2 Millionth AGR Member Promotion

[saxman]

Well I headed down to Dallas Union Station to ride the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth. There were two other guys doing the same thing as I. I missed OlympianHiawatha. I saw your post about coming from Norman and riding the TRE. Too bad I didn't see your post earlier to catch you in FTW.

I watched your Eagle pull into FTW and had time to walk it before having to get onto the TRE side. I was the Longhair wearing the Texas Eagle shirt. Also got to catch a look at the northbound Eagle at DAL and as a bonus saw the Disney Train a few minutes after leaving Norman this morning. All in all a good train day!

I don't remember seeing you, but I got off the Eagle and went right over to the station. Did you board the 1:30 TRE to Dallas? I was riding the front car with a couple other rail fans. I didn't wait around the north (east) bound Eagle because I've already seen in a few dozen times. I just went home from DAL in the car.

 

[alanh]

I'm at TUS now. #1 just pulled into Tucson, way early (9:45 pm, scheduled for 10:50 pm).

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Well I headed down to Dallas Union Station to ride the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth. There were two other guys doing the same thing as I. I missed OlympianHiawatha. I saw your post about coming from Norman and riding the TRE. Too bad I didn't see your post earlier to catch you in FTW.

I watched your Eagle pull into FTW and had time to walk it before having to get onto the TRE side. I was the Longhair wearing the Texas Eagle shirt. Also got to catch a look at the northbound Eagle at DAL and as a bonus saw the Disney Train a few minutes after leaving Norman this morning. All in all a good train day!

I don't remember seeing you, but I got off the Eagle and went right over to the station. Did you board the 1:30 TRE to Dallas? I was riding the front car with a couple other rail fans. I didn't wait around the north (east) bound Eagle because I've already seen in a few dozen times. I just went home from DAL in the car.

I was on the 1:30 but in car 3, hoping to avoid a HUGE group of kids on some kind of outing; I thought they were headed into car 1, but as my luck had it, as soon as I settled in upstairs, here they came! I then caught the 3:55 back to FTW and hopped right over to the Heartland Flyer for the run back to Norman.

 

[rrdude]

We just got home from our points run KC to Hermann MO and back. Some good wine to be had in Hermann. I think we brought back 14 bottles.

You got MY VOTE for the BEST AGR POINTS RUN of the day!

 

[jis]

Biggest problem however was that 148 was late, causing us to just miss our intended ride back to NYC. It was pulling away from the southbound platformas we walked down the northbound platform.
I think that we deserve extra bonus points for that.

First, you abandon Amtrak for your ride back and then you expect more bonus points from Amtrak for doing so? Sheesh :blink: :lol:

Well I am just guessing that your ride back was Metro North since if it was Amtrak your Southbound would leave from the same platform, most likely the other track as the one that you arrived on at NOR.

 

[jis]

I did my jaunt to Harrisburg. The more I ride it the more I love the Keystone Service. The trains are fast, clean, convenient and frequent, and not as expensive as some of the other Amtrak service around New York. On the minus side the NYP - HAR Keystones are probably one of the longest Amtrak runs with no food service. But then on the plus side the Pennsylvania Dutch Country has a charm of its own that has grown on me. And on what other service do you occasionally pass by a living and breathing Steam Train as the Keystones do at Leaman Place/Paradise when the Strasburg Railroad Steam Train happens to be in town, and that happens at least half a dozen times a day ... i.e. the steam train is in town at Paradise.

Anyway, I took the 4:20pm out of Newark getting into Harrisburg at 7:20pm. A quick snack at Harrisburg and then onto the 8:15pm departure to Philly arriving at 9:55. Dinner at 30th St and then onto a Regional at 10:45 headed back to Newark. Lots of 125mph running on the NEC and 110mph running between Paoli and Harrisburg. Had a perfect late afternoon/evening.

The rebuilt high speed track 2 on the NEC is in perfect condition in NJ. Now they are working on re-laying track 3 starting from the Newark end. They are at or around Lane interlocking this week.

