Is Iowa Pacific Holdings the key to Amtraks future success?
I don't think so. The key to Amtrak's success is how they manage the NEC and how well they partner with states.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
If you are basing your question on the weekly sleeping-car service that Iowa Pacific tacks on the rear of the "City of New Orleans", I really don't think so. Iowa Pacific does not incur a lot of crew and equipment costs that would come as part of operating an entire daily train.
CSSHEGEWISCH If you are basing your question on the weekly sleeping-car service that Iowa Pacific tacks on the rear of the "City of New Orleans", I really don't think so. Iowa Pacific does not incur a lot of crew and equipment costs that would come as part of operating an entire daily train.
And the real question that should be asked is. Why didn't Amtrak see the Market first and move to fill it vs a third party? Where are the other tie-ins Amtrak could be taking advantage of to boost it's bottom line on LD trains. You would think they would follow a model of continuous improvement to cut expenses and would be continually in research mode to test what premium services can be added to their LD line of trains but it seems they prefer the comfortable approach of maintaining the status quo. Although I will point out that the adoption of Auto Train in the East and even the new trips to Winter Park,CO says there might be hope in that department. Two examples in over 40 years of operation, doesn't really reflect well on Amtrak.
I think the Indiana change may serve to answer the question or at least give us a clue. Unfortunately, there is nothing IP can do about tightening the schedule to achieve parity with bus or private auto.
CMStPnPAnd the real question that should be asked is. Why didn't Amtrak see the Market first and move to fill it vs a third party?
+1
There are only three possibilities (not mutually exclusive).
They are unwilling.
They are unable.
They have their eyes shut.
Unions hate outsourcing and will do everything in their power to monkeywrench it including derailing trains and acts of Force majoure. Look what happend to Montana Rail Link when BN tried forming a shill companay and outsourcing operations on some of their lines
trackrat888 Unions hate outsourcing and will do everything in their power to monkeywrench it including derailing trains and acts of Force majoure. Look what happend to Montana Rail Link when BN tried forming a shill companay and outsourcing operations on some of their lines
I disagree. With a financially troubled company like Amtrak most Unions want to do everything in their power to keep the company going and preserve what jobs they have and potentially improve their salary conditions.
I think it is Amtrak management not willing to stick it's neck out for fear of decapitation if an experiment goes wrong.
I once wrote Amtrak on paying for a Chicago to Green Bay trip as a fundraising excursion. Instead of exploring the opportunity their first approach was to talk me down to a lesser expensive alternative that just involved adding a car or two to an existing train and redirecting me to a totally different routing. Pretty crappy customer service, IMO as back then they could have easily done the Chicago to Green Bay trip but they knew it would be hassle for them and so they wanted to convince me to go with a trip where they could still see some revenue but not be bothered with much planning or arrangements on their end.
Just not good for their future and probably another reason why we do not see a lot of chartered or special trains. On most every chartered train, Amtrak makes money according to their financial statements. The person that charters the train might lose their shirt but Amtrak does make money on most chartered trains, so you would think it would be an area they would persue a lot more aggressively.
Chartered trains are also a method of attracting first time train riders and expanding market share if done right (run timely without incident).
Amtrak prefers to run trains the way they always have. Routes look like they are from the pre-merger 1950s. Almost zero innovation occurs, except slightly for the NEC and other corridors.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Dakguy201 I think the Indiana change may serve to answer the question or at least give us a clue. Unfortunately, there is nothing IP can do about tightening the schedule to achieve parity with bus or private auto.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.