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>> If you like, we can add either UPS or Federal Express in this new corproation for fun!<< You get the "Creativity Prize" for sure. May I suggest 'holiday inn' as a possible 'mixer', in an abstract way *THAT* is where Amtrack needs to aquire some common sense expertise (IMHO) Going on Vacation from LA to Indiana in september, and pondered the 'experiance' of passenger train in lieu of AIR, 'getting there' being half the fun. Knowing full well The Rail would be higher than air, And being willing to pay a reasonable premium in the trade, afterall "the meals/ the bed/the Restroom" all deliver extra value etc yada yada. And, shooting for middle of the road accomodations from an Amtrak brochure got the price for the sleeper upgrade from basic coach fare mistakenly in my mind as the total fare, Approx $680.00 Seemed reasonable, High compared to round trip air fare of $420.00, but, the extra atmosphere, etc Then got serious at Amtracks web site, discovered that the "basic rate' of approx $330.00 had to be factored in. And, A thousand dollars was just more than i would pay for the privy....I could pay, BUT NOT WITHOUT CONCERN THAT I WAS SERIOUSLY SUBSIDIZING SOME SCHMOES COMMUTE TO WORK ON THE EAST COAST IN THE PROCESS, so I was unwilling to feel abused that badly is the way I can best describe the feeling. In General, when factoring travel accomodations, I use my own 'Holiday Inn" benchmarks to evaluate whether I am staying in "Luxurious/Average/Slum" lodging, and or "Ritz/HolidayInn/EconoLodge" price scale. Not a "Holiday Inn resort" or such but over decades holiday Inn has provided clean, home like rooms at prices I really could not complain about, so it is my "Room-u-lator" of sorts. AND, if instead, I add the "lodging at Chez Amtrack" costs to the 'transportation' costs, I'm getting a Royal rooking, it's that simple. With the roomsize cramped as acknowledged in Amtracks own words cautioning the size of carry on luggage in context to roomette spaciousness, the best rating i could give the lodging would be slightly below average, all mitigating factors summed out... And the price? Do the math yourself. The reason WHY the railroad HAS to offer "the meals, the cots, yada yada" is solely because they cant gety me there in one waking cycle in a humans life. as the $400.00 plane can Back in the day where it offered transportation and a nights sleep to chicago etc Allowing Rockefeller to show up for a meeting over night and be fresh and rested in the bargain, AND GET HIM THERE THE FASTEST of all available means, then I'M SURE IT WAS worth a hefty premium... But, it's not the gay 1890's anymore, I was willing to absorb reasonable excesses in cost for the rite of passage,...but the railroad has got to get realistic as well, or (first time I've said this) BYE BYE Amtrack, RIP. Perhaps it is I who is 'off value' here,...but 4 nights at an absolute max of $80.00 per room night is the value of lodging "sold" I think the boys at Holiday Inn could help passenger rail Immensely. I could get a room at holiday inn for a day on both ends of flying each way and come out money ahead, and have a nicer room. And THAT is the economics Amtrack is gonna HAVE to come near if they want to be desireable to a realistic customer base....=)
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