RAILforum: Amtrak to Las Vegas

This is topic Amtrak to Las Vegas in forum Western US at RAILforum.

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Posted by rrjc (Member # 1913) on :

Does anyone know when Amtrak plans to begin service between Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV? Thanks.

Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :

We're going to try and resurrect the "City of Las Vegas" again, eh?

How many times since 1955 have UP and Amtrak tried to run the "Gambler's Special?"

I've not heard anything, but I'd expect those closer to LAUPT to know more... that said...

Amtrak will have its best marketing window ever to plug LA-LV run right now, with 2 hour sit-around times at LAX, Ontario, John Wayne, and Burbank. The delays to get onto a plane plus the transportation time actually gets halfway close to the transit time.

NOW, if Amtrak can get California's blessing to:
1) Run the train as a "portable piece of Nevada", ie, run it as a rolling casino under NV gaming law,
and
2) Serve the kind of free food and booze UP did when the City of Las Vegas was the GM Aerotrain...

It might get enough riders to be profitable.

Otherwise, look to the history books, and don't let the last LA-LV obit get too dusty.

My $0.015. YMMV. Not valid in Alaska, Hawaii, or DC. Sales tax applies. Enron consulting tax applies. Beer is good.

John

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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

This topic shows up regularly on the "Amtrak" forum.

I would think it could work if they don't limit it to gamblers.

Posted by neldowden (Member # 1899) on :

Why not let the casinos chip in on this train? I'm sure I'm not the first to suggest it, but they can use the business, from what I've heard. They could ALL also post the train with their regular promos.

Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :

Here's a recent article on this subject:
http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Jul-12-Fri-2002/business/19168619.html

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

Posted by neldowden (Member # 1899) on :

I read the two links that Mr. Toy enclosed on his reply. I was very impressed and would certainly love to take both trains when ready.(hopefully they will get on track soon!) I'm started the "Champagne Train" article on the Amtrak forum. Is there a viable way to have at least one train which goes all the way between Monterey and Sacramento or wine country for that matter? The corridor between San Jose and Sacramento is already busy. It seems that to make it easier for MORE travelers to come that way, would make sense. Any ideas?

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nel dowd

Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :

quote:
Originally posted by neldowden:
Is there a viable way to have at least one train which goes all the way between Monterey and Sacramento or wine country for that matter?

If you saw my website, you may have stumbled across my comments about extending the Capitol Corridor to Monterey. I think they should do that first, before the Monterey to SF service.

And, by the way, Monterey County is also wine country.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car