piedpiper
Train Attendant
Is there any way that you could post a current bucket chart as of the first of the year?
Bucket Chart?
- Thread starter piedpiper
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piedpiper
Train Attendant
Thank you - planning a round trip BOS - OLT for sometime soon
Seaboard92
Engineer
Can we put the chart in the resources part of the website too. So I can find it easier when I want to look at it.
Feel free to do so as long you tell me where it got posted and I can access it for any necessary changes.
I sent you a PM
Got it. Thanx. The chart is now also posted here: https://discuss.amtraktrains.com/forums/amtrak-faqs-first-time-rider-info.78/
The previous chart (12 Nov 2019) did not contain 11 of the fares seen in machine characters (not hand written) which were found and added during the subsequent week culminating with this chart being updated on 19 Nov 2019.
After years of making up these charts, I've finally settle on a dating system in which a new chart showing wholesale changes to the fares is published with a new "As Of __________" date. That date will remain unchanged until the next wholesale fare changes.
In between those wholesale changes, corrections and additions are made and the "Updated ________" entered to reflect when the date they were completed.
Neither of those dates is when Amtrak revised them - only the dates when I noticed them and modified the chart. Those dates also help me keep the 27 charts in file in the proper order.
After years of making up these charts, I've finally settle on a dating system in which a new chart showing wholesale changes to the fares is published with a new "As Of __________" date. That date will remain unchanged until the next wholesale fare changes.
In between those wholesale changes, corrections and additions are made and the "Updated ________" entered to reflect when the date they were completed.
Neither of those dates is when Amtrak revised them - only the dates when I noticed them and modified the chart. Those dates also help me keep the 27 charts in file in the proper order.
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Here's a chart updated today with corrections and additions to the AT Saver fare and Family Bedroom fares:
FWIW, the AT is the only LD train with slightly different (around $3) fares for the Northbound and Southbound runs. Southbound has the higher fares, so those fares are shown.
FWIW, the AT is the only LD train with slightly different (around $3) fares for the Northbound and Southbound runs. Southbound has the higher fares, so those fares are shown.
piedpiper
Train Attendant
Quite a difference from a year ago
While there is a difference, it's probably not as large as you may be thinking. This may show what I mean better than mere words:Quite a difference from a year ago
The difference is due solely to changing from the low bucket coach fare to the next highest bucket to go along with the sleeper accommodation charge. This change was made sometime during the Fall of 2019 The accommodation charge in this example remained the same at $312 or $455 - $143 = $312.
Most other trains had total sleeper fares go up a little bit more (about 10%, IIRC) because their accommodation upcharges also went up during the Fall of 2019.
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NapTown Jim
Train Attendant
Just guessing at the codes at the top...
C = Coach?
R = Roomette?
FB = Family Bedroom?
B = Bedroom?
I thought there was only one family bedroom in each sleeper car. i.e. Doesn't CONO have only 2 sleeper cars? If so, why are there 4 prices for it?
C = Coach?
R = Roomette?
FB = Family Bedroom?
B = Bedroom?
I thought there was only one family bedroom in each sleeper car. i.e. Doesn't CONO have only 2 sleeper cars? If so, why are there 4 prices for it?
tricia
Conductor
Each type of room might be priced at any one of the prices listed at any given time, depending on Amtrak's inventory management.
Each sleeping accommodation for each train has a total of 5 different fares which may be offered for sale during the future 11 month period. The fact that only 4 Family Bedroom fares are contained on the chart just means I observed only those four during my searches for fares using AmSnag.
• The fifth fare missing from this chart for a FB on the CONO might have once been offered and subsequently withdrawn without being noticed.
• The fifth missing fare may now be offered and one of the other four withdrawn still leaving only four fares.
• Or, there's also the possibility that if you made 11 consecutive 30 day searches using AmSnag you'd find all five of them. Or 4. Or 3. Or 2. Or 1. Or none if they're all sold out for the next 11 months.
