MrLynnPaper and ink printed at Schedule Kiosks would be a trivial expense.
Please substantiate this with reference to actual technology and maintenance costs. My guess is that you have not done so, and have no actual numbers or device families to cite.
Amtrak needs not to so darn Cheap. and since Amtrak got the biggest amount 1.9 Billion Dollars. That biggest amount in 20 plus years. Amtrak don't be so cheap.
Overmod Actually what I'd have Amtrak do is to make access to even old-generation, costed-down smart devices easy for 'normal' people -- put wireless connectivity, perhaps a Bluetooth chip and effective pairing algorithms, in the kiosks already in the stations for other purposes. Then provide quick ability to customize schedule formats and then download the results to reasonably 'smart' devices, both as graphical and text representations. And yes, put some additional code in the Amtrak app versions for connected devices... You could then take your device into, say, any FedEx Kinko's and print off the information, formatted correctly for paper size and layout, either in B&W to save money or in color. Or go home and use the laser printer or inkjet. Why make Amtrak bear the cost of the ink, paper, and maintenance for on-demand printing when it's evident every stray expense deemed nonessential might count?
Actually what I'd have Amtrak do is to make access to even old-generation, costed-down smart devices easy for 'normal' people -- put wireless connectivity, perhaps a Bluetooth chip and effective pairing algorithms, in the kiosks already in the stations for other purposes. Then provide quick ability to customize schedule formats and then download the results to reasonably 'smart' devices, both as graphical and text representations.
And yes, put some additional code in the Amtrak app versions for connected devices... You could then take your device into, say, any FedEx Kinko's and print off the information, formatted correctly for paper size and layout, either in B&W to save money or in color. Or go home and use the laser printer or inkjet. Why make Amtrak bear the cost of the ink, paper, and maintenance for on-demand printing when it's evident every stray expense deemed nonessential might count?
'Costed-down smart devices'? 'Bluetooth'? 'Pairing algorithms'? Bluetooth is an erratic technology at best. For elderly people with no computer experience, who don't own a cell (much less 'smart') phone it would be endlessly frustrating. There are plenty of such people, and you want to encourage them to take the train.
For that matter, there are plenty of younger people who struggle with all these electronic gizmos (like my wife with her iPad—"why do I see only half the book I ordered?").
Paper and ink printed at Schedule Kiosks would be a trivial expense. In point of fact, Amtrak's zeal at cost-cutting passenger services has the effect of turning travelers off, ultimately cutting into revenue—i.e. it's self-defeating.
/Mr Lynn
Amtrak no longer printing schedules isn't that surprising. I work for our state's Revenue department, we stopped creating printed tax returns several years ago. Something like 85-90% of people file electronically now, and those who really want to file their own paper return can go to our website and print out the forms.
MrLynnWhat Amtrak should do is put custom-print Schedule Kiosks in each station. You use a touch screen to select the Route Schedule you want, tap it, and the machine will print it out for you instantly. Someone tell Amtrak!
Actually what I'd have Amtrak do is to make access to even old-generation, costed-down smart devices easy for 'normal' people -- put wireless connectivity, perhaps a Bluetooth chip and effective pairing algorithms, in the kiosks already in the stations for other purposes. Then provide quick ability to customize schedule formats and then download the results to reasonably 'smart' devices, both as graphical and text representations. And yes, put some additional code in the Amtrak app versions for connected devices...
You could then take your device into, say, any FedEx Kinko's and print off the information, formatted correctly for paper size and layout, either in B&W to save money or in color. Or go home and use the laser printer or inkjet. Why make Amtrak bear the cost of the ink, paper, and maintenance for on-demand printing when it's evident every stray expense deemed nonessential might count?
As a fringe benefit, you could easily generate an 'active' version of the timetable populated with actual anticipated arrival times as well as 'scheduled' (or as-delayed), and easily integrate both a moving-map depiction of the route relative to stations and the input from the 'train tracker' system. That would actually give you something meaningful to use when assessing how long you have to get to the station ... or let Amtrak know if you want to board a train that might be 'running early' at the station you were planning to use.
(And THEN we can start working with the codebase to order food delivery via something like UberEats so it's just right when the train pulls in...)
I too was disappointed when I discovered last year that I couldn't get an up-to-date timetable at the station. The ticket agent at the Route 128 Amtrak station (Boston area, on the NEC) told me then that Amtrak was not printing them out, but gave me the last complete System Timetable as a keepsake.
Last week for our trip to Virginia and back, I downloaded the NEC-to-Virginia PDF schedule and printed it on my color laser printer. So that worked. But it really isn't fair to people without computers and/or smart phones. Believe it or not, there are many such people, especially older folks, and many would not imagine that timetables were not available at the station.
The new website is not intuitive, either. I am a very experienced computer user, and it took me a while to find the schedules.
What Amtrak should do is put custom-print Schedule Kiosks in each station. You use a touch screen to select the Route Schedule you want, tap it, and the machine will print it out for you instantly. Someone tell Amtrak!
I am one of the 23% of Americans who do not have a "smart phone". I do have a PC so I just go to the Amtrak website where it is very easy to get the schedule for the train that I want and then print it off myself. I can check the schedules and plan trips without the necessity of going to the station and trying to find one. So much easier than it was "back in the day." Not only that, the on line versions are much more up-to-date then the printed schedules that are revised only every six months.
saguaro My wife and I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville last Friday-Sunday and learned in Chicago that Amtrak has stopped printing all schedules.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
saguaro ......and learned in Chicago that Amtrak has stopped printing all schedules.
......and learned in Chicago that Amtrak has stopped printing all schedules.
Sounds like a good business decision.
According to the Pew Research Center, 85.1 percent of American households have a personal computer, and 77 percent of Americans have a smart phone. So, a sizeable percentage of the population can download a schedule to theeir PC and/or Smart Phone. If they don't have a PC and/or a smart phone, they can call Amtrak for the information.
All the routes and schedules you could want.
https://www.amtrak.com/train-routes
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Yes, Amtrak no longer prints even the scedules for individual trains that you would find on board the various trains. The rack in the Washington station still has slots named for various trains and services--but there is nothing in them (I saw this day before yesterday).
As to leaving Sacamento ahead of schedule, the California Zephyr does not board passengers there or anywhere west of there--so it may leave ahead of the time listed. This is the case wherever there is other, more local, service about the same time of day. (The EB Zephyr does not pick up at Galesburg or anywhere else east of there--it used to pick up at Naperville if passengers were going to take a connecting train in Chicago--the train from Quincy is coming along later, and it will board passengers). Thus, the conductor and engineer are not in trouble for leaving early.
I am a bit annoyed by various changes in the website; but if you know how to use it, you probaby can get such information as you need/wamt.
Johnny
My wife and I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville last Friday-Sunday and learned in Chicago that Amtrak has stopped printing all schedules. I could not find a California Zephyr schedule or route guide at Union Station and was told by two Amtrak personnel that schedules are no longer being printed. I asked along the way in several stations and the news was confirmed. I did pick up a route guide at one station that still had a few. The explanation is that "everything is online."
However with no printed schedule the crews seemed to run as if there was no schedule, period. We were ahead of schedule for most of the trip and left Sacramento about 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time and arrived in Emeryville nearly one hour early.
It was a great ride. If you have never taken the Zephyr between Denver and California you should do it while you still can. The Rockies, the Wasatch Range and the Sierra Nevada Range all during daylight. Magnificent scenery.
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