quote:Originally posted by zephyr: You know, you seem to cry "personal attack" when someone dares to disagree with you.
Not exactly. When someone presents a coherent argument that disputes my opinions I take them seriously. When someone calls me a whiner and demagogue, and offers nothing more, I take that as a personal attack. Your post was clearly the latter, not the former.
My post was somewhat cynical, I'll admit. Amtrak has been a political football for a long time, and politics seems to govern Amtrak more than good business practices. That is just my observation.
Now, my reference to Republicans relates to a few very well known facts. 1. The Republicans have controlled Congress for the last several years. 2. It was Republicans who slipped provisions into the last apropriations bill requiring Amtrak to reduce its food service costs. 3. The Empire Builder passes through Montana. Republican Senator Conrad Burns from that state is a strong Amtrak supporter, and he is currently fighting for his political life.
Its just a suspicion, but I wonder if it is merely a coincidence that Amtrak's "premiere" train with all the bells and whistles serves a state with a Republican Senator who actively supports the train, while amenities are being cut on other routes.
As for accusations that I am "partisan" I'll just say that I plan to vote for a mix of both Republicans and Democrats on November 7.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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an addenda, Mr. Toy. Some months back I kept reading in the newspaper many protests from many officials in Montana about proposed Amtrak cut backs. I do not remember any other state protesting to that degree. It would seem that" the squeeky wheel gets the oil". Maybe if more states had made more noise things would be different. Whenyou think about how popular the auto train is it makes sense to keep the users happy especially in an election year
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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From Ms. McFarland's report, it would appear that the Empire Builder has also gone 'SDS' (Simplified Dining Service). Oh, oh, will Auto Train be far behind?
There is good possibility I will use AT in one or both directions on my '07 Florida journey, for as I discussed at this topic, the breaking of the 30-WAS-91 connection as well as with the continued "temporary annulment" of Sunset East, has made the all rail journey from Chicago less attractive than in the past.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Maybe Amtrak is striving for consistency in avialability of all of their amenities: lounge cars, parlour cars, on-time service AND full menus. A strict policy of "maybe you get it and maybe you don't".
Maybe they should add a mystery meal to the adventure: "we don't know what it is but we microwaved it and this is what happened".
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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I rode the Empire Builder on September 14-16 from Seattle to Chicago. Although I skipped lunch my two breakfasts were definately cooked to order. Eggs over easy one morning and pancakes the next.
For dinner I had chicken with a baked potato and it was tasty. Moist and skin was crispy but couldn't tell you for sure if chicken was cooked or just heated. I skipped the veggies.
Maybe the EB meals are a mix of cooked and heated??
Posts: 70 | From: West Palm Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Ah, for that brief period in 1982 when H. Rex Holland (Graham Claytor referred to him as "His Royal Highness) from Cunard was in charge of Amtrak dining service. Roast leg of lamb with fresh mint sauce in a little bowl...or, pre-Amtrak on SCL's Florida Special, pompano stuffed with tiny shrimp, baked with sauce in a parchment bag...
Well, at least we still have on-board sit-down food service (unlike most European trains).
There's so little left of Amtrak now that I'm no longer sure I even *want* to take anything but short trips -- I'm on the 5:10 PM train this afternoon WAS to PHL, just like every Thursday.
Posts: 614 | From: Merchantville, NJ. USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote: After the first full year of enhanced service aboard the Empire Builder, which operates between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, both ridership and revenue increased. During the months between October 2005 and September 2006, ticket revenue increased by 16% percent between, reaching $48.6 million. Ridership increased by 4.3 percent to 497,020.
This certainly provides some evidence that better amenities can enhance the bottom line. I might note that this was during a year when overall LD ridership was down 1%.
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I might add that if you check prices often during slow periods in the off season (winter), you might find some real bargains on the Empire Builder. I once got a bedroom (not roomette) from St. Paul to Portland for $125 over coach, booking shortly before departure. I think it was in early March. For 2 people, that would be about the price of the 4 meals you get free.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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Regarding the Empire Builder food. Most of it is the same as SDS fare. However, we rode it the last week of September and I did have eggs cooked to order, steak (twice) and wonderful ice cream. That is enough of a difference to say it is a cut above the rest of the fleet. The champagne after Chicago departure was a nice touch too.
Sadly the chef must have been missing as the food was bland and overcooked. Most of it was unfortunatley like some southern cooking known locally as meat and three (choice of meat with 3 sides at one of those infortunate buffet places). Oh. macaroni counts as a vegtable. I do love good southern cooking, but this was not it. I guess the good chefs fled when they saw the handwriting on the wall about Amtrak's direction for their cusine.
I'm sure there is a policital agenda with the train but I think it has more to do with Amtrak's survival than the red state blue state thing. And no, I don't think that is necessarily the same thing. Last time I checked Trent Lott was a republican and I have a letter from Lindey Graham stating he supported funding for Amtrak.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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It is definitely not a "red state blue state thing". Senators Lott, Graham, Hutchison and many other Republicans are among the strongest Amtrak supporters. David Gunn was hired by a conservative think tank.
But the knee-jerk "reduce government" politicians are still going to use Amtrak as their target to score political points while they vote for their favorite pork. There are many conservatives who believe that government is involved in too many things, but that multiple transportation choices ARE a legitmate role of the federal government.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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