DeggestyAmazing! someone has realized that the new menus on the Lake Shore and Capitol are not popular and more decent meals are now available! From the Amtrak site: https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals-dining/meal-choices-and-menus-at-a-glance.html Look at the menus for the two trains!
The Alfredo and Provencial are hot meals. They are cooked in a special fast convection oven that was installed in the dining car of each train. The oven can cook 24 meals per cooking cycle. They are not done yet experimenting with the hot or cold choice selections on either train. They allegedly yanked the microwave and the convection oven went in it's place, you can google "commercial fast convection oven" and see the oven is not much larger than the microwave it replaced.
They are exploring an order your meal in advance before you board the train system as well as wireless seat reservation app that will probably sit somewhere on the mobile Amtrak app on cell phones. I don't know how they do all that without wi-fi on the long distance cars........so maybe that is comming as well.
Amazing! someone has realized that the new menus on the Lake Shore and Capitol are not popular and more decent meals are now available!
From the Amtrak site: https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals-dining/meal-choices-and-menus-at-a-glance.html
Look at the menus for the two trains!
Johnny
BaltACDObviously you don't have I-95 time - Out of state plates seem to outnumber in state plates no matter which state you are in.
Thats true it depends largely on the freeway your on if it is cross country interstate route or not. Same with the airport your using to fly out of. So flying out of Milwaukee, WI.......almost all the plates are from Wisconsin. Fly out of Cedar Rapids, IA or even KC, MO and the license plates are more varied in the parking lot. I'm a majority Southwest flyer now only because I fly one the DAL to MCI leg a lot now and Love field is closer to my home. However, I am really surprised in KC talking to folks from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, etc that drove into KC airport to get cheap Southwest fares. I would really be curious how many Southwest passengers are from the city of flight origin vs driving from a long ways away to get cheap tickets. It would be really telling if Southwest provided that stat publicly.
And on that subject would be also equally curious to see how many Amtrak thruway bus connection passengers feed into Amtrak's National LD Train network.....I'll bet is is a larger chunk than most of us realize.
Backshop In overall passenger miles, international numbers aren't that important. Most Americans never fly international, unless it's to Mexico or the Caribbean. Southwest may not fly into ORD or DFW, but Spirit and Frontier do.As far as driving vs. flying, the road trip is a thing of the past unless it's less than 300 miles. You very rarely see out-of-state plates anymore (other than adjoining states) and most of the time, they're rental cars.
In overall passenger miles, international numbers aren't that important. Most Americans never fly international, unless it's to Mexico or the Caribbean. Southwest may not fly into ORD or DFW, but Spirit and Frontier do.As far as driving vs. flying, the road trip is a thing of the past unless it's less than 300 miles. You very rarely see out-of-state plates anymore (other than adjoining states) and most of the time, they're rental cars.
I don't know how that can possibly true over 39 million people drove to reach their vacation destinations during 4th of July Holiday 2018, only 8 million flew, which was what 23% of those driving. I've personally observed people rent cars locally for a holiday and drive long distances even though they own their own cars. Also, in larger states like Texas, 300 miles is nothing as far as driving to a destination. I've also seen folks drive South from Southern MN to KC to fly out of KC's airport as part of their vacation travel. Lot of that going on in rural areas to get cheaper air fares as well.
Even with all the airline capacity we have now in the United States the flights sell out long before demand is met on peak travel periods. So some people drive as an alternative for waiting too long. Others drive because for a family it is cheaper than flying, etc. I think it is unrealistic to say they all fit within a 300 mile radius of their homes.
That is for sure!!!
It seems the MI tags outnumber the GA on the ATL highways during the spring and fall migrations.
rdamon BaltACD Obviously you don't have I-95 time - Out of state plates seem to outnumber in state plates no matter which state you are in. Isn't that because most of the residents in the NE register their cars in Florida because of the taxes?
BaltACD Obviously you don't have I-95 time - Out of state plates seem to outnumber in state plates no matter which state you are in.
Obviously you don't have I-95 time - Out of state plates seem to outnumber in state plates no matter which state you are in.
Isn't that because most of the residents in the NE register their cars in Florida because of the taxes?
Not from the number of out of state and out of country plates that are seen when you are in Florida.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BackshopIn overall passenger miles, international numbers aren't that important. Most Americans never fly international, unless it's to Mexico or the Caribbean. Southwest may not fly into ORD or DFW, but Spirit and Frontier do.As far as driving vs. flying, the road trip is a thing of the past unless it's less than 300 miles. You very rarely see out-of-state plates anymore (other than adjoining states) and most of the time, they're rental cars.
awalker1829Freddie Laker's Skytrain
Similar history to the privately run Auto-Train but throw in the discount rental car agreements with major airlines as well as two derailments that wrecked a lot of cars and weakened the company financially. Auto-Train really did not prove much of anything because like Skytrain it's business history proved it's business model was unsustainable.
