I happened to come upon this article on the web. It is a couple of years old but still an interesting read. I know that there needs to be an injection of economic reality into their viewpoint, but I still think that some of the ideas do merit consideration. Be sure to read "Train Consists and Amenities" and the "Sleeping Cars" sections. I like the idea of a combined roomette/bedroom.
Richard
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
OK, I'll give 'em credit for one concept:
Reconfigure roomettes to be sold for one adult or one adult and one child.
There is no need to actually reconfigure anything; it just requires both the website and reservationists to properly advise passengers seeking to book a double adult occupancy Roomette that this is for all practical purposes a single aduklt accommodation - even if it does have two beds.
Beyond that, these people are even more out of it than NARP.
When will these various advocacy groups simply accept what Amtrak has simply stated regarding the LD trains; we are not interested in expanding the system; they are here for political expediency, and we will run 'em in an economic and efficient manner until such time that elected officials advise us such is no longer necessary.
QED
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
quote:and we will run 'em in an economic and efficient manner until such time that elected officials advise us such is no longer necessary
So the "elected officials" are putting the USA on a road to the third world?
Posted by Tanner929 (Member # 3720) on :
So the "elected officials" are putting the USA on a road to the third world?
They are ready have my friend, they all ready have.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Gee, that paper describes something once called:
ATSF Trains 17/18 The Super Chief/El Capitan
Union Pacific Trains 103/104 The City of Los Angeles/The Challenger Domeliner
Both these trains had full first class Pullman service, with a traditional white table cloth dining car.
Both these trains had a different and distinct dining car for coach service.
Both these trains had separate lounge service for Pullman and coach passengers (with the ATSF having the better of the two).
Both of these trains relied on other trains of the Passenger Traffic Department to bring in lots of money from US Mail Railway Mail Service, Railway Express Agency, and Pacific Fruit Express/Santa Fe Refrigerator Express Dispatch (SFRD) traffic ... in other words, high revenue, high speed, time sensitive freight.
When the combination of loss of passengers to air happened coupled with the loss of high revenue, high speed, time sensitive freight, the business model for a profitable privately operated passenger service collapsed.
Amtrak got the remaining passengers, and none of the freight. Amtraks' basic business model has been flawed for 39 years, save their ill-starred Mail and Express initiative.
Posted by 20th Century (Member # 2196) on :
GBN,I do agree with you that the roomettes are too confined for two on an LD trip. But Amtrak does not have enough sleepers to use them as single occupancy. So I guess that's why reservationists advise offer it as a roomette for one or two. Maybe all roomette sleepers and all bedroom sleepers would be a solution if all the pols agree (LOL). I still hold that the single heritage roomettes were the best except for the "potty" situation being under the reclined bed. Although I have never traveled in a viewliner sleeper I know the roomette seems to be more accommodating for two with an available toilet and wash basin.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
I keep reading about how the roomettte is only for one. For a number of years we (I and my 6 ft. husband) traveled in roomette. We were perfectly comfortable. The one concession.. my husband would take his clothes to the upstairs rest room and get dressed or ready for bed there.
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
My wife & I mostly booked roomettes and we had no major problems... Except when I got ready for bed. She would sit in her bed and play with my butt, distracting me to no end...
Sorry for the visual. The good news is: there are no pictures.
Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
Trust me, 20th Century, if you share a Viewliner roomette with someone, one of you will be out in the hall while the other uses the "facilities". No two people are THAT good friends!! But don't worry, the person in the hall won't be alone - many others will be doing the same.
Posted by 20th Century (Member # 2196) on :
Oh yeah Judy! I would hope the other stands in the hall. By the way do they have a separate facility down the hall as did the heritage cars?
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
I do like their idea of the first - class coach seating on long distance trains. Richmond to New York and back in standard coach is so bad I book room in a sleeping car. I hope Amtrak might try some of these ideas when they get their new cars.