Amtrak for College Students

[Anonymous]

The topic on Amtrak ditching roadrailers got me thinking of this. Why doesn't Amtrak market to college age students. Greyhound is doing it, poorly but they are trying. College students travel to and from college many times throughout the year. Plus to springbreak. Why not advertise on campuses by rail stations to pull in riders.
I got this idea while sitting at the Akron station waiting for my sister to arrive on the Three Rivers. My college is on the other side of th tracks and can't remember ever seeing a advertisment for Amtrak. Riding a train is most likely cheaper than driving or riding a bus and most cities have stations nearby. So why not inform the college students, who travel a lot, that Amtrak is still around and a great way to travel.

Spring break is another huge oppurtunity because a lot of students travel on a very tight budget. Why not advertise trains that travel to popular spring break destinations. Plus they get to enjoy the country as it passes by instead of having to drive. Maybe they are doing this but I've missed it or it's not at my college. just my [2c]
Andrew

[Anonymous]

I've seen Amtrak target college students. In the 2001 or '02 Amtrak Travel Planner on the page for the Carolinian and Piedmont services in North Carolina, it says, "Take the train to college!" and encourages it for students since there are so many schools from Raleigh to Charlotte like UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Duke, UNC Greensboro, UNC Charlotte and many others with the Carolinian running to New York City. It was just a caption to a picture, but still marketing in a small way. Haven't gotten one of those planners since then though, so I'm not sure if they've done it any more.

I've had several college friends take the train too. One guy that went to NC State took it from Raleigh to Charlotte (for about $40) so his parents would only have to drive 90 minutes instead of 4 hours to pick him up. He did that several times because it was so much easier. Couple of other friends from Chapel Hill and State had been down to see a friend at UNC Charlotte and the friend that drove them there had a wreck on I-85 during a snow storm, so they ended up taking Amtrak back, which was much faster than the traffic was going through the snow on I-85!

[Big_Boy_4005]

It's a lovely thought Andrew, but I think there are a few basic problems. First, are you sure the bus isn't cheaper. Amtrak is close to the price of airfare if you are traveling any distance. Second, vacations are short, and I don't know how many college students would think getting there is half the fun. I was always under the impression that the goal was to get there, get drunk and stay drunk until you have to go back. Third, and this is a biggie, Amtrak doesn't go to Mexico. [swg]

Seriously, it is still cheaper to drive, even with the price of gas. I can drive from here to Chicago on under $60 in gas each way, and in 3 hours less time. I actually checked, and it was less than I thought to ride the train to Chicago. $74 adult coach, if you can get on. The first date I tried was full, it was a Friday. If I was taking the family, driving would be the cheapest.

If I was going to Florida I would get on a plane. There are too many places Amtrak doesn't go, and most places west of Chicago only see one train per day each way. Amtrak simply isn't for everyone. More power to ya if it takes you where and when you want to go.

[Anonymous]

Amtrak does offer college student , senior, and military discounts. The best deals can be found via the internet www.amtrak.com On the home page, look along the left side and click onto "Rail Sales". I've seen $7 (yes, seven dollar) fares from Pa. to Chicago, and, other various parts of the country - it changes all the time. Sometimes there are 25% discounts when a major credit card company is running a promotion. Buy one get one free is another promotion you'll see from time to time.

[MP57313]

They must do some marketing. There were tons of students getting on/off at Charlottesville, VA last time I rode the Cardinal (last November)