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 I agree to some extent that trains were "old hat" and superhighways and air travel were the "new, space ages stuff". And, I'll even agree that trains are now novel and flying passe, but..... fashion only goes so far. Do you remember the regular service of the American Orient Express on the Broadway that ran for about a year in the mid 80s? Definately not a boring. Premium service - premium price. Picthed at the overnight business traveller Broadway was still original route with 9AM arrival into Chicago and Conrail was doing a good job with it thanks to Stanley Crane, int those days. It failed miserably. Also, the diesel hauled streamliners introduced in the post WWII era, did have improved ridership - they were viewed as "sleek and modern". But, as the air industry grew and highways spread, the ridership shrank. Me, I love to ride trains. I've done all kinds of funky things to work train travel into business trips. But once married and with kids, those nights at home are more valuable than the fun of riding a train, so flying is the norm. I did take the Crescent back to Atlanta from Philly a few months ago - coach - it was my nickel. It was on time, the equiment decent, the staff friendly, the diner excellent and the fare $10 below Airtran. It was also full out of DC. Now, if we could comliment that with some day trains between Atlanta and the Carolinas, thru to the northeast, THAT would be worth something! [/quote] Let me say this about that...I remember the American European Express. I think it's serving its real purpose now as an excursion, once-in-a-lifetime service. When it was in regular service on Amtrak I remember seeing it arrive eastward at Hammond and at Valpo. All the blinds would be drawn except in the diner so you couldn't tell the train was empty. On the eastward move the train's arrival time in NYC was still too late for a business man, and one would have to endure that whole morning, early afternoon ride before arriving in Manhattan. But most importantly it was way too much of a deal. The far extreme of what I've been speaking about. I feel that what the prospective American rail traveler would want in terms of the "theming" of the train would be that of an American streamliner. Something they've seen in old movies that they want as an experience. A conductor wearing a cape and referred to as "Le conductor des tren" in my opinion could infuriate people. We talk all the time about how great a country this has been and is, and then we have to go copy Europe to inject an imaginary carload of class into the deal. Every time I saw that train I would yodel and reach for a box of Godiva chocolates. The AEE had too expensive of a price tag for repeat business, and if you wanted something other than the fare offered with your ticket in the diner, it was really costly. I feel that what the industry needs as a whole, and what Amtrak needs in the specific is one flagship train that does its job well. Something that EVERY railroader would want to be associated with. he public has to get a good view of railroading, and the railroads need to be viewed. The American public now has a complete disassociation with our industry because there's not much positive to link the two back together. Run the train I speak of with normal sleepers, an interesting mid-train lounge, a good diner and perhaps an obs car, on a convenient 16 hour schedule, get some movie stars to use it, feature it in commercials for other products and you'll have business everywhere. exBNSFer... Boy are you right. The air industry has drained the coffers worse than any 200 years of Amtrak . The air industry gets almost free dispatching and depots and they still can't manage. I never thought I would see the day where United Airlines would be a potential fallen flag. And you can still ride an interurban in this country. Mitch
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