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It looks like there’s still strong demand on the corridor despite the additions. Tomorrow 11, 507, 517, are sold out of seats SEA-PDX and most trains are sold out of business class. It is the big Christmas rush day and the new year schedule has only been in effect for about 2 weeks, so maybe a...

I for one actually like the way Amtrak does seating on the long distance runs. On the whole the attendants are pretty good at making sure midnight alighting passengers don’t get window seats. If you’re running 1,000+ miles usually you don’t get a seat mate the whole way. Managing platform spots...

It seems like about a week is the standard for nonconstruction opportunities.

Just to sum up re the Auto Train. I think its success can be attributed to multiple factors. It’s unique operating status as a mixed train helps, but the route hasn’t always made money. What really has worked is that the railroad made equipment available and applied successful yield management...

39,900-51,900 from 23-24 looks like 12,000 by my data. I will grant a typo, but I’m curious what data you used to get that.

The LSL consistently tops the list for ridership between the East and Chicago. That said, a daily Cardinal with three coaches would be very competitive. The Capitol has always been behind. It’s the most effective route, has the largest consist by far, and serves a dense enough corridor that a...

You’re right. the difference is intermediate passengers. Only the three two night sleepers carry more passenger miles than the Auto Train. I think only the Southwest Chief comes close to the average length of trip of the Auto Train, but I haven’t looked at that in awhile. The other factor is...

There is a freight route from New York to Harrisburg via Reading. It is fairly busy. That said I think the Commonwealth could work out something. The ex-Reading is a far less advantageous and efficient route than the ex-PRR. I think they should swap slots. Amtrak would allow (technically there’s...

I figured I’d start a new thread for a new fiscal year. Fiscal 2024 looks like it will be marked by a transition from ridership recovery to ridership growth. This has already been seen in pockets of the country, but may become a national trend this year. Given the number of fully recovered...

It runs weeknights. No clue why it isn’t a revenue run.

I think there is no practical way to get the NEC up to modern standard HSR. NIMBYism, cost, and lack of political will are serious obstacles. You’d essentially need to build a whole new railroad through the densest, most expensive swath of the country and it would only serve the densest largest...

There seems to be a capacity problem in VA. The Cardinal’s leading cause of delay is passenger train interference on the Buckingham Branch and NS. I know VA is working to improve capacity on NS around Culpeper, but the data and my experience bear out that the bigger problem might be the meet...

I don’t think I was entirely clear about that. I always understood first come first serve to mean you could come and lounge about as you wish from your revenue seat. Yesterday there were people with a seat check over them and their carry-on precisely in the way. Is that allowed? I’ve never...

12/2/23 A quick day trip up and down the NEC from Philadelphia to Washington aboard Trains 155 and 158. Weather was gray and overcast with considerable fog along the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Rain thankfully held off. Day began with a punctual SEPTA RRD connection. Train was very busy. Our...

For much of the year, the consist was as low a 1 coach, 1 sleeper, 1 CCC. It was impossible to get a seat most of the summer. There was also a full week of suspension due to East Palestine in February. It somehow became the sacrificial lamb, probably because in one sense the Capitol is...

If I lived in a place with a staffed station, I would go there and make a reservation at the ticket counter with the station agent, which is a standard service. Explain that you want to take 11 SLO-EMY and then 6 EMY-OCS the next morning. He or she will know exactly how to book it so you get one...

If you are in SLO, or any other place with a staffed station, I would go and speak with the agent. Otherwise I would call 1-800-USA-RAIL. I believe the system will not let you book a multi segment reservation that is not guaranteed. This was actually a significant issue for me on my last USA...

I am a bit torn on the merits of the stub train. The problem is that Clifton for and Stanton might generate 10,000 riders on about 400 runs per year, 25 riders per run. That leads into the same question as the Adirondack without Montreal: Is it justified? I think not. Because the way the...

I don’t think we have the technical ability to build a world class railroad. We throw ridiculous money at the NEC for what we get out of it. Europe has the benefit of generations of linemen, track gangs, engineers, et al. who have built best in class infrastructure their whole careers, who...

Old story, recorded for future reference. A quick up and down on the NEC from PHL to WAS and back. Day was cool and overcast, but not as bad as possible in mid-December. Eight passengers this run, four making their first AMTRAK trip. ShareFares is a favorite program of mine. Fares were a steal...