-01-2012 - 08:58
  Re: reality check Erik H. 12-02-2012 - 18:52
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Phoebe Snow's Boyfriend 11-30-2012 - 21:23
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Drew Jacksich 11-30-2012 - 23:42
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train mvs 12-01-2012 - 09:05
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train Ostrum 12-01-2012 - 16:43
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train David Smith 12-02-2012 - 10:28
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train synonymouse 12-02-2012 - 14:29
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train synonymouse 12-02-2012 - 14:30
  Re: A year of Amtrak=a week in Afghanistan=a month of direct crop susbidies BOB2 12-02-2012 - 15:58
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train MG42 12-04-2012 - 18:57
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train mook 12-05-2012 - 08:26
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train MG42 12-05-2012 - 16:29
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train *eyeroll* 12-07-2012 - 14:59
  Re: Learn from passenger train history Phoebe Snow's Boyfriend 12-02-2012 - 18:49
  Re: Learn from passenger train history Erik H. 12-02-2012 - 19:04
  Re: Learn from passenger train history Phoebe Snow's Boyfriend 12-02-2012 - 20:06
  Re: Learn from passenger train history mook 12-02-2012 - 20:27
  the simple truth Reality Check 12-03-2012 - 08:33
  Re: the simple truth Sad but true 12-13-2012 - 22:30
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train MG42 12-04-2012 - 18:52
  Re: Amtrak: Throw Dubious Accounting of Cost Under the Train OldPoleBurner 12-05-2012 - 16:36
  The ACTUAL Simple Truth Savvy College Student (Undergrad) 12-04-2012 - 17:19


Go to: Message List•Search
Subject: 
Your Name: 
Spam prevention:
Please, enter the code that you see below in the input field. This is for blocking bots that try to post this form automatically.
 **     **  ********  **    **  ********   ******** 
 **     **  **        ***   **  **     **     **    
 **     **  **        ****  **  **     **     **    
 **     **  ******    ** ** **  ********      **    
 **     **  **        **  ****  **     **     **    
 **     **  **        **   ***  **     **     **    
  *******   ********  **    **  ********      **
This message board is maintained by:Altamont Press
You can send us an email at altamontpress1@gmail.com