posted
I must say I am surprised it took this long, but (edit) I have learned from a now redacted posting at another site, evidential matter established that the Builder and the Starlight will soon be 'just anolther train'.
While the source material has been withdrawn, as I recall that any additional amenities such as flowers on Diner tables, comp wine and cheese tastings, cranberry juice in Sleepers will be discontinued on or about March 15. Comp newspapers in premium services are ' under consideration' for withdrawal.
It appears that only Auto Train will continue to offer additional amenities.
The Starlight Pacific Parlour will continue, but somehow, I think that service is short lived as well.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Gil -- all I got from your link was a red "X" -- in other words, my computer can't display it for some reason.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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There was a blurry photo of a piece of paper that might or might not have been authentic. Newspapers to be withdrawn once contracts with suppliers have been studied. To be gone: wine, cheese, chocolate, cranberry juice in sleepers (but still available in the diner).
To be fair, the cost of supplying such frills probably outstrips the potential ticket income. I doubt many people say, "ooh, chocolates on my pillow - I'll take Amtrak instead then!"
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Talk about being penny-wise and pound foolish! Eliminating amenities is NOT the way to get people to use a service again. I even remember when teh Starlight had an on-board entertainer, who was in the Sightseer Lounge -- he or she told stories, sang songs, and did magic tricks.
Amtrak really does NOT know WHAT it is doing!
Amtrak: Make the doggoned trip as pleasant as possible for passengers AND take really GOOD care of your locomotives and rolling stock! And, while you are improving things, add MORE car attendants. ONE car per attendant, NOT two or three!
But none of that is ever going to happen.
(Sarcasm ON: So why even bother to run the doggoned trains at all, if they are beyond Amtrak's ability to run properly? Just shut the whole pitiful thing down. Sarcasm OFF!)
Sheesh.
[BTW -- I am a s member of That Other Site That Shall Not Be Named, and I could not read what was on the document that was photographed. But the news about Amtrak discontinuing amenities was correct, sad to say. You have to be a paid-up member on That Other Site to read the texts of any posts beyond Page 1 or see photos as anything but tiny thumbnails. The poor-quality photo of the memo about these amenities is on Page 2 of the comments on the thread -- that is why you cannot read it -- why you get the X or ?. There are, right now, 59 replies to the OP: "LDT amenities being axed", posted in the Passenger Trains Forum on 02/04/14 @ 11:36 am PDT.
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
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The image is more readable if blown up to 150% with IE on a desktop coimputer. After three DSAEK tissue transplants (one didn't work), I can read it.
Addendum: had an appointment with the Ophthalmologist/surgeon today; he is happy where the recovery is going - and for that matter so am I.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Even though the date at the bottom says "April 1", it is NOT an April Fool's joke. A friend who works at Amtrak in Oakland confirmed the memo. He saw it at work yesterday.
And yes, there is talk of getting rid of the Parlour Cars also. Now that Brian Rosenwald is gone, I guess they think they are "free" to get rid of all of these initiatives that he started. Brian had great ideas, and I agree with Margaret about being "penny wise and pound foolish". Do chocolates really cost THAT much? I mean, Amtrak doesn't buy fancy chocolates. The ones I've seen are those teeny-tiny "Ande's Candies" chocolate mint things in green wrappers. At Costco, a box of a thousand is, what, 25 bucks? It can't be the cost----at least, I would like to THINK it's not the cost. I'm not sure what it is.
All I know is, someone at Amtrak gets a bright idea every two years or so, and they set out to reinvent the wheel. Looks like it's happening again. In two years, some new guy will come in and he'll have a GREAT idea at one of their meetings. He'll throw out an idea of having chocolates, fresh flowers in the diners, and cranberry juice in the sleepers. And the people gathered 'round the table will say, "Brilliant! Bravo!!! What a great idea!". So just give it a few years and it will come back around again......like it always does.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Why doesn't Amtrak charge a premium on their feature trains to pay for the PPC, wine tasting, and extras in the diners? An extra fare train is not a new concept. Would keep the bean counters and congress happy and might attract more leisure travelers looking for the amenities, esp. on the scenic routes
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Has there been any public analysis of engineer costs? I think virtually all routes use dedicated Amtrak engineers - which is fine for the North East Corridor and Chicago area - but I suspect it is expensive out in the boonies.
Why? The crews sit around for maybe one train per day. Then idle for perhaps a long period of time, maybe even in a motel somewhere. If their booked train is hours late then they might have to be relieved early by another crew - more cost, especially as it would likely have to be the host railroad's crew instead of an Amtrak crew as there is unlikely to be spare Amtrak crew in the boonies (if there was then there's more cost right there).
