Even without this change, the new summer schedule has an almost civilized schedule into Tuscon. Another option for those of us who frequently rent a car in connection with train trips.
Related to that, anyone else notice that the new timetables no longer list locations with rental car service?
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Hey, palmland, any truth to the rumor that conductors will soon be checking for "papers" at the Arizona border on 1/2/3/4/21&22? Maybe Obama's people, who are obviously upset with Arizona's new immigration law, will have Amtrak bypass serving the state altogether?
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Interesting observation regarding rental autos, Mr. Palmland.
For myself, excluding Auto-Train which is a not applicable, who can think of only two trips during the past five years using commercial transportation where I did not rent an auto, I am surprised to what extent Amtrak has disconnected itself from a travel convenience that air travelers simply "expect".
I guess I must be surprised that the demographics of Amtrak passengers are not sufficient for auto rental concerns to provide the same degree of service that they do at airports. The "hassles" that an Amtrak passenger must go through to get one can only be, IMHO, a detriment to using rail travel, and could well result in a customary air traveler who decided "to try the train' then being confronted with the 'hoops" to which must be jumped through to have what is taken for granted using air travel, to fast become a "never again".
But then, maybe the average Amtrak passenger is not as "fixated" on having one at destination as am I.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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For what it's worth, I've found that Enterprise Rent-a-Car will pick you up at an Amtrak station (if, of course, the town is big enough for that rental outfit, and the train arrives during office hours) and take you to its central office to do the paperwork and send you on your way in a car. And it'll return you to where it picked you up, all else being equal.
There may be other auto rental companies that will do this.
Enterprise in Grand Junction told me they pick up Amtrak passengers every day.
So did the company in Syracuse.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Mr. Kisor is spot on with his observations. It's not an Amtrak problem, but a rental car company problem. Enterprise is the "outlier" of the rental car concerns, and will go out of its way to accomodate its customers or potential customers. I no longer deal with Hertz or Avis.
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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While I agree it's not an Amtrak problem, if they had any marketing initiative, they should make it their problem by going after the rental car companies to promote facilities at the stations and then advertise it.
For instance, a full page ad in the June 1954 timetable for the Pennsylvania RR says:
"Before you leave.... Reserve an automobile for your use at destination....Relax while the engineer does the driving....On arrival step into your reserved car. Drive it as you would have your own."
It then list more 30 on line locations where this is available. Back in those days the friendly passenger agent made the arrangements for you.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by palmland: Back in those days...
...gasoline was $.33 a gallon too.
We can't go back, but would that we could. Have to make the best of the situation that's out there now. All I'm saying is that the big names in the car rental business are "cherry pickers", so a company like Enterprise can fill in the void that they leave just as "gypsy cabs" fill the transportation needs for areas where the "yellow cabs" choose not to serve.
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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I guess my point is that Amtrak should show a little initiative here and not wait for the rental car companies to figure out that there is another source of revenue to go after.
Enterprise would be fine. So have that option as part of the reservation system. When you pick up your ticket at the Quiktrak kiosk, you also get your rental car confirmation with instructions to call shortly before arrival at destination.
For making Enterprise part of the reservation process, Amtrak gets a small portion of the revenue (or perhaps an add on fee, similar to the airport rental car tax)and a happy customer.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Great idea! Do we know for sure that Amtrak Marketing hasn't "been there, done that" only to receive a big negative from the rental companies? The initiative is fine, but you have to have a willing partner to make the thing work and, as GBN notes above, the big players in the game aren't interested in serving a transportation mode used by so few travellers whose stations are usually in the worst part of town, and whose arriving passengers sometimes "land" at "0-dark-thirty."
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Henry, Hertz always did that in Denver. We haven't needed the service for 3 years now so I don't know if they still do
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Hertz has Amtrak in-station counters in St. Paul, Flagstaff, and Whitefish, and their cars are just outside the door. At Flagstaff and Whitefish, you are met at the train with you paperwork ready, even after hours.
Hertz will also pay your cab fare from Albuquerque Amtrak to their airport location, and give you a van ride back to the train.
Both Hertz and Budget offer decent discounts if you use the link to their sites when you buy Amtrak tickets online.