 

[PRR 60]

My updated prediction:

• Average daily Amtrak boardings: 70,000
  
• Estimated individual Amtrak passengers each day: 70,000 / 2 = 35,000 (figure an average of a round trip each)
  
• Estimated percentage of passengers who are AGR members: 30% (pure guess)
  
• Estimated number of AGR passengers each day: 30% of 35,000 = 10,000 (more or less)
  
• Estimated bump from promotion: say 2,000 passengers (another pure guess)
  
• Estimated AGR passengers on August 20: 12,000
  
• Per passenger point distribution: 2,000,000 / 12,000 = 200 (more or less)
  

Including some margin for error, I figure each AGR member who took a ride on August 20 will get between 100 and 300 bonus points for their effort. I know excactly what I will get - zero. I had no time to take even a short trip on August 20. That's more points for everyone else.

 

[chuljin]

LAX-GDL on 785 (as I do every day).

When I boarded my usual car 2, it seemed slightly more crowded than normal, so I sat in seat 61 instead of my usual seat 33.

Not sure if the crowding was due more to an actual acute increase in ridership, or the fact that I met our own BlueJeanGirl on the platform, and chatted with her until some 3 minutes before departure.

 

[Shanghai]

I developed my estimate in a similar manner as did PRR 60, except I felt less than one-half of the riders would take a round trip on the same day, plus I didn't

"bump-up" extra passengers. My estimate was 300 points per participant. We will need to be patient until October to find out the correct amount.

Also, to jis, I also love that Keystone service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. We have relatives in Lancaster and we usually take the train when we visit.

I like the mountains on the north side and the well kept farms and fields to the south as the train speeds through the countryside. We like the Pennsylvanian

best as it has business class and a snack bar.

 

[Rumpled]

My own ride was IRV-SNA and the conductor (or whatever the actual title is; LSA?) asked if I was riding to get the bonus today. I said yes and she commented that I was the fourth person that day riding only one stop to get the bonus.

She was pretty friendly and having a good time.

Wandered around the Santa Ana station which I hadn't been inside of for about 15 years for awhile. Then I hopped a Metrolink back to my car. Had the 785 been on time; I might have taken the 784 back, but I missed it.

Looks like chuljin and I were on the same train; just at different stations.

 

[chuljin]

My own ride was IRV-SNA and the conductor (or whatever the actual title is; LSA?) asked if I was riding to get the bonus today. I said yes and she commented that I was the fourth person that day riding only one stop to get the bonus.She was pretty friendly and having a good time.

Wandered around the Santa Ana station which I hadn't been inside of for about 15 years for awhile. Then I hopped a Metrolink back to my car. Had the 785 been on time; I might have taken the 784 back, but I missed it.

Looks like chuljin and I were on the same train; just at different stations.

Indeed. And the friendly conductor would have been our (AU's) own BlueJeanGirl.

(Strictly speaking, Assistant Conductor...If you'd stayed on until LAX, the Conductor is the guy you'd hear talking about tapdancing and handstands on the platform, and naming every station and thruway stop in California. The LSA is the person in charge of the Cafe.)

 

[Rumpled]

I was going to ask her if that was her (BJG) - but I passed.

The blonde, right?

 

[JSmith]

I did a short round-trip between Niagara Falls and Buffalo-Exchange St. The Maple Leaf was sold out, but I don't think that's too unusual, so I don't think that it more crowded than usual because of AGR members (most of the passengers were international travelers going from either Toronto or Niagara Falls to New York City). The ticket agents at both stations didn't seem to be too aware of the promotion (e.g., the Buffalo agent asked if I was heading to Niagara Falls to gamble at the casino).

When I was getting off the train at Exchange St, there was a Catholic priest boarding who told the conductor he was only going one stop up to Buffalo-Depew. I can't think of ANY reason to do that except just to ride the train, so I'm guessing he is an AGR member!

I would doubt that anywhere near 30% of Amtrak riders each day are AGR members. Maybe for business commuters on the corridors, but for the system as a whole, I doubt it. I think most leisure and occasional travelers probably haven't even heard of the program, let alone care to sign up. I was thinking more like 5% overall, but maybe I'm misjudging the distribution of business vs leisure travelers on Amtrak, since I don't live in the Northeast Corridor.

