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Get rid or rethink Amtrak
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An up-grade of a product increases patronage. The South Shore Line in 1925 carried very few passengers. In 1926 the whole thing was re-done, new cars purchased, and the line was extended (via tackage rights) into Chicago. Ridership immediately rose into the millions. You can't go about things waiting for optimum useage and then make the improvements. Everything good in life has been a gamble. You have to have the will to operate. The clear vision of the future. That's something you can sense. I feel that any quality improvement of any rail service will bring dramatic increases. Playing it safe spells stagnation and that's just what we have now. <br />I worked the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor in the '70s. When I hired out there were 7 departures from either end that were well patronized on a memory schedule. Then the thinkers got involved and played with departure times and the number of trains. That tended to shake patronage off the trains. A train every hour, on the hour, with red-cap assistance for luggage, a club car with a small parlor section for those who want a reserved seat and you'll get business. It's convenience, dependability, cleanliness, ample parking, et al, that brings and keeps patronage. The business itself has to portray respectablity, and the service has to have respect and confidence in itself. I base my sentiments on conversations I've had, and remarks overheard from passengers throughout the years. <br />I agree that perhaps a corridor such as CHI-MKE might be re-thought to Aurora-Oconomowoc via Chicago-Milwaukee as corporate centers now reside far outside the traditional downtown sectors. <br />Mitch
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