Amtrak Charter Trains

[RailFanLNK]

Hello All, I know I posted when I first joined this forum how come "Amtrak wouldn't do a charter from Lincoln NE to Boulder CO for a Husker game". Most of the replies were, "lack of money, lack of equipment". So, lets say this: IF Amtrak had the money or the equipment, what would be some relatively simple charters they could do in the area where you reside in? On actual Amtrak service routes, Nebraska Huskers could easily go to Denver and then charter buses to get to Boulder. Husker Stadium is only 5 blocks from Amtrak in Lincoln. Chiefs always play the St. Louis Rams in preseason football, that would be another easy one. Anybody else have any suggestions? I think it would be cool to have a train with players and fans (I know, it would all be the BIG boosters and not us little people) ridin' the train to a relatively close stadium. (under 10 hours)

 

[haolerider]

There are a lot of possibilities and a lot of realities with sports travel. Most of the football season will see groups of fans traveling to most of the major games along the Amtrak routes. Many times there are radio promotional specials for the trips. Take a look in your area and if there is nothing organized, why don't you take the lead and organize a small trip. Maybe it will grow each year and become an annual event. The "Rail Rookie Special".

Also, if the team travels and it is a charter, they don't want fans along, which is why they do charters.

 

[MrFSS]

Try this LINK for information on group sales at Amtrak.

 

[frychikn]

I think charter trains between Chicago and Green Bay for Bears-Packers games would draw a lot of people.

 

[stlouielady]

So, lets say this: IF Amtrak had the money or the equipment, what  would be some relatively simple charters they could do in the area where you reside in? On actual Amtrak service routes, Nebraska Huskers could easily go to Denver and then charter buses to get to Boulder. Husker Stadium is only 5 blocks from Amtrak in Lincoln.  Chiefs always play the St. Louis Rams in preseason football, that would be another easy one.  Anybody else have any suggestions?

Well, here's a few:

PRO: Baseball-Cardinals/Cubs, Cardinals/White Sox, Cardinals/Brewers, Cardinals/Royals, White Sox and Cubs/Brewers, White Sox and Cubs/Royals (all of these would probably involve additional transportation)

Football-Rams/Chiefs (previously mentioned), Rams/Bears, Chiefs/Bears.

COLLEGE: Missouri is in Columbia, which isn't specifically serviced by Amtrak, but Jefferson City is (which isn't that far); Illinois is in Urbana/Champaign, which isn't directly serviced either, but, its nor real far to either Springfield or Bloomington-Normal (unless I'm messed up on my geography); these basketball teams play every year in St Louis. Also, Illinois State is in Normal, Saint Louis University is in St Louis (pretty obvious, huh), Southern Illinois is in Carbondale; the point being that, if they're close to a station, it wouldn't be a real burden to charter transportation to/from the stations nearest the statiums.

I'm sure I'm missing a few here, but, these popped to the top of my head...

 

[Steve4031]

I know for a fact that the Baltimore Ravens use the Acela for their games in other cities along the corridor. I saw this on HBO hard knocks training camp a few years ago. It was really funny because the veterans had sent a rookie to get donuts and other food for them to eat on the train. The rookie missed the chartered Acela, and had to travel by a regional train to catch up to the team. The show did a nice job showing how Amtrak worked to reaccomodate the hapless rookie.

I think that there were some charters from Chicago to Champaign when the Bears played their one year. I did not ride the charter, but I did take 391 down the night before the first Vikings game. I was talking smack about Randy Moss before I got off the train. As the train was slowing down to pull into the station in Champiagn, I smelled a dead skunk. I told the conductor to call the dispatcher and tell him to call Randy Moss and tell moss to get his wfe of the tracks. Yep . . . we are crazy about football in Chicago

As far as Im concerned, Amtrak can start planning a special from CUS to Miami for the Super Bowl.

 

[RailFanNebraska]

Hello All, I know I posted when I first joined this forum how come "Amtrak wouldn't do a charter from Lincoln NE to Boulder CO for a Husker game". Most of the replies were, "lack of money, lack of equipment". So, lets say this: IF Amtrak had the money or the equipment, what would be some relatively simple charters they could do in the area where you reside in? On actual Amtrak service routes, Nebraska Huskers could easily go to Denver and then charter buses to get to Boulder. Husker Stadium is only 5 blocks from Amtrak in Lincoln. Chiefs always play the St. Louis Rams in preseason football, that would be another easy one. Anybody else have any suggestions? I think it would be cool to have a train with players and fans (I know, it would all be the BIG boosters and not us little people) ridin' the train to a relatively close stadium. (under 10 hours)

That would make alot of sense for the huskers to do that actually.

 

[Guest_bmichel5581_*]

The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle corps rode the Zephyr to Galesburg all the way from Cali.

135+ kids ages 15-21. I heard they had two full coaches to themselves.

www.bluedevils.org

 

[battalion51]

Well that would seem like it'd be pretty necessary considering each coach holds 72 people on the upper level. :lol: I feel bad for those coach cleaners though.

 

[Guest_bmichel5581_*]

heh, for those interested...

Blue Devils currently have the highest score in DCI

1. Blue Devils 92.75

2. Cavaliers 92.00

3. Phantom Regiment 91.05

2 1/2 weeks to go!!!