iron mountain So when they arrive in Texas thay have to drive around in a gas guzzling truck or haul yet a second vehicle behind the RV. The rent on an RV pad is not cheap. And of course the cost of a big luxuriopus RV is like buying a second home. Why not drive an economical small car onto an auto train, rent a comfortable place in Texas and enjoy. There are many rentals available. If one does the math there is no way haulingand buyuing your own to Texas is a cheaper alternative to and auto train trip.
So when they arrive in Texas thay have to drive around in a gas guzzling truck or haul yet a second vehicle behind the RV. The rent on an RV pad is not cheap. And of course the cost of a big luxuriopus RV is like buying a second home. Why not drive an economical small car onto an auto train, rent a comfortable place in Texas and enjoy. There are many rentals available. If one does the math there is no way haulingand buyuing your own to Texas is a cheaper alternative to and auto train trip.
I've spent some time in "The Valley" when our Winter Texans were there and I can tell you that many solve the problem by leaving a small, economical car in Texas while they go North for the summer. Some even buy a small car on arrival and sell it a couple of months later.
ChuckAllen, TX
And again, your decision to tell me this was none of my business but let mac's comment critical of CMStPnP's joke ride shows that it isn't about someone commenting, it's only about whether or not people agree with your views.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
You have absolutely no right to tell other members what they may or may not comment upon. And all your presumptuous bristling because you didn't like CMStPnP's innocuous, albeit somewhat sophomoric sarcastic humor.
CMStPnP PNWRMNM CM Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Mac Mac, Character is like a tree, and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it. The tree is the real thing.
PNWRMNM CM Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Mac
CM
Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Mac
Mac,
Character is like a tree, and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it. The tree is the real thing.
What is your agenda as per this comment, assuming that it is directed at me?
schlimm Sam1 schlimm Cmnstp's s comment was obviously a mildly sarcastic joke but sam1 chose to engage in name calling, Perhaps folks need a thicker skin and a better sense of humor around here? I did not take it as a mildly sarcastic joke. I took it as a hidden agenda that the author is yet to answer, other than to offer another trite comeback. You can afford to claim that I am being overly sensitive. The comment was not directed at you. And by the way, who asked you to weigh into the issue? What business is if of yours? People posting to these forums should confine their comments to rail issues. Personal comments and ill attempts at jokes, which never fly very well in the internet world, should not be part of any posting. My reference to ignorant behavior is just that. If you want to categorize it as name calling, that is your choice, although as I said, it is none of your business. If people don't want a push back from me, comments should be kept to the subject at hand. Personal comments and observations are out-of-bounds, but throw one at me, and I will throw it right back at you. Or anyone else. I would suggest you take your own medicine then. All participants are permitted to comment on any post, even those apparently directed at others, whether in r jest or anger. I notice you didn't tell mac when he "weigh into the issue" that his comment was" none of his business." And who appointed you to be the moderator? If you think someone is launching a personal attack at you, you are supposed to report the abuse to the moderators, not "flame" at another member.
Sam1 schlimm Cmnstp's s comment was obviously a mildly sarcastic joke but sam1 chose to engage in name calling, Perhaps folks need a thicker skin and a better sense of humor around here? I did not take it as a mildly sarcastic joke. I took it as a hidden agenda that the author is yet to answer, other than to offer another trite comeback. You can afford to claim that I am being overly sensitive. The comment was not directed at you. And by the way, who asked you to weigh into the issue? What business is if of yours? People posting to these forums should confine their comments to rail issues. Personal comments and ill attempts at jokes, which never fly very well in the internet world, should not be part of any posting. My reference to ignorant behavior is just that. If you want to categorize it as name calling, that is your choice, although as I said, it is none of your business. If people don't want a push back from me, comments should be kept to the subject at hand. Personal comments and observations are out-of-bounds, but throw one at me, and I will throw it right back at you. Or anyone else.
schlimm Cmnstp's s comment was obviously a mildly sarcastic joke but sam1 chose to engage in name calling, Perhaps folks need a thicker skin and a better sense of humor around here?
Cmnstp's s comment was obviously a mildly sarcastic joke but sam1 chose to engage in name calling, Perhaps folks need a thicker skin and a better sense of humor around here?
I did not take it as a mildly sarcastic joke. I took it as a hidden agenda that the author is yet to answer, other than to offer another trite comeback. You can afford to claim that I am being overly sensitive. The comment was not directed at you. And by the way, who asked you to weigh into the issue? What business is if of yours?