BackshopSouthwest Airlines has a "niche"? That's like saying the Grand Canyon is a ravine. Southwest flies more domestic passengers than Delta and United and is only slightly less than American. Frequent travelers want perks like meals, legroom and free bags,
The Grand Canyon is a ravine when compared with the rest of the land area of the United States, it is only appears as a canyon when your close to the rim or within a few hundred miles of it.
Most importantly, frequent travelers want to get home on a nonstop vs tour the country flight. Very few frequent business traveler opt for the tour the country option. Some do, to accumulate miles. Southwest flies a large "niche" of passengers who would not otherwise fly if it were not for the cheap Southwest fare. I would say a large chunk of Southwest passengers would drive if they could not get the low Southwest fares vs travel on another carrier.
Backshopbut for the once or twice a year traveler (to paraphrase realtors), the three most important things are low prices, low prices and low prices. People will even take 1 or 2 connections if it will save them $20 over a nonstop, direct flight.
So that would be a class (or called a niche) of passenger not ALL passengers. Some business passengers (like myself) would rather get home than tour the country to save a few bucks of money that isn't even my money in the first place. Further your also forgetting Southwest does not fly to O'Hare nor does it fly to DFW both are large international airports with overseas flights. Try an interline to either using Southwest and watch what happens. Shuttle cars between airports via highly unpredictable traffic is not really an option either.
Southwest is becoming less of a price delta (excuse the pun). Carriers like Spirit have started to erode the super low fare folks. That is until the realize there are enough aditional fees for things like seatbelts ;).
DA/AA/UA now closely match SWA fares on similar routes by adding a basic fare class, but when they are the only direct route watch out!!
CMStPnP Southwest and other discount carriers have a niche in short trips. Even if they were willing to buy larger planes, I have my doubts Southwest could compete against a major transatlantic or trans pacific carrier.
Southwest and other discount carriers have a niche in short trips. Even if they were willing to buy larger planes, I have my doubts Southwest could compete against a major transatlantic or trans pacific carrier.
CMStPnP CSSHEGEWISCH The success of Southwest Airlines and other discount carriers who stuck to their business plan shows that Crandall wasn't too far off the mark. Southwest and other discount carriers have a niche in short trips. Even if they were willing to buy larger planes, I have my doubts Southwest could compete against a major transatlantic or trans pacific carrier. Precisely because airline travelers expect more than Southwest is willing to provide long distance. The long distance vs short distance business models appear to be different to me in the airline industry.......I could be mistaken on that of course. Just seems to me there are not a lot of no frills airlines in the over 10 hour nonstop trip category.
CSSHEGEWISCH The success of Southwest Airlines and other discount carriers who stuck to their business plan shows that Crandall wasn't too far off the mark.
Southwest and other discount carriers have a niche in short trips. Even if they were willing to buy larger planes, I have my doubts Southwest could compete against a major transatlantic or trans pacific carrier. Precisely because airline travelers expect more than Southwest is willing to provide long distance. The long distance vs short distance business models appear to be different to me in the airline industry.......I could be mistaken on that of course. Just seems to me there are not a lot of no frills airlines in the over 10 hour nonstop trip category.
Guess again. Freddie Laker's Skytrain proved in the 1970s that were was demand for long distance low cost travel. Unfortunately for Skytrain, the recessions of the early 1980s and interest rates, combined with predatory pricing and seasonal demand led to Skytrain ending service in 1982.
Given the recent growth in civil aviation and culture changes, it is probable that low cost long haul airlines are not that far off in the future. The key is to set customer expectations up front. Southwest will be the first of the new generation airlines to go long haul when they get their Hawaii service up and running. Don't underestimate airlines like Southwest or Spirit. American Airlines tried to put obstacles in Southwest's path. Southwest got around those and grew due to the relations that the management at that time had with the employees. They grew and eventually ate American's lunch, too.
Bob Crandall might have known the business, but he was WAY off the mark when it came to effective management. Had he treated his employees better, maybe the real American Airlines would still be with us. His antagonistic relations with the airline employees destroyed American from the inside out and drove plenty of his former customers into the arms of Southwest or other carriers.
What really made the difference for Southwest in the early days was the relationship between management and the employees. Management gave the employees a stake and say in how the airline was run from the very beginning. That's why employee satisfaction is as high as it is with Southwest employees and why the airline allowed A & E to feature it on "Airline" for several seasons.
And US Airways was taken over by America West Airlines prior to that where they also assumed the name of the company they aquired.
By the merger agreement, stakeholders of AMR would own 72% of the company and US Airways shareholders would own the remaining 28%. The combined airline carries the American Airlines name and branding. The holding company was renamed American Airlines Group Inc. The US Airways' management team, including its CEO, retained most operational management positions.