 

[chuljin]

I was going to ask her if that was her (BJG) - but I passed.The blonde, right?

Oh! Perhaps not, then. I thought perhaps she was the only Lady conductor on that run. She is very friendly (not just 'pretty' friendly ) and has a good time, and is otherwise as you describe, but is not blonde.

 

[RTOlson]

I would doubt that anywhere near 30% of Amtrak riders each day are AGR members. Maybe for business commuters on the corridors, but for the system as a whole, I doubt it.

I concur with your assessment — I believe that the number of AGR members could be dramatically higher on the main corridors, including NEC and California service. That's why I include a ratio of corridor passengers to total passengers in my original estimate of 11,764 AGR travelers earning 170 points.

That number is about 33 percent of total estimated daily round-trip travelers, and I hope is a fair representation of commuters and potential AGR members.

----------

My trip was really fun although it included waking up at 4:15 a.m. so I could drive to Sacramento for a 6:40 a.m. San Joaquin. I'm glad I drove, I thought about taking the southbound Starlight but it pulled in a scant minute before the San Joaquin left.

I've got photos and I hope to work up a travelogue over the weekend because it was a lot of fun.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

I would doubt that anywhere near 30% of Amtrak riders each day are AGR members. Maybe for business commuters on the corridors, but for the system as a whole, I doubt it.

I concur with your assessment — I believe that the number of AGR members could be dramatically higher on the main corridors, including NEC and California service. That's why I include a ratio of corridor passengers to total passengers in my original estimate of 11,764 AGR travelers earning 170 points.

That number is about 33 percent of total estimated daily round-trip travelers, and I hope is a fair representation of commuters and potential AGR members.

----------

My trip was really fun although it included waking up at 4:15 a.m. so I could drive to Sacramento for a 6:40 a.m. San Joaquin. I'm glad I drove, I thought about taking the southbound Starlight but it pulled in a scant minute before the San Joaquin left.

I've got photos and I hope to work up a travelogue over the weekend because it was a lot of fun.

But the VAST majority of traffic is in the corridors on any given day.

 

[stevenp]

Took 148 from MET to NRO. Had about 70 % load. I know at least one more person was on board in BC from NYP to NRO taking advantage of the promo.

This makes ZERO mathematical sense. The NYP-NRO trip costs at lest $20. You can buy points for about 40/$1. (550 for $13.75 currently.) The ride back from NRO to NYP wasn't free, so increase the trip cost. And a very good estimate of points for this promotion is 200, 300 tops. So those (say) 300 points could be purchased for about $8. Why pay over $20, and endure the hassle of a round trip to nowhere, to "take part in the promotion" when you could get more points for less money by doing nothing?

Do some people really think they'll get thousands of points from yesterday's trip? The mathematical ineptitude of many Americans is astounding (in a sad way).

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

Took 148 from MET to NRO. Had about 70 % load. I know at least one more person was on board in BC from NYP to NRO taking advantage of the promo.

This makes ZERO mathematical sense. The NYP-NRO trip costs at lest $20. You can buy points for about 40/$1. (550 for $13.75 currently.) The ride back from NRO to NYP wasn't free, so increase the trip cost. And a very good estimate of points for this promotion is 200, 300 tops. So those (say) 300 points could be purchased for about $8. Why pay over $20, and endure the hassle of a round trip to nowhere, to "take part in the promotion" when you could get more points for less money by doing nothing?

Do some people really think they'll get thousands of points from yesterday's trip? The mathematical ineptitude of many Americans is astounding (in a sad way).

Many of us took trips for under $10. The share of 2M points are on top of whatever other points we get, from summer promos, select status or other tricks. So instead of 200 or 300 points, we are looking at 500 or 600 points. Although points can be purchased, but there is a limit of 10,000 per year.

 

[Shanghai]

Took 148 from MET to NRO. Had about 70 % load. I know at least one more person was on board in BC from NYP to NRO taking advantage of the promo.

The mathematical ineptitude of many Americans is astounding (in a sad way).

Are you referring to our Members of Congress??

