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[quote user="oltmannd"][quote user="HarveyK400"][quote user="Samantha"] [/quote][/quote]I don't think anybody is going to kill the beast, but I do think it's reasonable to put the beast on a diet.[/quote]If by the beast you mean the long distance trains, you're correct.  They will probably be with us until the equipment needs to be replaced or the nation has a financial melt down as a result of its crushing debt load.  But as you point out there are some steps Amtrak could take to reduce the bleeding.The first would be to eliminate the Sunset Limited and Cardinal.  Running a train three days a week does not make any sense.  No one, outside of a few rail buffs and local mayors, believes that a thrice weekly train is a serious travel option.  In fact, most people don't believe that a daily train is a serious travel option.  The second step would be to eliminate the sleeping cars, lounge cars, and full service dining cars on overnight trains that are out only one night, i.e. Capitol Limited, Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, etc.  The full service dinning cars could be replaced by a dinning/lounge car similar to the ones on the City of New Orleans.As stated in a previous post, Amtrak could convert some of the surplus cars into business class cars, i.e. with seats that reclined nearly flat, like those on American Airlines International Business Class flights, to see if there is a market for this class of service on one night out trains.  The service would be required to cover its full cost.    The sleeping cars, lounge cars, and dinning cars could be retained for the Empire Builder, California Zephyr, and the Southwest Chief.  These trains have the potential to attract passengers who want a land cruise experience.  As an aside, do you think anyone from NARP or Amtrak reads the Trains' forums?
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