Because Amtrak moves at glacial speed, I suspect we'll see Jax- West Palm service via Brightline long before Amtrak gets around to it. But it's fun to talk about the 'what if's'. For us, the drive to Daytona is maybe 15 minutes longer than the drive to the Deland station.
And the extension of...
Those were the days when railroads competed for passenger business. Amtrak seems to be motivated by cost control and hands off management of day to day operations.
And it really was superior service. I especially liked the special PPC menu and service and being able to sit at a table of your choosing for just the two of us and sitting across from each other.
I don't think Amtrak would compete with Brightline if they were 'stops only to discharge passengers' West Palm and south. Where they would compete is for track time and would probably get a priority behind Brightline, Tri-iRail, and FEC. I know CSX/Amtrak ran an inspection train down the FEC...
Ironically, Continental was one of the last airlines to offer meals to coach passengers. I don’t remember the reason I was on a Continental flight but thinking the hamburger was pretty good. According to this article it apparently ended in 2010.
Continental coach food
More train time for the same price! With a current Deland ETA for 2:02, you may meet 98 (Deland 2:40) and get to use the new double track south of there.
Interesting, I didn't realize the Florida Special lasted that long. That prompted me to pull out the timetable from that winter and not only did it have the features you mention but the scheduled time had been reduced to a flat 24 hours - 11:15 am departure and arrival.
Aside from the dome...
Interesting they had that so long ago. Here is the ad in the ACL timetables for the winter 63/64. 64/65. Note the hostess talking with happy passengers in the recreation car. Can you imagine what the fashion show was like. I suspect the TV's were a short lived feature as that could be really...
Somewhere I have a photo of the dome/sleeper being added in Richmond on a snowy day during my college years in Ashland. The screenshot is from the January 1966 Official Guide, courtesy of Timetable World. Also in this consist are the 7 Dbr-2 Dr cars. These had been modified by Pullman in 1961/62...
B&O feature cars, domes and observations, always started in Washington. They were used on the National and Capitol Ltd, Columbian, and Shenandoah. Even in ‘59, after NY service ended, they were added in Washington although the train began in Baltimore at Camden station.
One of the highlights of...
Part of the email from O’s:
You (xxx.com) received this commercial email messages from orioles.com Partners or purchased a ticket from orioles.com.
Amtrak NEC sale for MLB
Amtrak has 30% fare discount for NEC travel if you’re a baseball fan. Not sure how they verify if you’re actually going to a game. Learned about this from an email sent by the Orioles (going to a game in June). It’s lists all the MLB teams on the NEC. Can be extra for business class.
Wow, thanks for that info @AmtrakMaineiac. My son and family live in Harrisburg and they may want to see it. His granddad, my wife's dad, flew them in the Pacific and bombing runs over Japan. We have a piece of shrapnel he took on in the cockpit as well as his flight jacket. So glad to see it...
Trains’ Newswire reported Biden named two more nominees for Amtrak’s Board.
“President Joe Biden will nominate former Federal Railroad Admininstration Administrator Ron Batory and Elaine Marie Clegg, CEO of Valley Regional Transit in Idaho’s Ada and Canyon counties, to serve on Amtrak’s Board...
Rather than consider a 7 hour drive to Albuquerque from Flagstaff, how about a more scenic 4 hour drive to Tucson? Stay at the Congress Hotel next to the station and board the Sunset/Texas Eagle at about 8am.