You also can often save money buy booking from an Amtrak location because you don't pay the daily airport fees charged for airport locations.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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A number of years ago we reserved a car at Los Angeles arriving on the SL. The Hertz office is open until 1800 and the SL was due in at 1000. Along about 2200 we "jumped ship" at Ontario and cabbed to the airport to pick up a car. A year or so ago we wanted to rent a car at SBA arriving on the sb CS. Only problem is Hertz closes 17 minutes before the CS was scheduled to arrive. Again we had to make do and detrained at SLO (in 106 degree heat) and arrange to have Hertz at the airport there pick us up at the station. We planned to return the car to the LAUT office BUT it doesn't accept returns of autos rented at other locations. So we had to return it to another location and cab to the station. They sure don't make it easy. Oh, and to add injury to insult at SLO, I somehow was able to smash my cell phone prior to arrival and had to call the airport from a pay station at the station. Used my credit card to make the call and upon receiving the bill the following month found the call had cost $24.95! Yeah, no typo, $24.95 for a thirty second call from the train station to the airport. Again: They sure don't make it easy. Best regards, Rodger
Posts: 112 | From: Merrimac, MA | Registered: Nov 2007
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We have a reservation for an Enterprise rental car at Crawfordsville when we arrive next month for my reunion trip. Only thing is the Cardinal is scheduled to arrive at 6:58 AM, and Enterprise doesn't open until 8:30 -- hmmmmm. And the Cardinal has been running pretty close to schedule most of the time lately, according to the "Amtrak Delays" web site. Hopefully I can arrange for us to get the car earlier than 8:30 somehow, but I don't know.......
Or maybe the Cardinal will be 2 or 3 hours late, like it usually was in days of old........
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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I think the figures are too low in most places to warrant a full-time agent. Instead, the phone-ahead, we pick you up route pointed out by Henry is most likely the most cost-effective way of providing car hire at stations.
I remember attempting to drop one rental off at the Amtrak/Greyhound station in New Orleans sometime in the early 2000s - I'd picked up at the airport. It clearly stated on the paperwork that the return was at the station, complete with the exact address of the station. When I turned up I couldn't find them, there were no direct phone lines within the station, no notices, nothing. So I had to find the convention center and drop the car off there. Despite looking on their reservations computer and waving the paperwork at them that contradicted what they were saying, they continued to deny that the station was ever a drop-off area! Lucky for me I had a couple of hours to spare otherwise I'd have missed the train. Unfortunately I can't remember which car company it was, but certainly one of the major players. None of it Amtrak's fault, and I don't blame them for removing adverts for a service over which they have no control.
And why do I spend 10 minutes filling out the forms online, turn up, and then have to wait another 15 minutes while they tap away at their computer, asking questions I've already told them the answer to? Grrrr!
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Right you are, Geoff. All I hear is criticism about Amtrak and its personnel, and how "the private sector" can run things much better. When I get out in the "real world," however, I see the same (or worse) incompetence and lack of concern among some workers and companies in the private sector. People are people everywhere; some care about their jobs and some don't, and ultimately it doesn't matter who signs their paychecks.
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Interesting article in the link - but wasn't the reason Amtrak dropped Phoenix in the first place because the host railroad proposed abandoning a sizeable stretch of track which Amtrak couldn't afford to buy and maintain?
And further on, it seems to suggest that the Texas Eagle may become a through service Chicago - LAX, prompting the question as to whether the Sunset will become a stub train SAS-NOL on a different schedule or whether it will reverse the current situation where the through coaches are attached but just the other way around.
Posts: 395 | From: england | Registered: Sep 2002
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From what I understand, Mr. Williams, the 'new' Sunset will operate only from San Antonio to New Orleans as a daytime train with coaches (and cafe) only. It's not clear if any of the coaches will be through to LA.
The schedule on the Chicago to LA train, I guess still called the Texas Eagle, will be substantially changed to be late evening departure from LA and early morning arrival there westbound. This will permit overnight service between Tuscon and Phoenix (via bus connection).
You are correct that the UP took its freight off the bypass line from Phoenix to its western junction with the mainline. It still operates freight on the portion from Phoenix to the eastern junction with the mainline. That was a major factor in taking the train off that route and I believe there was a derailment on it too. Arizona is talking about establishing service on that segment Phoenix to Tucson. I think everyone has been surprised how successful the new transit line in Phoenix has been.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Does anyone know: What will the San Antonio layover be like if you want to go New Orleans to Los Angeles? And what can passengers do in the layover? How will sleeper passengers be accommodated?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Ms. Sojourner, possibly it should be clarified if you are referring to existing service or the proposed "change at San Antonio' model?
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Sojourner, I assume you are talking about the new plan. Amtrak has not confirmed it will actually happen but I gather the train change in San Antonio will be late evening westbound or early morning eastbound.
I suspect if we were to try the new New Orleans-San Antonio service (it it would be nice to see that route in daylight), an airline trip to or from San Antonio would be involved to avoid changing at those times. Fortunately San Antonio is an interesting city and well worth spending time there.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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