This is topic A New Coast Starlight? in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.


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Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
 
The SleepBus is a new, overnight "luxury" (if you can use that word) bus between LA and San Francisco. It only costs $48 per trip. It's touted as an interim mode of transportation until Calif. high speed rail is available. Might be a long wait.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/sleep-bus-san-francisco-los-angeles

Richard
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/11/8220.html

Earlier discussion of this "AutoPullman".
 
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
 
It's rate of advance is far better than the inheritor of the Coast Daylight has...

AND IT'S CHEAPER than a coach seat.
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Oh well, if the earlier topic originator chooses to discuss this new service here, then I shall follow suit.

Those bunks look even smaller and claustrophobic than the Roomette Upper. Even the Slumbercoach had more "wiggle room" than this "thing".

I have to wonder if there would be a stronger market out of San Diego; swabbies are used to that kind of bunk space.

Not sure if the public at large is.
 
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
 
Given the plethora of less-than-salubrious travel around the US (and elsewhere) which is frequented by students and international and domestic backpackers, I don't have much doubt they'll break even easily.

But in a similar vein I bet there wouldn't be much sleeping going on for the first couple of hundred miles. Better hope you're not a light sleeper.

"Ingenious project"? No. Not when the likes of Green Tortoise have been doing the same thing for years, albeit on tours rather than point-to-point on fixed schedules.
 
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
 
I wouldn't consider a trip on the SleepBus as the bunks do not look inviting. Still, $48 for a trip between LA and SF is quite reasonable. The cost of a Calif. HSR train from LA to SF is expected to be around $100, or from $85 to $110.

However, you can fly the distance for as little as $68. I wonder what a ticket aboard the old SP "Lark" overnight train would have cost? From what I've read, the Lark was quite popular and there was a lot of protest when the train was discontinued in 1968.

Richard
 
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
 
I will check Eric Bowen's website and a couple others for 1968 prices. NASA has calculators where I can quickly input a valuation and get the cost in current dollars.

From the last time I did this exercise, on a different domain, I think you'll find Amtrak is siginficantly(!!!!) under cost against historic valuations.
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
I did a Round Trip on The Lark during December 1963 (hey, a 22 year old can.be homeless in SF for a dsy; guarantee you this 74 year old could not).

One of the most memorable rail experiences I had in this life - especially opening my "Engineer's side" Pullman Roomette shade on the Eastbound run near Surf and viewing a crystal day overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

You couldn't pay me to ride that "AutoPullman" (that is a premium bus line down Mexico way) - no more than you could pay me to ride a Couchette overseas; did that once in this life; Sevilla to Barcelona, during '90.
 
Posted by DonNadeau (Member # 61606) on :
 
The primary target market for this service seems to be backpackers. They've located the LA stop in Santa Monica near many of these, including those in Venice Beach.

I can't imagine that it targets most of us. However, given a down economy . . .. [Smile]

Overnight backpacker buses with beds are not new, e.g., http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html

(See design of bus lower on page.)
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Interior photos sure look like Couchettes; no way is this service to be compared with The Owl, let alone with The Lark:

http://www.trainsandtravel.com/did-they-find-a-need-and-fill-it/

Look at the ethnically diverse Millennials depicted. Sure know what segment they are pitching to; guarantee you it ain't mine.

Southwest Airlines from any LA airport to any SF airport, or v.v, and a night in a major chain's bed is more my speed.
 
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
 
After clicking on Mr. Norman's link, above, on the SleepBus, I found the Jim Loomis article, below, of a Zephyr trip ("Sacramento to Chicago on the Zephyr, a mixed Bag") is also interesting.

How many times, on Amtrak, do you run into those same problems Loomis depicts on his Zephyr trip. Yes, I like the way he doesn't gloss over Amtrak's problems, as well as give credit when Amtrak does something right.

Richard
 


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