So... are my suspicions true in any shape or form?
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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But it seems that almost from A-Day, Amtrak has been on a run to be self sufficient; cost effective notwithstanding.
Had I ever been given an opportunity to put my sharp pencil to the question (don't think there would have been much savings on my road), I'm certain I would have concluded that in some instances, especially where there is only Tri-Weekly service, there would have been cost savings had Amtrak simply continued to contract with host roads for Conductors and Engineers.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I agree with Margaret's post, although I would never be too keen about an on-board entertainer. I want to just be left alone and enjoy the scenery.
Don Phillips had an interesting article, on the VIA Canadian, in the Feb. issue of TRAINS.
After reading the article, I got the feeling that the Canadian might be the best throwback to the great US passenger trains of old (except for certain excursion trains). Phillips says to "prepare for a shock" when you return to the US (and Amtrak). "No one serves drinks in the Amtrak lounge car". "Dining car crews may or may not be nice". "You must wait to be seated and sit where you are told". "The only Amtrak crew members, who rise to the Canadian levels, are sleeping car attendants" (although I have encountered a few sleeping car attendants who were surly and difficult, but usually not the case).
Phillips does go on to say that the Canadian govt. is not friendly to the VIA and a sword hangs over the Canadian (I guess meaning that it may go away).
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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The demographic profile of the average Amtrak sleeping car passenger should be pretty desirable to many businesses. So, why wouldn't those businesses want their products put into the hands of the sleeping car passengers? On trains headed to Seattle, would a company like Made in Seattle be willing to create a small gift basket that is given to the sleeping car passengers? A small sample basket that features some of the products that would be available in Seattle might spur the riders to make larger purchases once they arrive in Seattle. Would a company like Harry & David (headquarted in southern Oregon) be interested in promoting their products to sleeping car passengers by providing a small fruit and chocolate gift box? I think Amtrak might be able to provide many extra amenities at no cost if they were able to demonstrate the value of the sleeping car passengers to businesses that are looking to sell to that demographic.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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quote:Originally posted by Geoff Mayo: ..... If their booked train is hours late then they might have to be relieved early by another crew - more cost, especially as it would likely have to be the host railroad's crew instead of an Amtrak crew as there is unlikely to be spare Amtrak crew in the boonies (if there was then there's more cost right there).
So... are my suspicions true in any shape or form?
So true on my recent trip on the Sunset/Texas Eagle. Because of the delays our train was re-crewed about 45" out of San Antonio and again that afternoon just outside Ft. Worth. In both cases it was an Amtrak crew and it was obvious this had occurred before - minimal wait time and it was close to a highway overpass. The crew and van were there waiting on us. But at what cost?
I like Vincent's idea of free amenities provided by a sponsor. Match that with extra charge for the Amtrak provided services like the PPC and you have better service and a product that will attract riders at little or no additional cost to Amtrak.
I'll bet the wine used in wine tastings is provided at greatly reduced cost by the vineyards - if not it should be. And I'd happily pay a few bucks to make up the difference, or roll it into the Extra Fare charge. People will pay more if they are getting something special. Run Amtrak like a real business.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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How about a packet of Starbucks coffee while traveling in Washington? A Harry & David gift box and jar of marionberry jam while in Oregon. A surtax on your coach or sleeper fee, on any carry-on baggage, and a special tax on your water if you use a wash basin or on-board shower on the train, when going through Calif. A deck of cards and poker chips going through Nevada, and, of course, a couple of joints while in Colorado.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Back in the late 1990s / early 2000s when I was young(er) and single, I did a fair amount of Amtrak travel, mostly in sleeper. Yet either I had more income than I knew what to do with, or sleepers were a lot cheaper. I never looked for a special deal, or booked at 3am on a Tuesday, so are sleeper fares a lot more now than they used to be? Nowadays a regular fare seems to be around the $400 mark for the room on a LA/Emeryville/Seattle to Chicago run. The price does put me off travel these days but it seems sleepers are mostly full so the demand is obviously there.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Let's not forget a Jack Daniels minature in Tennessee or a small bag of grits in SC and small box of Cafe du Monde beignet mix in LA.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Geoff -- yes, back in the 80's and 90's when I took an AMTRAK trip every year, I could do a 14-night trip with sleepers every night for about $2000, I beleive. Nowadays, a 10-day trip with sleepers most nights is upward of $3000.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Thanks, Rich. If that's what it really costs for sleepers to break even (a hugely complicated sum given the vast numbers of variables in operating a train) then fair enough. Sometimes it's cheaper to stay at a big room in the Venetian in Las Vegas for two nights. Just sayin'!
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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