I just received a phone call from Grandluxe Rail informing me that due to "lack of interest" the Grandluxe journey from L.A. to Chicago on the 28th of Dec. 2007 is cancelled. I was told that the last trip out of Los Angeles would be the 13th of Dec. They did offer to rebook me on another date and give me a $200 discount. Unfortunately I could not possibly book for an earlier date, and therefore I told them to cancel my booking and refund my $500 deposit. This is most disappointing as I was looking forward to this trip (as well I guess I forfeit my $100 beverage certificate).
I now need to book a bedroom on the Chief for that date. I just hope there is space available.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
OHOHOHOH....looks like if you want to try it out, it's now or never.
And judging from Mr. Royal's report, try it out will be when THEY want you to try it out.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Is this the Grandluxe trip where a few cars would be tacked on to the rear of the Southwest Chief, or is this a Grandluxe-only trip?
Posted by royaltrain (Member # 622) on :
quote:Originally posted by smitty195: Is this the Grandluxe trip where a few cars would be tacked on to the rear of the Southwest Chief, or is this a Grandluxe-only trip?
This is the trip where the Grandluxe cars would have been attached to the rear of the Southwest Chief. I just checked Grandluxe's website and it now shows just three trains out of L.A. to Chicago: Dec 3,8,13, and from Chicago: Dec. 1,6,11. For the Zephyr it now shows just November departures: 2,8,14,20 from Emeryville, and 5,11,17,23 from Chicago. I didn't check any other services.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
Oh, oh...doesn't sound good. I wonder how they are doing on the Silver Star - I've already paid for a DC - Orlando trip on Dec.12.
Posted by royaltrain (Member # 622) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jerome Nicholson: Oh, oh...doesn't sound good. I wonder how they are doing on the Silver Star - I've already paid for a DC - Orlando trip on Dec.12.
I just checked their website and Dec. 12 is not listed. It shows departures from DC to Orlando and Miami as Dec: 18,21,27,31.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Hmmmmmm......not too good. I had hopes of this new service doing very well. I guess it wasn't meant to be. Maybe third time's a charm? Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
quote:Originally posted by royaltrain:
quote:Originally posted by Jerome Nicholson: Oh, oh...doesn't sound good. I wonder how they are doing on the Silver Star - I've already paid for a DC - Orlando trip on Dec.12.
I just checked their website and Dec. 12 is not listed. It shows departures from DC to Orlando and Miami as Dec: 18,21,27,31.
I HOPE it's because they're sold out! I'd better call them now!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
While my family name is Norman and not Nostradamus, stand by for some deep discounting, which will only alienate those who stepped up to 'pay the piper" in full.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
It's true! OMG!!! They've cancelled my trip and didn't tell me or my travel agent! Now I've got to reschedule!
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
It may be the endpoint to endpoint service that is discouraging bookings. If they were willing to pick up people along the way as Amtrak does it might be a different story.
Or maybe its hard to get people on a luxury cruise three days after Christmas when everyone is burned out from holiday events.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
As far as DC - Miami is concerned, they added Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale as stops; I guess they found their platforms long enough to take such a long train. Did they agree to add intermediate stops on the Chief and Zephyr routes?
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
While I recognize that GrandLuxe differs from your basic first class accomodation (3 hots and a cot), this does not bode well for those who believe Amtrak should outsource their first-class services.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
David, I'm not sure outsourcing is the issue. The economy is taking a downturn right now, so luxury transportation is probably not going to fare too well. It may just be bad timing, but I think it shows that trains need to appeal to the masses to be successful. Amtrak's existing classes of service do that fairly well in half a dozen Superliners per train. But trying to fill seven more cars with high-end fares may be expecting too much. I wish them success, but perhaps there is a need here for more market research. The theory that long distance trains are primarily "land cruises" may lose some ground if Amtrak can fill trains but GrandLuxe cannot.
Posted by Kiernan (Member # 3828) on :
When the Grandluxe train was here in Lamy earlier in the summer, I went out to take some pictures. I was disappointed and took pictures of the church in Lamy instead. The cars looked beat up and I'm not at all surprised that they can't fill them. And as I've asked before, why would you want to be downstairs in Grandluxe when you can be upstairs in Amtrak where you can actually see something?
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
I can't say I'm too surprised at all these Grandluxe cancellations.............
The old AOE, "self-supplied" luxury cruises (not attached to the end of an AMTRAK train) can't be beat...........
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Toy: David, I'm not sure outsourcing is the issue. The economy is taking a downturn right now, so luxury transportation is probably not going to fare too well. It may just be bad timing, but I think it shows that trains need to appeal to the masses to be successful. Amtrak's existing classes of service do that fairly well in half a dozen Superliners per train. But trying to fill seven more cars with high-end fares may be expecting too much. I wish them success, but perhaps there is a need here for more market research. The theory that long distance trains are primarily "land cruises" may lose some ground if Amtrak can fill trains but GrandLuxe cannot.
Valid point Mr. Toy.
I wonder if shedding the theory that Amtrak's long distance trains are primarily 'land cruises' will be something that would benefit Amtrak in the long run?
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Toy, when comparing Grand Luxe single level equipment with Superliners and their stated "50 pax per train", we are talking four Superliners; three 10BR Sleepers (as assigned to Auto Train) and some kind of Diner-Lounge. That is probably the best reconcilment to your statement regarding "seven more cars'.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
GBN, I know. I half expected someone to point out the capacity differences between car types. I was just trying to point out that it is lot of cars to fill at high-end prices on a regular schedule. There may be a market for high-end service on some regularly scheduled trains, but I would be surprised if they could draw more than a handful of big spenders (maybe one luxury sleeping car full) on a single run.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jerome Nicholson: As far as DC - Miami is concerned, they added Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale as stops;
Mr. Nicholson, West Palm Beach vice Ft Lauderdale
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
quote:Originally posted by Jerome Nicholson: As far as DC - Miami is concerned, they added Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale as stops;
Mr. Nicholson, West Palm Beach vice Ft Lauderdale
Right! My mistake.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
A few comments:
Looking at the GL website, it looks like they decided to run a single consist through the winter season:\
Denver to Emerville, then running 3 weeks or so on the CZ.
After the last westward run in Chicago, ferry it to Chicago, pop it from the Zephyr to 3-4 and run it on the Fast Mail.
Finally, ferry it to DC, run it in Florida service, then after tne new year take it home to Denver.
From anecdotes, there seem to be growing questions about the quality of the service provided. As Mr Norman will attest, once upon a time, Pullman had excellent bedding for a berth. Lord knows I got good nights sleep in both lowers and uppers! At least one person out there has complained about mattresses, and about the lack of linen changes. Further, during the summer season, there are comments about cars going hot from dropping A/C for whatever reason.
Finally, to those commenting about "downstairs," remember that floor height on a standard car is about 51" above the rails. Standard cars are all above the wheel-line, where the lower deck of a SL/CA car is well below axle height!
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I HOPE it's because they're sold out! I'd better call them now!
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They've cancelled my trip and didn't tell me or my travel agent! Now I've got to reschedule!