And there's also the possibility one or more of the eight FB fares missing for the CZ and CL has been briefly offered and subsequently withdrawn without notice. Checking the different fares on all 15 trains can require as many as 165 AmSnag searches - I only do spot checks every week or two or whenever I feel like it.
• The fifth fare missing from this chart for a FB on the CONO might have once been offered and subsequently withdrawn without being noticed.
• The fifth missing fare may now be offered and one of the other four withdrawn still leaving only four fares.
• Or, there's also the possibility that if you made 11 consecutive 30 day searches using AmSnag you'd find all five of them. Or 4. Or 3. Or 2. Or 1. Or none if they're all sold out for the next 11 months.
And there's also the possibility one or more of the eight FB fares missing for the CZ and CL has been briefly offered and subsequently withdrawn without notice. Checking the different fares on all 15 trains can require as many as 165 AmSnag searches - I only do spot checks every week or two or whenever I feel like it.
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@niemi24s I am doing some testing with RailForLess data to extract fare buckets:
The roomette, bedroom, and family bedroom prices are all the accommodation fare, and you can see that there are two possible rail fares. I am not certain why so many coach buckets appeared, or how some are as low as $64 (the lowest I see now is $100). Still, I think it is a very good start for the sleeper buckets.
JSON:
{
"trainId": "5",
"roomette": [339, 406, 486, 581, 696, 832, 996, 1192],
"roometteRail": [277, 290],
"bedroom": [815, 979, 1175, 1411, 1694, 2034, 2443, 2933],
"bedroomRail": [277, 290],
"familyBedroom": [948, 1134, 1357, 1623, 1942, 2324],
"familyBedroomRail": [277, 290],
"coach": [64, 78, 81, 96, 98, 100, 120, 121, 146, 147, 179, 217, 264, 305, 321, 391]
}The roomette, bedroom, and family bedroom prices are all the accommodation fare, and you can see that there are two possible rail fares. I am not certain why so many coach buckets appeared, or how some are as low as $64 (the lowest I see now is $100). Still, I think it is a very good start for the sleeper buckets.
Thanks for the info, but just between you, me and the lamp post I'm quickly losing interest in maintaining the fare bucket chart.
Firstly, they went from five buckets to eight buckets for each sleeper. Then, as I was half way done with a new bucket chart they seem to have changed all the buckets. Now you find two different rail fares.
I give up. It's too much of a chore - and an aggravating one at that!!
Firstly, they went from five buckets to eight buckets for each sleeper. Then, as I was half way done with a new bucket chart they seem to have changed all the buckets. Now you find two different rail fares.
I give up. It's too much of a chore - and an aggravating one at that!!
Sorry to hear that, but understand your frustration. You've done great work over the years!
You may be in luck, then. I am planning to fully automate this process and make it a new page on RailForLess, updating nightly.
That would be wonderful!!! I pass the torch to you.You may be in luck, then. I am planning to fully automate this process and make it a new page on RailForLess, updating nightly.
BTW, my bucket chart folder has 30 or so charts that predate the earliest one posted here: https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/long-distance-train-coach-sleeper-fares-buckets.77062/ The earliest is dated 26 Oct 2015 and if anybody wants them, PM me and I'll send them all to you - provided I can figure out how to do that.
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I'm more focused on the current buckets than historical ones, but I'll keep that in mind! Give me about 15 minutes and I'll send a link to what I'm working on.
I think this covers the relevant stations and train numbers:
I think this covers the relevant stations and train numbers:
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Ok, have a look at: https://api.railforless.us/buckets
There are a few gaps in the data but it doesn't look bad for my first attempt.
There are a few gaps in the data but it doesn't look bad for my first attempt.
trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
Don’t forget about the auto train!I'm more focused on the current buckets than historical ones, but I'll keep that in mind! Give me about 15 minutes and I'll send a link to what I'm working on.
I think this covers the relevant stations and train numbers:
View attachment 38557
