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June 09 AMTRAK performance figures
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<P mce_keep="true">[quote user="blue streak 1"] <P>[quote user="schlimm"]Load factor would seem to be a key statistic in deciding which current Amtrak routes should continue or be dropped. The public is speaking loudly in favor of discontinuing a train that is only being used at barely 50% of its capacity[/quote]</P> <P>Load factor will lead you down a primrose path. Several trains not mentioned have a lower load factor. If a certain train has a heavy load on one segment ie Chicago - St. Paul and many empty seats otherwise the load factor is down. CHI- MSP may be 90% but rest 40%. If cars were dropped in St. Paul then load factors would climb with the same number of passengers. The Cardinal has high loads to Charlottesville from the NEC and higher from Cincinnati - CHI. Mid point is lower.</P> <P>This is the problem of one trip (or less) a day. The load factors cannot be adjusted by capacity (seat miles) from lower demand points.SAM1 can point to many of these examples on the Sunset. [/quote]</P> <P mce_keep="true">Load factor is just one of several metrics that should be reviewed by management to determine the utility of a train. But a low load factor should be a trigger for further investigation.</P> <P>If the Cardinal has relatively high low factors on its end point segments, but a low load factor in between, this argues for dropping the train in favor of day trains between Charlottesville and the NEC cities, as well as Cincinnati to Chicago. This is the position that I have taken since joining the Trains forums. Long distance trains make no sense, but relatively short distance trains in high density corridors make a lot of sense.</P> <P>Amtrak's Monthly Operating Report shows load factors, or at least provides the information to calculate them, for the route, but I don't see the information for segments. Maybe I have missed them.</P> <P>NARP has Amtrak figures showing the top city pairs by ridership and revenue for 2008. Indianapolis to Chicago is the top segment. Washington to Charlottesville is #4, whilst Charlottesville to Chicago is #5, and New York to Charlottesville is # 7. These are the figures for ridership; the order of the segments changes somewhat for top city pairs by revenues. </P>
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