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I realize it's late to start planning for next year's trip and now I get a severe attack of sticker shock. I (we've) given up on the LS out of or into BOS. Started planning 2006 trip with following outline: BOS/WAS/CHI: Acela w/direct connex to Capital Ltd. CHI/SEA: Empire Builder SEA/EMY: Coast Starlight EMY/CHI/WAS:Calfiornia Zephyr w/direct connex to Cardinal WAS/BOS: Acela Plan F/C (on Saturdays) on Acelas Plan Bedroom on all other segments. The preliminary total comes in at nearly $5,500. 2005 trip: BOS/PHL: Acela PHL/NOL: Crescent NOL/LAX: Sunset OXN/SEA: Coast Starlight SEA/CHI: Empire Builder CHI/BOS: (The dread) Lake Shore Ltd. came in at about $3,500, with similar accomdations 2004: BOS/CHI/EMY:(The dread)LS with direct connex to CZ EMY/LAX: Coast Starlight LAX/CHI/BOS:SC with direct connex to (The dread... was in the $3,000 / 3.500 range, again w/similar accomodations. Well, I guess it's time to start taking the cans and bottles back for deposits cancelling the once a month sunday breakfast at Connies and making what other economies we can think of. It's a shame I gave up smoking 35 years ago there'd be a pretty good saving there. We'll keep ya posted. Best regards, Rodger
Posts: 83 | From: MERRIMAC,MA | Registered: Feb 2005
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It's been two or three years since the last time I outright purchased a sleeping car accomodation. Instead I horde my 'Guest Reward' points and manage to get two or three first class trips a year in that manner.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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A key factor is missing from your posting, Mr. Jamaica; when do you plan to make this trip. I hope with the fares you note, it would be during a peak travel period. If not, I could well be 'staying at home' myself!!
If that be the case, possibly Amtrak's yield management has set the accomodation charges high. If the demand noes not materialize i.e. so many rooms unsold so many days prior to departure, the rates could well be reduced. Failing that, sorry to learn you are simply a victim of supply and demand.
If you want to simply take a ride, I'm sure a Boston-New York-New Orleans-Chicago-Albany-Boston trip could be had on the cheap at present. Only problem with that one would be where to stay in Big Easy as it would appear that the inhabitable hotels are substantially being used by essential municipal and contractor recovery workers.
While I note that your profile states you are retired, possibly 'your Mrs." is not yet, and could well be in a profession, such as education, that only goes on vacation when the plant shuts down.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Change --- I too am curious as to when you are planning for this trip. I just three weeks ago booked a similar trip for late April early May 2006.
Lakeshore from Springfield MA to CHI. Southwest Chief from CHI to LAX (3 day stop at Williams, AZ) Coast Starlight from LAX to PDX (3 day stop to see sights) Cascades from PDX to SEA (4 days stop to see sights) Empire Builder from SEA to CHI. Lakeshore from CHI to SPG.
I have booked a roomette for the whole trip except for the first leg (SPG to CHI) and am a single traveler. (There is however no additional charge for second person in room other than basic fare.) My total for this trip was about 1/4 what you are looking at. (I do get senior rate which applies only to basic fare and not accomodations. Since this is a huge difference in rate I wonder what is making it so. Have you tried playing with days of departure ? (I have done this on some trips and found that one day before or after has made a big difference in price). So hopefully your answer to Mr Norman and my ??s will shed some light and assure Mr Norman and others that they will not have to "stay at home" Dee
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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It appears as Mr. Norman so elequently suggests we are victims of supply and demand. Though, why the linch pin of economic theory should decide to make an appearance at this point is a question. In answer to Mr. Norman and Deect the trip is planned, as were the two previous ones between the middle and end of June. Our first trip (2004) was to be the trip of a lifetime to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We enjoyed it so much, that immediately on our return we booked the 2005 trip; which was longer than 2004, but similar in cost (as noted in initial post). Pending further analysis of the 2006 itinerary, my gut feel is the cost explosion is in the WAS/CHI/WAS legs on the Capitol and Cardinal. Though why, the Cardinal with a 3 day operation should have "demand" is paradoxical. While Mr. Norman's suggestion for a substitute itinerary is appreciated he evidently hasn't read my post of 10.22.05 entitled: 2005 TRANS-CON TRIP 2, LEG 2, and my comments on "Nawlins" contained there in. The bride, so far is completely undeterred by the 2006 increase and has the 'damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead' attitude...she must also have a source of wealth that I am as yet unaware of. I will continue to try and 'tweak' the itinerary to see if I can reduce the tariff; and keep you advised of the progress...if any. Thanks for your suggestions and recommednations. Best regards, Rodger
Posts: 83 | From: MERRIMAC,MA | Registered: Feb 2005
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In the over 30 years I was involved with expense budgeting and analyses all items were classified as either; volume (a change as a product of incresed/decreased production),spending (conscious decision to incur an expense), timing (spending within budget but before or after period budgeted), econmics: rate increases or other: anything not included in the forgoing. Our planned 2006 trip seems to be effected primarily by economics. In one segment which is nearly identical in 2005 and 2006-the Empire Builder, the charge for a bedroom has ballooned from $614.00 (SEA/CHI/ALB/BOS 06.23.05) TO $1,294.00 (WAS/CHI/SEA 06.18.06). I'll keep sniffing but my best guess is unless I want to play "chicken" (and with the bird-flu so much in the news who'd chance it)and wait until either the price goes down or the bedrooms are all gone I'm going to have to pay the piper. Or maybe tap the secret resources the bride seems to have stored "someplace". My guess is the former rather than the latter. Best regards, Rodger
Posts: 83 | From: MERRIMAC,MA | Registered: Feb 2005
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FYI: on this or another forum last summer someone who had access to Amtrak prices published the Empire Builder accomodations price increases effective Aug 2, 2005. The 5 fare levels (supply & demand?) for a bedroom SEA-CHI were:
prior to 8/2/05: 336 443 587 776 1027 after 8/2/05: 399 587 777 1027 1233
These are accomodations only. It appears that the increase is a result of (1) increases for the "re-launched" Empire Builder, (2) overall Amtrak fare increases, and (3) jumping up a couple of fare brackets due to supply and demand.
Have you tried pricing varying dates on the EB to see if some days are not so full? My guess is the entire summer would be in the top 3 fare buckets. First class often sells out on this train in summer.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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I believe that accomodation prices on the 'Cardinal' are a demand issue because this train carries only a single Viewliner sleeper. That means only three bedrooms (and thirteen roomettes) are available on each trip.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Man, I haven't spent so much time analyzing costs in nearly 15 years. You may lose your eye shade and sleeve suspenders, but it's like riding a bicycle...you never forget. Our MAJOR problem, we want to travel on the most expensive trains. Of the three main routes west of Chicago; i.e. EB, CZ, SC the fares on the EB for similar dates are over $200 higher than the other two. On the CHI/WAS route the Cardinal is nearly $250 higher than the Capitol(we're taking the Capitol west and the Cardinal east). A quaint rinkle; the cost of a bedroom CHI/ALB and Business Class ALB/BOS on the (dread)LS is higher than a bedroom CHI/WAS on the Capitol and F/C on Acela WAS/BOS...who wudda thunk? I was able to chip a couple of bucks off the original tariff by some creative segment bunching, just about enough to pay for wine with all the scheduled dinners. The bride informs me she has no hidden wealth, so I guess I'll have to come up with it some how. Best regards, Rodger
Posts: 83 | From: MERRIMAC,MA | Registered: Feb 2005
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