This year is the most number of times I have seen Amtrak turn the Builder into a "Twin Cities Hiawatha" because of problems in Montana. Wjich gave me the idea: why don't they run a seperate twin cities Hiawath in the morning?! They also Need to put a station in the Wisconsin Dells, one of the many tourist traps of Wisconsin. Who wouldn't like to take a morning train to the dells for around thirty bucks instead of taking a car and wasting gas. I certainly would do it.
I always try to be positive, unlike some pessimists!
There are a lot of opportunities like yours, Mr. Railman. But the marketing gurus in Congress don't undrstand the business of train service and marketing. Amtrak is told to do something it is not designed to do: provide train service and market it. As long as Congerss treats it as its own ring of track around the Christmas tree, it will not flourish. Amtrak has to be freed to the extent the TVA, and the USPS are freed or even as Conrail was handled. Until then, everyday is Christmas for one or another Congressman, one or another becomes Scrooge, and we all become screwed one way or another..
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The Empire Builder already stops at Wisconsin Dells.
The Empire Builder stops and many good places in Wisconsin (including the center of Wisconsin Dells) but unfortunately not in Madison, Wisconsin. The CP tracks miss Madison by 20 miles but a quick survey of the deboarding passengers in Columbus will find a student who needs the gas money.
This train could run twice a day between the Twin Cities and Chicago with the existing equipment. Once early in the morning and once at noon for an evening arrival on both ends.
[quote user="Mr. Railman"]
why don't they run a seperate twin cities Hiawath in the morning?!
/quote]
Many of us on this forum would agree however it is a matter of lack of equipment! ; track time north of Milkaukee, and probably use a Hiawatha time slot to Chicago?
1. AMTRAK has gone from 13.3% of passenger cars out - of - service at September 2009 to 11.9% out of service at end of April 2011. At the same time ARRA funds have returned to service 33 Amfleet FY 2010 and 9 thru April 2011. At the same time Beech Grove has returned to service 7 in 2010 and 9 thru April including Superliners, Cab cars, Horizon & Heritage. (Beech Grove returns have been as a group more expensive and time consuming than the Amfleets)
2. As well overhauls are Amfleet 68 + 33 and Beech 78 + 124 in same time frames which is twice the rate of previous years. These numbers have allowed Amtrak to add cars to those routes the most crowded but not entertain additional trains.
3. Also 15 P-40s have been returned to service to provide the additional motive power needed for some trains for time keeping
4. The order for 25 additional sleepers will add sleeper space but AMTRAK is yet to order more coaches either single level or bi-level. That really precludes any additional trains or more likely additional cars on present trains before FY 2014-2015.
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