From the Burlington (VT) Free Press:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091121/NEWS02/911210307/1007/Marketing-helps-Vermont-train-ridership
DUH!
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Sorta makes me wonder about the folks who think improving passenger rail service would not lead to an expanded passenger base. Routes that got frequent & convenient service(not just faster) would get a lot more passengers if it was properly marketed. The only things I question are whether or not it would be logical routes and whether Amtrak could handle operations or marketing.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
I read the BFP every morning, on-line. It is nice to start your day with a laugh! I'm kinda glad I don't live there anymore. The "Vermonter" isn't ever going to be a success, with its terminus in St. Albans. It is, truly, a "Train to Nowhere", unless you are a bank robber. Franklin County, VT does have its problems... Until the train reconnects with Montreal, with all amenities (dining car, sleepers) it will be a loser. The 'Customs & Immigration Service' of the DHS is not interested in facilitating the border crossings on any Amtrak trains. Therein lies the big problem, methinks.
Bill ("ShakeyofStowe", on the BFP thingies)
Bill, I think what you mean is that when the politicians who want to run the railroad stop thinking that one train or less per day to and from anypoint, is "rail passenger service"! But when it is designed, scheduled, equipped, manned, maintained, reliable, does what the public wants when it wants to and from where it wants, i.e: marketed, then you can call it service. As for its present success, well, if it serves a public, attracts some ridership, provides some modicum of service and reliabitly, then, in this day and age and under the ruling political system, it cannot be deemed a failure despite it not by many deemed a success.,
henry6 DUH!
What exactly are you "duhing" at?
Murray henry6 DUH! What exactly are you "duhing" at?
I think he's duh'ing over the article's tilt maybe--- Marketing is a lot more than simple manipulation---obviously
I like the fact that there are attempts being made to run localized rail passenger services to begin with. How fast it is is alittle beside the point when it comes to establishing some kind of service to begin with. Give it stable arrival levels, passenger services, and all else I think it'll hold its own
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
In effect the meaning is revealed in my response to Bill above. But it was more to the point that the article underscores an arguement I have been making here...other threads that is,...that marketing goes a long way in getting the public to accept something. LIke Pete Rozelle's brilliant marketing of the NFL moving it from another spectator sport to a major social event each season.
henry6In effect the meaning is revealed in my response to Bill above. But it was more to the point that the article underscores an arguement I have been making here...other threads that is,...that marketing goes a long way in getting the public to accept something. LIke Pete Rozelle's brilliant marketing of the NFL moving it from another spectator sport to a major social event each season.
I hope this won't get so "political" that this thread gets locked down.
Those folks who oppose any federal expansion of our passenger system usually cite low current ridership as an indication of low demand. But space utilization on many routes is quite high. The problem is a lack of supply - there simply aren't very many routes outside the coasts that have the requirements for testing how popular a real system could be. Fairly fast, frequent, reliable, convenient service that is marketed in logical, identified markets.
schlimm The problem is a lack of supply - there simply aren't very many routes outside the coasts that have the requirements for testing how popular a real system could be. Fairly fast, frequent, reliable, convenient service that is marketed in logical, identified markets.
Some areas could be beefed up in terms of level of service. It looks more like there is a threshold when it comes to service levels/density and that does kind of makes it more difficult in other areas to justify rail transit. I know that north of here the population density has come down as well since the 1950's. Most of said population moving to bigger centers along the 400 series highways---where the jobs were--
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