Zephyr, Starlight, and the Southwest Chief.

[conrailman]

I seen on All_ Aboard Yahoo Group, that in the November Timetable yest with the Zephyr,Starlight and Southwest Chief All Tri-Weekly after the Chiristmas Holiday. Is this Stuff True about the Tri-Weekly in the Timetable? If Amtrak does this stuff Dave Gunn Needs to be Fire Right Now before Christmas. I hope this guy is not Right about Amtrak. I think Amtrak Needs a Good Christmas Spanking.[V][V]

[Randy Stahl]

Passenger trains ebb and flow with the times. If a tri weekly train is whats needed to ensure the survival of the route , then I'm all for it . Would you rather the trains be discontinued forever ? If so you may get your wish !
Randy

[Overmod]

I'm about to be unpopular, but I'm going to say it anyway.

I suspect there are very few people who will choose not to ride one of these trains because they have to wait a day, or perhaps two, before they can board it. This number might be further reduced if the arrival times of the trains (both at destination and at key intermediate stops) are 'convenient' for a triweekly schedule as made.

The absolute reductions in operating cost, however, would appear substantial -- not just in terms of the passenger-train operations, but in terms of freed-up capacity for freight movement.

I'm reasonably certain that the schedule could be re-extended to daily operation when demand warrants, or if it becomes obvious that realistic numbers of passengers either object to it (evidenced by correspondence) or 'vote with their feet' by quitting the trains entirely (evidenced by lower route passenger-mile receipts).

I somehow doubt Mr. Gunn would be doing this if he thought the quality of service per train were being compromised, or that the routes were being meaningfully underserved. On the other hand, he has to act fairly quickly to placate those who actively plan Amtrak's demise; there ain't much guarantee that any outcome of the November elections will take the pressure off any time soon.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Overmod



The absolute reductions in operating cost, however, would appear substantial -- not just in terms of the passenger-train operations, but in terms of freed-up capacity for freight movement.

I'm reasonably certain that the schedule could be re-extended to daily operation when demand warrants, or if it becomes obvious that realistic numbers of passengers either object to it (evidenced by correspondence) or 'vote with their feet' by quitting the trains entirely (evidenced by lower route passenger-mile receipts).

I have seen the Texas Eagle go from a daily train to a Tri-weekly train then back to a daily train. I am not sure right now which it is. At one time it was daily between Chicago and St. Louis and Tri-weekly from St. Louis to Texas. I would have to check the Amtrak site to know which it is now. Once in a while when it is running just a few minutes late I see the red marker lights as it leaves town, this is just after midnight when I get off work.

[jeaton]

Jim-The Texas Eagle is a daily train.

Friday's NARP Hotline had some comments about the November Amtrak timetable changes and there was no mention of any change to tri-weekly service. If there was ANY factual basis to this, you can be sure that NARP would have been all over it.

Jay

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Overmod
I suspect there are very few people who will choose not to ride one of these trains because they have to wait a day, or perhaps two, before they can board it.

I do not believe the cited service reductions are a serious possibility. I would think shortened consists would happen before reduction to tri-weekly service.

The 90s service reductions to tri-weekly for the Pioneer and Desert Wind did not save those trains. If anything, it made them even more inconvenient to occasional travelers.

[daveklepper]

Let us hope that David Gunn gets the money he needs and the system will be put right!