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[quote user="schlimm"] Paul:  I'm saying I was surprised by the metrics.  "Passengers" means head count, not passenger miles. I don't know where to find the metrics that analyze expenses, but even without that info I have to begrudging admit that the sleeper passenger makes a substantial contribution.  The data Amtrak publishes (it's on their website) breaks it down for different routes.  Some are obviously a waste (Cardinal, Sunset, to name a few) while others look sustainable (EB).  So the original premise that you and I and others hold about moving on from the nostalgia, though true, needs to be carefully applied.  Some LD service is probably a given.  Which routes and what mix of coach and sleeper needs analysis.  Also should it remain a mission of Amtrak or be left to cruise lines? [/quote] Unfortunately, Amtrak's Monthly Operating Reports, as well as quarterly and annual financial reports, do not present a detailed breakdown of the expense side of the accounting equation.  Thus, it is not possible to determine whether sleeping car passengers are covering their proportional share of the operating expenses associated with hauling them in first class comfort. Sleeping cars are more expensive to buy, maintain, service, and overhaul.  They are probably more expensive to haul because of heavier weights, although I don't know how much more costly.  If I remember correctly, a report published in 2005 or thereabouts showed that sleeping car passengers actually receive a larger subsidy than coach passengers.  In any case, only about 2.2 per cent of Amtrak's passengers can afford to pony up the money to travel in Amtrak's sleeping cars, which means the service is used largely by upper income people. My first choice would be to scrap the long distance trains, in which case sleeping cars would not be an issue, and devote the resources to enhancing high density corridors or developing new ones. However, given the political constraints that Amtrak must operate with, discontinuance of the long distance trains is not likely.  Shoot, I would be surprised if they could even eliminate the biggest money losers, e.g. Cardinal, Sunset Limited, etc. A better solution, instead of replacing the sleeping cars, would be to develop a business class car configured along the same lines as the business class section of Boeing's and Airbuses' long distance airplanes.  For my money the business class section on a Boeing 747-400 is more comfortable for an overnight journey than a Superliner roomette.  I have flown between the U.S. and Australia 22 times, so I have some experience on which to make this statement. Queensland Railway's Tilt train does not have any sleeping cars.  It has business and coach class cars along with at your seat food service.  The business class seat is more than adequate for one night on the train.  I have taken the train from Brisbane to Cairns twice.  Most of Amtrak's sleeping car passengers are only on the train for one night.  Accordingly, a comfortable business class seat would probably accommodate most of them, with a corresponding savings for Amtrak.  Savings!  Now that's a unique word for a politically driven entity.
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