X-Train Chugging Along?

[Anderson]

Many private trains in the USs were supposed to make money but went bankrupt.

Yet many bankrupt companies made millions for their owners.
Aloha

Oh, I mean, bankrupt then shut down.

And how much did the C-suite folks at Hostess make over the last ten years?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Many private trains in the USs were supposed to make money but went bankrupt.

Yet many bankrupt companies made millions for their owners.
Aloha

Oh, I mean, bankrupt then shut down.

And how much did the C-suite folks at Hostess make over the last ten years?

:help:

 

[trainfan969]

New article on the X-Train

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-adults-party-train-oc-vegas-20121126,0,7115914.story

 

[Anderson]

You know, 13 months might be enough to get this rolling. And the more I think about it, the more I could see one (or more) casinos backing this project.

And honestly, this project is selling itself to me as something I think I want to see succeed.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I do not support X-Train. I think that it won't work at all and that somebody should restore the DW instead. If this was not a "party train" then it would be a lot more useful.

 

[johnny.menhennet]

I do not support X-Train. I think that it won't work at all and that somebody should restore the DW instead. If this was not a "party train" then it would be a lot more useful.

Clearly you don't understand WHY people WANT to go to Vegas then...

 

[MikefromCrete]

I do not support X-Train. I think that it won't work at all and that somebody should restore the DW instead. If this was not a "party train" then it would be a lot more useful.

The Reno fun train, a similar operation on a smaller scale, has been running successfully since before the start of Amtrak. No reason this can't be a success. And, it's not an inter-city operation, it's an excursion train aimed at a distinct audience. If successful, they'll probably add trains to the schedule which will be convenient for Las Vegas residents. We'll see.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I do not support X-Train. I think that it won't work at all and that somebody should restore the DW instead. If this was not a "party train" then it would be a lot more useful.

Clearly you don't understand WHY people WANT to go to Vegas then...

I'm pretty sure I do understand. But that is the main reason why I don't support this train.

I do not support X-Train. I think that it won't work at all and that somebody should restore the DW instead. If this was not a "party train" then it would be a lot more useful.

The Reno fun train, a similar operation on a smaller scale, has been running successfully since before the start of Amtrak. No reason this can't be a success. And, it's not an inter-city operation, it's an excursion train aimed at a distinct audience. If successful, they'll probably add trains to the schedule which will be convenient for Las Vegas residents. We'll see.

That dosen't mean I have to support it, since I am an opponent of gambling.

 

[GG-1]

That dosen't mean I have to support it, since I am an opponent of gambling.

Aloha
This statement is sad as it suggest that there is nothing else to do here but gamble. From my viewpoint this town has more theater than about any other city than New York.

Besides if you have the right attitude what is wrong with playing a few games?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

That dosen't mean I have to support it, since I am an opponent of gambling.

Aloha
This statement is sad as it suggest that there is nothing else to do here but gamble. From my viewpoint this town has more theater than about any other city than New York.

Besides if you have the right attitude what is wrong with playing a few games?

That is not the problem. The reason I said that was in response to "Clearly you don't understand why people want to go to Vegas." I didn't that that Vegas is bad, I mean that the party train is bad because of gambling.

 

[johnny.menhennet]

That dosen't mean I have to support it, since I am an opponent of gambling.

Aloha
This statement is sad as it suggest that there is nothing else to do here but gamble. From my viewpoint this town has more theater than about any other city than New York.

Besides if you have the right attitude what is wrong with playing a few games?

That is not the problem. The reason I said that was in response to "Clearly you don't understand why people want to go to Vegas." I didn't that that Vegas is bad, I mean that the party train is bad because of gambling.

The train will not have any real money gambling-type stuff involved. People will play games for prizes rather than money, to keep it legal.

 

[Anderson]

UP put the kibosh on any formal gambling on trains operating on their tracks a few years ago in a rather terse statement when this and the Z-Train were both running around. Now the Z-Train? That's one I'm glad died, since it was setting up to be a circus on wheels.

As to opinions on gambling, I have mixed opinions. I don't like slots, I like blackjack (nostalgia since I played with my father and with some of his hunting buddies growing up), but generally it's not my thing. With that said...I know the cause-effect is one way around, but I'll put up with some casinos to get train service.