People posting to these forums should confine their comments to rail issues. Personal comments and ill attempts at jokes, which never fly very well in the internet world, should not be part of any posting.
My reference to ignorant behavior is just that. If you want to categorize it as name calling, that is your choice, although as I said, it is none of your business. If people don't want a push back from me, comments should be kept to the subject at hand. Personal comments and observations are out-of-bounds, but throw one at me, and I will throw it right back at you. Or anyone else.
I would suggest you take your own medicine then. All participants are permitted to comment on any post, even those apparently directed at others, whether in r jest or anger. I notice you didn't tell mac when he "weigh into the issue" that his comment was" none of his business." And who appointed you to be the moderator? If you think someone is launching a personal attack at you, you are supposed to report the abuse to the moderators, not "flame" at another member.
Commenting on an rail related issue is vastly different than commenting on a snide remark. The remark was directed at me. You have no business interpreting what was an obvious slam. How it struck you is irrelevant regarding how I interpreted the comment. Stick to the subject matter of these forums!
I am keenly waiting for the original commentator to tell me his agenda. Inasmuch as the moderator is reading these posts, he or she already knows that I am not a happy camper.
I would suggest you take your own medicine then. All participants are permitted to comment on any post, even those apparently directed at others, whether in r jest or anger. I notice you didn't tell mac when he "weigh into the issue" that his comment was" none of his business." You make the pronouncement: "Personal comments and ill attempts at jokes, which never fly very well in the internet world, should not be part of any posting." yet there are three permanent threads on the general forum which are largely attempts at humor. Maybe you don't care for attempts at humor, especially when they aren't your cup of tea? I don't, honestly, but i don't say there shouldn't be any such postings. Who appointed you to be the moderator? If you think someone is launching a personal attack at you, you are supposed to report the abuse to the moderators, not "flame" at another member.
What is the meaning of this comment? What is your issue?
UChicagoMattThe tremendous distance and poor track for Chi-SA would work against such a plan. I-95 is choked with cars and there exists a time-honored tradition of escaping to Florida. Chicago itself is choked with traffic, but I-55 is rural and fast. My experience as a Chicagoan is that the gulf side of Florida is way ahead of Texas. The 1970s autotrain to Florida left from Louisville owing to horrific track Chi-Ind. That has not changed. However, any train would have to leave from no farther south than Merrillville or University Park. To Chicagoans, Louisville is already the South. I would venture that much of the Chi-TX traffic is Latino and the economy of scale of the car vastly outweighs buying 6-8 tickets. In any event, money spent creating a fast regional hub out of a Millennium Park Station has far more benefits for more people than an 1800-mile autotrain to Texas.
I just rode the Texas Eagle this Christmas. Chicago to Dallas has pretty decent track and we did at least 70 mph most of the way. The Texas Eagle schedule is clearly padded. Northbound to Chicago we pulled off into a siding and blew 90 min of running time because we were running so fast North (we were running with UP's directional flow of traffic). Southbound was different as we were running against the UP directional flow of traffic, so we were an hour late.
Most of the Texas Eagle traffic was not Latino, it was primarily White, Black, then other minorities.
Minor item of significance is UPRR is working on the northbound siwtches at Dallas Union Station so the Texas Eagle has to back out of that station and then do a runby past after it's stop there. That takes time as well. UPRR is almost done and that should be a moot point in 2013.
Another growing factor in the Texas Eagle being late is the train has to stop twice at most stations during the holidays at least because it is so long (15 cars and two locos when I rode it) once for sleepers and once for coach. I would propose at the intermediate stops it just stops for coach at most stations and just have the few sleeper passengers walk the inside of the train with their bags OR board at major stations where there is a 20 min smoke break. It would speed up the schedule more, IMO.
PNWRMNM CMStPnP Sam1 And the point of this snide remark, other than to demonstrate your ignorance, is? ......To have some fun. CM Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Mac
CMStPnP Sam1 And the point of this snide remark, other than to demonstrate your ignorance, is? ......To have some fun.
Sam1 And the point of this snide remark, other than to demonstrate your ignorance, is?
And the point of this snide remark, other than to demonstrate your ignorance, is?
......To have some fun.
Having fun at another person's expense is sophomoric! As is the irrelevant, trite phrase! Both are what a mature adult would expect of a high school student!
So what is your hidden agenda?
