Amtrak advertising

[terry.hall51]

While listening to a big Oklahoma City talk radio station yesterday, I was pleased to hear an advertising jingle for the Heartland Flyer.  It's the first jingle I have heard.  I wonder if this is routine, or is it, like some have encouraged, Amtrak taking advantage of an opportunity?

[choochoobuff]

I was watching a baseball game a little while back, and on the outfield wall was an Amtrak ad, simply saying "Ride the Train".

[BNSF_GP60M]

Airing here in Central Calif, Amtrak California has a simple ad. The short TV spot just says they lowered the fares and gives the prices from Fresno to San Fransico and Sacramento. But in the background you can see the list of stations Amtrak serves.

[al-in-chgo]

I think I've been told Amtrak does a little advertising on TV here in Chicago, but if that's so then I have missed it. 

A little print in our two big daily papers, The Chicago Tribune & Chicago Sun-Times. 

It would be great to see Amtrak advertise more on TV, both for its own sake but because (to me at least) to see some of these ads for glorified secretarial schools and plaintiff's lawyers interrupted by something else would be great. 

 

[Phoebe Vet]

Here in Charlotte Amtrak has ONE (yep just one) billboard along I-85 which is the road that all three trains roughly parallel.

The trains are fairly popular, but every time I tell someone about a train trip we recently took, they usually reply with a puzzled look and ask: "We have Amtrak here?"

Amtrak could definitely benefit from a little advertising.

[DMUinCT]

   Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, you can not watch a ballgame, without the large advertising signs behind the batter showing an Acela and promoting Amtrak for at least one inning of the game.   Adds in the outfield of baseball and around the boards of NHL Hockey Rinks abound.

[Phoebe Vet]

I wish they would do that here.

Maybe at Carolina Panthers Games, or Lowes Motor Speedway.

[Prairietype]

I was driving on I-70 west of St. Louis this morning and saw an automated MoDot traffic advisory sign illuminated with this message: "Try Amtrak For A Change", with MoRail.org listed below the message. Checked out MoRail.org; it is a sublink within the MoDot website, and had basic Amtrak sheduling information within. 

[MILW205]

 

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1229734/ShowPost.aspx

 

[amsr]

They had Acela posters all over the Washington DC metro when I lived there.  I guess they figured if you already were apt to take the subway, you might like the train?  Also they had print ads in some of the airline magazines on flights into DC.

[mtnbikr63]

Amtrak does quite a bit of promotion here at Charlotte Checkers minor league hockey games.  The have a table on the concourse and I belive they had their logo painted under the ice.  This promotion makes sense and apparently is working as ridership is up 22% on the two Charlotte to Raleigh routes and they're adding a third train in about six months.

[passengerfan]

Amtrak California has had an ongoing TV campaign for some time now offering discounts on the San Joaquins, Capitols and Surfliners. Now we have another problem the trains are running full and we have a shortage of equipment. There has even been some talk of leasing commuter equipment from ACE to help ease the San Joaquin situation on weekends. With 37 million people residing in California and regular gas at 4.59 per gallon this AM is it any wonder more people are turning to trains and there is a major shortage of equipment.

Al - in - Stockton

[blue streak 1]

Al:

What routes are full or what trains? I would think a CALTRAIN consist available in San Jose might be more convient on weekends. What is the platform length availability? I only remember the Oakland Collisieum plaform is limited because of the turning of some trains there. Any others?

[passengerfan]

In answer to Bluestreak1s question.

All three California Amtrak routes are reported running at capacity. The reason ACE was the first choice for California Amtrak is they have no weekend service. The equipment sits idle except for washing and cleaning. It would not be that far to run the equipment to Sacramento to substitute for the early San Joaquin from Sacramento that arrives in Bakersfield before the lunch hour thus no need for the Dining facilities. I would imagine they might put a newspaper vendor on the train for sandwiches soft drinks etc. Be a good summer job for some young people headed to college in the fall.

I don't know if they have contacted any other commuter agencies about equipment. But by substituting ACE equipment on the two Sacramento - Bakersfield trips that would free up two Amtrak California sets of equipment for the Capitols. What I hear is really needed is equipment to connect the Capitols and Surfliners. The Coast Starlight now back in service over its entire route is running at capacity.

Al - in - Stockton 

[blue streak 1]

Al: Had no idea all routes full. Is there any segments that could be short runs to take up crowding. AMTRAK may have to oversell slightly and require the oversales to sit in the? (lounge etc)We used to say in the airline business= no increase in load factor so cancel the flight.

How long before any new equipment available?? Oil went to $138.50 today and my friend said "I told you so" but I'm still skeptical that it will stay that high but he keeps saying "you ain't seen nothing yet"  

[passengerfan]

Al: Had no idea all routes full. Is there any segments that could be short runs to take up crowding. AMTRAK may have to oversell slightly and require the oversales to sit in the? (lounge etc)We used to say in the airline business= no increase in load factor so cancel the flight.

How long before any new equipment available?? Oil went to $138.50 today and my friend said "I told you so" but I'm still skeptical that it will stay that high but he keeps saying "you ain't seen nothing yet"  

There probably is some short segments of the routes that are less than full but it is my understanding that the lounges are already been used for additional space. Probably for weekends the ACE trains are the best alternatives. That still is not going to fill the gap between San Jose and Santa Barbara that badly needs filling.

I think your friend is probably right about the price of oil and of course California has special additives that make our gasoline the highest in the country. Many people over the last five or six years who work in the bay area bought homes here in San Joaquin County and now cannot afford the gas. The ACE train ridership growth reflects these figures. But ACE is going to be forced to buy additional equipment soon.

Here in the San Joaquin County we have another problem with foreclosures. The first quarter of 2008 was 70% lower than the first quarter of 2007 where foreclosures are concerned and the experts tell us that it will be even worse for the next 18 months at the very least. Being in the Mortgage Brokerage business I have never had to turn down so many clients as I am turning down now. The major problem is most clients who have purchased a house in the last eight years do not have enough equity to cover what there house value has lost in the past year. Now they want to renew there mortgage at the new lower rates and are unable to. For those with short term mortgages that are coming due now in some cases it is better to just walk away as they will never be able to get another mortgage as the home as lost so much value. 

Al - in - Stockton

[Anonymous]

While listening to a big Oklahoma City talk radio station yesterday, I was pleased to hear an advertising jingle for the Heartland Flyer.  It's the first jingle I have heard.  I wonder if this is routine, or is it, like some have encouraged, Amtrak taking advantage of an opportunity?

In FY 2007 Amtrak spend $34.3 million on advertising, up from 30.8 million on FY 2006.  I don't know how this compares to other transport companies, e.g. Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, etc., but I suspect that it is modest, except perhaps for ads pitched to riders in the Northeast and California Corridors.