 

[CHamilton]

From Forbes:

The $100 Million 'X Train' Will Be A Party From L.A. To Vegas

Getting there should be half the fun, but it usually isn’t. Nevada-based entrepreneur and CEO of the X Train, Michael Barron, is out to change that — hoping to make travel from Southern California to Las Vegas a joyride.
For decades, problems such as rising gasoline prices and traffic congestion on I-15 have aggravated Vegas-bound weekenders. Aware that one-third of Las Vegas’ tourists hail from the L.A. area, Barron saw an opportunity to address such issues. In 2009, he founded Las Vegas Railway Express and incorporated as Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc., a publicly traded Delaware Corporation. He has since acquired a staff of ten team members to help execute the vision from their Nevada-based office. The idea of running an express rail service from Southern California to Las Vegas is nothing new, but the “X Train” is far from anything that’s existed in the past.

The 21+ adult party train will depart from the Amtrak station in Fullerton, CA, just outside of L.A., and cruise into the heart of Las Vegas on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays — the heaviest travel days. Tickets for the five-hour ride will cost $99 each way, and include a meal and beverage. Barron hopes that the 600-passenger X Train will make its first trip by NYE 2013, but there are still logistical hurdles to overcome in the in the next year.

 

[Anderson]

Huh...looks like they've bulked up the travel schedule. Assuming that trips are available in both directions on all days, 4x weekly isn't bad for something like this. Naturally, we'd all likely prefer either daily or, failing that, 6x weekly (with Tuesday or Wednesday skipped), but this is somewhat more heartening and for all the comments about it being a "party train", it looks increasingly functional (if on the nicer end) and less "locked" to the tourist market the way it was looking for a while.

 

[CHamilton]

A fascinating post on the Facebook Amtrak group.

The X-Train is coming 2013. Fullerton to Las Vegas. Are you ready? All aboard! www.vegasxtrain.com (Wanted! Amtrak Conductors and Engineers)

 

[George Harris]

A fascinating post on the Facebook Amtrak group.

The X-Train is coming 2013. Fullerton to Las Vegas. Are you ready? All aboard! www.vegasxtrain.com (Wanted! Amtrak Conductors and Engineers)

Flying pig alert, flying pig alert!!!

 

[CHamilton]

Dear new readers of Amtrak Unlimited (assuming there are any after the end of the world),

Please be advised that the regular posters on this board (including me) aren't generally as grouchy and cynical as we've been lately. I think some of us have S.A.D. or M.A.D. (Mudslide Affective Disorder) or something. We're really a lot nicer, especially when we're riding trains.

Sincerely,

CHamilton

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Dear new readers of Amtrak Unlimited (assuming there are any after the end of the world),

Please be advised that the regular posters on this board (including me) aren't generally as grouchy and cynical as we've been lately. I think some of us have S.A.D. or M.A.D. (Mudslide Affective Disorder) or something. We're really a lot nicer, especially when we're riding trains.

Sincerely,

CHamilton

 

[Ryan]

Hey, speak for yourself! I'm always this grouchy and cynical!

 

[Anderson]

A fascinating post on the Facebook Amtrak group.

The X-Train is coming 2013. Fullerton to Las Vegas. Are you ready? All aboard! www.vegasxtrain.com (Wanted! Amtrak Conductors and Engineers)

Flying pig alert, flying pig alert!!!

The fact that the guy posting it seems to work for Amtrak...well, it does add some credibility to this.

 

[afigg]

Bump.

We had several posts in recent days that Las Vegas Railways Express, the company behind the X-Train, sent out an announcement to shareholders that they were planning to use the X-Train equipment to provide excursions or trips on an existing Amtrak train. All very vague. But the news ended up in the Xpress West HSR thread with people repeatedly confusing the two companies and their plans. There has been little follow-up, so I figured I bump the X-Train thread to steer any discussions to here.

Checking the X-Train website, the most recent news announcement was in May about a new Chairman of the Board and a new director on the board.

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Here is an update that appeared in the Review Journal, a Vegas local Paper. http://www.reviewjournal.com/view/north/x-train-set-have-hub-north-las-vegas

 

[gswager]

10 miles north of the Strip? Doesn't sound like a good one.

 

[afigg]

10 miles north of the Strip? Doesn't sound like a good one.

A station in North Vegas is odd. There could be any number of reasons. The land and needed facilities could have been too expensive close to the Strip. The North Vegas location is cheaper and all they could afford. The property is part of a real estate development deal, perhaps not entirely aboveboard.

This is an X-Train move that raises more questions that it answers about the prospects for the X-Train to start someday running passenger trains.

 

[GG-1]

Looking at a satellite map of N.Vegas there is a large siding just off the main line that may be their reason, a good place to hold the train for the weekend. This location is so close to I-15 any hotel is maybe 15 minutes away.

Aloha

btw: they are telling stockholders a test run in Oct. and Scheduled run for the New Year Weekend.