CMStPnP Geez you guys are behind the times...... Union Pacific already operates a Auto-Train service to several parts of the country. They have a very large collector and distribution terminal outside both Dallas and Chicago. They just do not operate the passenger train part. They seem to be making a profit with it.......not sure why truckers can't. Anyways, you can ship your car and fly to the destination if your stay is for several weeks. I think for a stay of less than two weeks.......might not pay as your going to be waiting for your car for 6-9 business days to arrive from the shipment date. Given that Union Pacific already has such a service......good luck competing with them on their own rails with Amtrak........pretty sure that will not work. Here is their website: https://www.shipcarsnow.com/residential/index.html
Geez you guys are behind the times......
Union Pacific already operates a Auto-Train service to several parts of the country. They have a very large collector and distribution terminal outside both Dallas and Chicago. They just do not operate the passenger train part. They seem to be making a profit with it.......not sure why truckers can't. Anyways, you can ship your car and fly to the destination if your stay is for several weeks. I think for a stay of less than two weeks.......might not pay as your going to be waiting for your car for 6-9 business days to arrive from the shipment date.
Given that Union Pacific already has such a service......good luck competing with them on their own rails with Amtrak........pretty sure that will not work.
Here is their website:
https://www.shipcarsnow.com/residential/index.html
Snowbirds usually pack their car to the roof when they move south for the winter. The following warning at the above link makes this a non-starter:
"Remove All Personal And Household Items: DO NOT PACK ANY LUGGAGE OR SHIP ANY PERSONAL OR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS IN YOUR CAR. Per U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, it is illegal to ship your car if it contains personal or household items. Both you and the car transporter could be fined, and your vehicle could be impounded."
In addition to buying the transport service and an airline ticked, you would need to rent a car for 6-9 days waiting for your car to arrive.
CMStPnP Psssst, I'll bet they didn't contact Sam1 to see if it was profitable before UP RR started on this business line....... What Amtrak should do is partner with UPRR, sell the ship car and rail ticket as a package since they pickup the car at the door.
Psssst, I'll bet they didn't contact Sam1 to see if it was profitable before UP RR started on this business line.......
What Amtrak should do is partner with UPRR, sell the ship car and rail ticket as a package since they pickup the car at the door.
Merry Christmas, Iron Mountain - Switching a vehicle transporter out of a train and spotting to a ramp for loading and unloading would only drive a potential customer away. It is not too bad for the Automobile Trains with 40 to 70 railcars to ge spotted or assembled, but one car would be an eternity. There are numerous Auto Transporters that bring vehicles North to the Mid West and Central US and are looking for hauls back to Texas.
Most shippers of private (POV) vehicles want them picked up at the house and delivered to the house. The truckers might even turn down the freight since it is inconsistent and One vehicle doesn't pay to delay a truck.The answer might lie in drop off and pick up locations like the rental cars and could foster loads. The service would not be 2 days but patience might save money
My retired parents used the Auto-Train. They would take their cars down to Florida in the fall, and take them back to NY in the spring. It sounded like a lot of other seniors did the same thing.
My questions about expanding Auto trains are these:
1. Who rides the East Coast version? Seniors? Families?
2. Should these be seasonal operations?
3. Is Midwest to Texas anywhere as large a market as Midwest to Florida?
4. Routes: Is there a route from CHI or CINCI to Florida that could offer something approaching overnight service (16-20 hr.)?
Sam1 BaltACD Sam1 There is no economic justification for the taxpayers to support another money losing train. And given the numbers, it is unlikely that an investor owned operator would take it on. Operation of Auto Train eliminates at least 2 medically caused auto accidents on I-95 per week. You would be amazed at the number of times Auto-Train has to be met by local EMT's. If those people were driving?????? I would like to see the verifiable data for this claim. Where can I find the records regarding the number of times the Auto-Train has been met by local EMT's, the nature of the impairments, and the outcomes. Also, it would be important to know whether the passenger was traveling alone, thereby implying that he or she might be driving alone, or was he or she traveling with a companion that might have been driving. A statistical correlation is not a cause and effect explanation. This is one of the cleverest justifications for a train that loses more than $30 million per year. It is akin to the argument that crops up periodically that we need the long distance trains for people who are too impaired to drive, fly, or take a bus. If this argument is valid, then shouldn't the government provide long distance train service to every community in the country that is larger than say $25,000? Why would Brownsville, TX, for example, not have train service?
BaltACD Sam1 There is no economic justification for the taxpayers to support another money losing train. And given the numbers, it is unlikely that an investor owned operator would take it on. Operation of Auto Train eliminates at least 2 medically caused auto accidents on I-95 per week. You would be amazed at the number of times Auto-Train has to be met by local EMT's. If those people were driving??????