CSSHEGEWISCHThe success of Southwest Airlines and other discount carriers who stuck to their business plan shows that Crandall wasn't too far off the mark.
American Airlines was taken over by U.S. Airways in a merger which was in fact a U.S. Airways purchase and take over as after the merger it was U.S. Airways management running American Airlines from American HQ. They decided to chuck the U.S. Airways brand and continue with American Airlines branding and paint as it was more recognized.
The success of Southwest Airlines and other discount carriers who stuck to their business plan shows that Crandall wasn't too far off the mark.
CMStPnP Look at AMR's Crandall, hailed as a balance sheet genius and the inventor of the frequent flyer loyalty program.....I thought he was one of the biggest idiots ever to run a major airline and he is probably the key reason American Airlines no longer exists. The whole "we can cut costs by millions by cutting the olives in a salad to one" was another step in the degradation of airline food. Which Crandall would repeatedly tell Congress. "Americans do not want good food on airlines, they want cheap fares"......which in my view is an over simplification of the market.
Look at AMR's Crandall, hailed as a balance sheet genius and the inventor of the frequent flyer loyalty program.....I thought he was one of the biggest idiots ever to run a major airline and he is probably the key reason American Airlines no longer exists. The whole "we can cut costs by millions by cutting the olives in a salad to one" was another step in the degradation of airline food. Which Crandall would repeatedly tell Congress. "Americans do not want good food on airlines, they want cheap fares"......which in my view is an over simplification of the market.
BaltACDAnderson's Amtrak is in the business of actively drivng away customers - Right out of the SP & PC passenger playbooks.
I disagree, I think he is as genuinely stupid as is Amtrak's Gardener. I think in some cases he is attempting to take incremental steps to cut costs but I don't see equal attempts to boost revenue and ridership. You can't just cost cut your way to success. Stupid people are easily hidden in the airline industry or made to be smart people in the airline industry.
I don't read this as an editorial opinion of Railway Age, but that of an advocate for passenger trains they have given space to.
blue streak 1 Railway age article that is a big swipe at Anderson calling for his firing. Even though Railway age is freight orientated it is refreshing to know that it is supporting Amtrak! https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/amtrak-riders-revolution-no-confidence-for-richard-anderson/
Railway age article that is a big swipe at Anderson calling for his firing. Even though Railway age is freight orientated it is refreshing to know that it is supporting Amtrak!
https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/amtrak-riders-revolution-no-confidence-for-richard-anderson/
In the article, I understand their objections to the ARC project, but what is their problem with GATEWAY?
Anderson's Amtrak is in the business of actively drivng away customers - Right out of the SP & PC passenger playbooks.
CMStPnP You have to be realistic, craft cocktails and a changing restaurant type menu for food and beverage is beyond the skill level of any Amtrak employee I have observed or I should say beyond what Amtrak wants to train.
You have to be realistic, craft cocktails and a changing restaurant type menu for food and beverage is beyond the skill level of any Amtrak employee I have observed or I should say beyond what Amtrak wants to train.
Understood, but skills aside, they lack the ingredients even if they have the skills. My point is that if Amtrak wants to be relevant in the 21st century, they need to provide 21st-century amenities. Amtrak is fine between New York and DC or between New York and Boston, but that's about it.
Shock ControlIn this era of craft cocktails, pop-up bars, neo-speakeasies, pre-Prohibition cocktails, and emphasis on fresh, high-end indgredients, this is what you get on a long-distance Amtrak trip.
You have to be realistic, craft cocktails and a changing restaurant type menu for food and beverage is beyond the skill level of any Amtrak employee I have observed or I should say beyond what Amtrak wants to train. Wasn't always this way. To me early Amtrak of the 1970's the employees were a lot smarter because I think the percentage of former railroad employees was a lot higher and trained them all.
My last trip I asked the Sleeping Car attendent what the lights were on the side of the trainsition sleeper and the response was: "Don't ask me about the lights on any of these cars, I don't know how they operate, I just make beds and keep things clean". I could not believe my ears. Apparently only the train conductor or operations crew can answer those questions. So much for cross training to enhance safety.
I was asking about what appeared to be vesibule lights they have now on crew sleepers on either side of the door that light up the platform, which look really nice at night and the other Superliner cars should have them, IMHO. They must be relatively new or I am just noticing them.
I doubt it. State liquor laws vary widely and govern how liquor may be served. Some states were dry on Sundays which led to buying your drinks before the bar stopped serving.
TThe UP bars had bar tenders with normal size liquer bottles. They had a bonded commissary at the Milwaukee Road coach yards after their West Coast trains were transferred from the C&NW. All the other RR's I rode on used the mini single serve bottles. Was the UP the only one to use full size bottles.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.