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

I feel sorry for those who took 20 or 30 dollar trips on the NEC only to find out it was all for not.

Not that this promo will be worth much anyway.

 

[rtabern]

Yes, fellow passengers and points chasers, the Big Day has arrived. Locally that means Pacific Surfliner 799, OXN-VEC, for my eventual alloted take of the two million big ones. While this 14-minute jaunt may not quite compare with, say, saxman66' recent 4-corners national Odyssey, I still believe it calls for a major modern multi-media extravaganza trip report. What? You don't THINK so?? Luddite.

#799????

I thought you'd never ride the "Vomit Comet" again!!! Hahaha.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Took 148 from MET to NRO. Had about 70 % load. I know at least one more person was on board in BC from NYP to NRO taking advantage of the promo.

This makes ZERO mathematical sense. The NYP-NRO trip costs at lest $20. You can buy points for about 40/$1. (550 for $13.75 currently.) The ride back from NRO to NYP wasn't free, so increase the trip cost. And a very good estimate of points for this promotion is 200, 300 tops. So those (say) 300 points could be purchased for about $8. Why pay over $20, and endure the hassle of a round trip to nowhere, to "take part in the promotion" when you could get more points for less money by doing nothing?

Do some people really think they'll get thousands of points from yesterday's trip? The mathematical ineptitude of many Americans is astounding (in a sad way).

For many of us, the chance to relax on a train for a few hours, or in some cases a few minutes is often worth more than the points; in my case I made an excellent day vacation out of it and gained about 5 pounds in doing so The xtra few hundred or so points are just a nice bonus for doing something we already enjoy.

 

[RTOlson]

I concur with your assessment — I believe that the number of AGR members could be dramatically higher on the main corridors, including NEC and California service. That's why I include a ratio of corridor passengers to total passengers in my original estimate of 11,764 AGR travelers earning 170 points.

That number is about 33 percent of total estimated daily round-trip travelers, and I hope is a fair representation of commuters and potential AGR members.

But the VAST majority of traffic is in the corridors on any given day.

Right, I'm looking at different sets of numbers:

- Total number of "passengers" (28.6 million in FY2008).

- Of the total, percentage that might be on the corridors. (Likely high - Amtrak's all-corridors pax is 20.48M or 71.6 percent)

- Of the corridors passengers, percentage that might be AGR members (which I believe to be high, higher than that of casual travelers). If I were to guess, I would think that 30 to 50 percent of commuters might be members, but that's a total guess.

- Of all the possible AGR members, the percentage that may have registered for the promotion AND actually traveled on Thursday.

So, while it's possible that the number of non-corridors AGR members is low, I believe that it is offset by a high number of regular corridor commuters.

It's fun to keep spinning the numbers around, but I guess we won't know until we know.

 

[JSmith]

For many of us, the chance to relax on a train for a few hours, or in some cases a few minutes is often worth more than the points; in my case I made an excellent day vacation out of it and gained about 5 pounds in doing so The xtra few hundred or so points are just a nice bonus for doing something we already enjoy.

Agreed - I spent $20 on a short trip because it was a nice excuse to do so on that line. Buffalo to Niagara Falls is off the mainline, so it's scenery I wouldn't get going to New York or Chicago. And if I want to take the train to Toronto again, I'll probably drive to Niagara Falls, ON and take VIA from there, to bypass the 2 hour wait for customs. And I think it's an interesting little stretch of track - there's an curvy elevated section through North Tonawanda that I enjoy as a very unusual view of the town. It's also fun because I'm familiar with all of the landmarks and it's interesting to me to work out where the train is ("Oh! So that's what the other side of that looks like!").

So for me, the bonus points just gave me an excuse to relax and ride between two stations that I generally have no other reason to do so.

 

[jis]

Frankly whether any points are collected or not is immaterial to me. It was a nice silly excuse to go for a train ride one evening and it sure worked out to be a nice ride. I am sure I will not even bother to check what points I got out of it. So all this huffing and puffing about mathematical abilities etc. is based on inaccurate assumptions about the motivations, at least in this case. However, if such assumption makes one feel superior and good, I am all for it. Knock yourself out