Could we speed up Amtrak by reducing loading times at stations?

[Dixie Flyer]

Why couldn't we take the lounge car on a long distance train have a portion of the lower level serve as a waiting room / lounge.  Everyone departing a train would be in the waiting room on arrival and depart through wide double door like a communter train.  Embarking passenger would all board and the train leaves.  Tickets, ID etc would be processed after departure.  The other half of the lower level would be for checked baggage so the train stops in the middle and its length is not as important.  I would have an elevator to get people needing assistance to the upper level.  Your handicapped facilities might be in that car or come up with a power scooter/ wheel chair where an attendant could get the disabled to their seat or room. 

[John WR]

Overmod

Passenger goes in a 'boarding module' which is properly constructed -- sorta like the way the F111 and B-70 cockpits were supposed to be.  Can have all the comforts of home -- small snack vending equipment, relief tube, stereo TV with piped-in content... at small marginal cost compared with having to make All Those Station Stops.  Long bungee a la those aircraft pick-up systems, and rails and hardpoints that control the path of the module as it goes into the train and then stops.

I could go with the bungee cord and the relief tube.  But must I be burdened with TV and vending machine snacks?  I'll bring my own coffee, bagel and a book.  

[Overmod]

John WR

I could go with the bungee cord and the relief tube.  But must I be burdened with TV and vending machine snacks?  I'll bring my own coffee, bagel and a book.  

It has to do with economies of scale -- cheaper to provide the modular amenities than to 'pick and choose' (you don't see many automobile rentals without radios and air conditioners to suit people who want a cheaper rental).   Would you advocate taking out the minibar in a hotel room every time a guest doesn't plan to use it?

No one says you have to turn on the TV, or eat any of the (frankly, probably overpriced) snacks.  On the other hand, you might want a fridge for the cream cheese or lox.  A-and a small microwave or 'sealed' brewing arrangement for the coffee, or any reheating of your other food you might want.*

I'd thought of the "TV" more as a screen that could be used for connectivity to wireless devices, or to give access to the Internet, as easily as showing entertainment content -- or programmed promotional material or ads.  I am, excruciatingly at times, aware of how boring it can be to wait in an enclosed space with some barker channel running.  Would not wish it on a dog.  (Run with the canine puns if ya wanna)

There might be liability issues with bring-your-own, so be prepared to sign a longer-than-usual standard waiver.  And expect some nanny measures -- little IR detectors looking at the food in the microwave to keep its temperature safe, for example.  Or coffee access lids little removed from the adult-proof covers on medicine bottles.  All in the name of SAFETY -- Job One on the railroads, remember?  We do our part.

* Yes, that is a Pynchon reference.

[CJtrainguy]

Couple of differences between European and Amtrak long distance cars that surely help make for faster on/off times:

Each passenger car has 2 doors on each side, not one, so only half as many passengers per door.

Platforms are higher and those portable step stools don't exist in Europe, so no delay before you can get on/off and no need for an attendant at each door.

Car doors are locked during travel and unlock when the train stops. Passengers open the doors themselves. 

At departure time, all doors are closed from a central location by the conductor as part of the departure process. No manual closing of doors anymore. Conductor visually makes sure train is clear as it departs and then closes his/her door manually.

All together this makes for a speedier boarding/de-boarding process.

On the rare occasion that a train is longer than the platform, doors on cars not at the platform will not be released and passengers will have to walk to the next train car to get on/off.

[John WR]

Overmod

No one says you have to turn on the TV, or eat any of the (frankly, probably overpriced) snacks.  On the other hand, you might want a fridge for the cream cheese or lox.  A-and a small microwave or 'sealed' brewing arrangement for the coffee, or any reheating of your other food you might want.*

As long as I can turn off the TV and not buy the snacks.  Right now I sit odwn and put my bagel and coffee on the pull down tray table.  That is all that I need.  I suppose someone will have to pull back on sthe sling short to shoot me into the passing train.  

[NittanyLion]

schlimm

On the platform, there is a diagram showing where each car on your train will be when it stops so that you can stand in the correct location if you have a reserved seat.  This isn't hi-tech, just common sense solutions that could be implemented quickly in our emerging corridors.

There's at least one station where they have sort of done this.

At Alexandria VA, there's "Location" numbers (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=429585 has an example) on light poles and support columns.  Station personnel tell passengers which location to go to before the train arrives, so that they board the appropriate car for their ticket type.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work out very well.  Passengers don't pay attention very well, turns out.

I've seen other stations with location signs, but none of the stations I've been through actually used them, except for ALX.

[schlimm]

So what prevents adoption of low-cost, low-tech solutions?  And more costly, but achievable, all trains, at least in corridors, should have the automatic door systems as described above.

[blue streak 1]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=429585 

That is a great way to do it at maned stations with more than one person on duty ! !