Sam1 There is no economic justification for the taxpayers to support another money losing train. And given the numbers, it is unlikely that an investor owned operator would take it on.
There is no economic justification for the taxpayers to support another money losing train. And given the numbers, it is unlikely that an investor owned operator would take it on.
Operation of Auto Train eliminates at least 2 medically caused auto accidents on I-95 per week. You would be amazed at the number of times Auto-Train has to be met by local EMT's. If those people were driving??????
I would like to see the verifiable data for this claim. Where can I find the records regarding the number of times the Auto-Train has been met by local EMT's, the nature of the impairments, and the outcomes. Also, it would be important to know whether the passenger was traveling alone, thereby implying that he or she might be driving alone, or was he or she traveling with a companion that might have been driving.
A statistical correlation is not a cause and effect explanation. This is one of the cleverest justifications for a train that loses more than $30 million per year. It is akin to the argument that crops up periodically that we need the long distance trains for people who are too impaired to drive, fly, or take a bus. If this argument is valid, then shouldn't the government provide long distance train service to every community in the country that is larger than say $25,000? Why would Brownsville, TX, for example, not have train service?
My job involves logging delays for trains as well as requesting the medical attention through channels from the authotities. I can also view the logs of adjoining territories - which I do from time to time when Auto-Train is late and Auto-Train does operate on my territory.
The results of the EMT's actions are germaine only to the patient(s) and the EMT's and would be covered by medical privacy laws. The carrier is notified when the patient(s) are removed from the train.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Jim200If the Auto Train made a profit, this would encourage more routes. Presently Amtrak is giving each passenger an average of about $135. I propose an increased charge of $40/year for five years to accomplish a modest surplus.
There is a reason Amtrak does not charge an amount per passenger, or in the case of the Auto Train per vehicle, to cover its costs. The market will not support it. Increasing the price per passenger, i.e. higher ticket prices, probably would run-off a substantial number of passengers, which in turn could actually increase the losses, unless the marginal ticket revenues offset by at least $1 the marginal loss of revenues from passengers who were turned off by the higher prices. Only Amtrak's marketing and financial teams have a good idea of what this might look like.
Amtrak has some pretty sharp accounting, finance, and marketing people. Moreover, it has access to some of the best consulting minds in the world. If it could get more blood out of the Auto Train turnip, I am sure that it would.
A statistical correlation is not a cause and effect explanation. This is one of the cleverest justifications for a train that loses more than $30 million per year. It is akin to the argument that crops up periodically that we need the long distance trains for people who are too impaired to drive, fly, or take a bus. If this argument is valid, then shouldn't the government provide long distance train service to every community in the country that is larger than say 25,000? Why would Brownsville, TX, for example, not have train service?
I have often wondered about a West Coast Auto Train service from Portland or Eugene to Los Angeles or San Bernadino. This would bring Canadians from B C and if promoted properly even Alberta. In addition those living in Western Montana and the panhandle of Idaho as well as Washington and Oregon residents could gather in Portland or Eugene at a West Coast Auto Train terminal have there cars loaded and be whisked away overnight to Southern California using the Valley route over Tehachapi to Los Angeles. There just like the Florida Auto-Train passengers they can drive to there snowbird destinations in Arizona and Southern California. Even though I-5 is a pretty good highway so also in I-95. In the winter there is some pretty dangerous Mountain passes and heavy rain and snow all along the route south to Redding unlike along I-95. Many passengers of the present day Auto Train travel as far south as the Florida Keys and other southern Florida destinations and even to neighboring Gulf Coast destinations. So a West Coast Auto Train would probably be about as successful as the present day East Coast Auto-Train. In any event Amtrak does not have the equipment for such additional service.
Al - in - Stockton
As Sam pointed out:
"...The researchers found that a typical Winter Texan has the following characteristics: ...
• comes from Minnesota, Iowa, Canada, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri or Wisconsin (in order of ranking)..."
Minnesota & Iowa are at the other end of the I-35 corridor from Texas, so the 2 largest originating states are unlikely to go out of their way to use the proposed service. Most eastern Canadians go to Florida, and western Canadians go to Arizona so those that go to Texas evidently come from diverse locations. I live in Michigan, and while I know some that go to Texas, by far most go down I-75 (which replaced the Dixie Highway) to Florida.
While about 130,000 go to the Valley area which seems the most popular snowbird area, Florida statewide gets 85+ million visitors. I also agree that the prospects for a Texas Auto-Train are even slimmer than the failed Midwest-Florida service. But if it did happen, I would at least ride it once.
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