Although I cannot disclose any details, I have it from several sources I trust that there are Big Problems and Changes happening re the Auto Train,
So, it performs much better than it had for years, and has higher loads than before, and is longer and carrying more passengers, all with higher ticket yields, breaking even before overhead is added -- punish it?
I mean, if there's a plan for a more efficient turnaround of the train, that would be great, but that would probably cost more money, not less.
and that there are going to be more nickel and dime cuts,
Idiocy. Pure idiocy. Throwing away dollars to pick up pennies.
Or if we're lucky -- maybe they're getting rid of the plastic bottled water in favor of providing cups and encouraging people to use the potable water supply which every single car is required to have. That would actually make sense, save money, *and* be "green". Heck, maybe the savings would allow them to run the coffeepot all day. But somehow I suspect that's way too sensible for Amtrak....
along with some Serious changes that will pertain to most of the LD Trains!
Couldn't possibly be anything intelligent like consistent service standards or mid-route restocking or LCPM.
Gonna be revenue-cutting moron moves, I presume? "Our revenue and ridership is down, let's make it lower so we can lose more money"?
Let's wait and see what develops as Amtrak does their usual poor job of Public Information and Communication with the Staff and the Customers!
Sounds all too likely to be the usual shambolic scam of attacking and damaging ridership & revenue on the trains which are doing well in the so-called "long-distance" division, which are pretty much unaffected by gas prices. But of course no changes on the trains which *actually saw the ridership drops*, which is the Midwest corridor trains and the Acela.
