I was just looking thru a "55 issue of The Zephyr, Burlington's publication for
ticket agents, etc.
If you travel via Amtrak (we make at least 2 big trips a yr) you know they have
made a lot of improvements since "71. However from experience I see two
persistent problems that the Q addressed a long time ago. One, car rentals.
Would you believe none of the car rental companies are open at Washington Union
Station on Sundays (and most Amtrak stops do NOT have rental cars available at
all). Compare that to the Burlington 55 yrs ago. Hertz alone had cars
available at 47 stations! In order: Illinois -11; Iowa - 8; Wyoming -7; Texas
- 6; Colorado, Nebrasks & Minnesota - 3 ea; Missouri & Wisconsin - 2 ea and
Kentucky & Montana -1 ea. Towns the size of Herrin, IL, Powell, WY & Winona,
MN had car rentals available! Note today if you go on-line to any car rental
firm they ask which city OR air terminal you will be using; NEVER which Amtrak
station! Amtrak should enter into an exclusive agreement with ONE car rental
in return for 365 days service at a LOT of stations.
Second - lack of marketing vs. Airlines. Most airlines charge for luggage now
- Amtrak allows 5 (FIVE!) checked bags per ticket - how many Americans know
that? How about comparative fares?
In "55 the Q promoted the fact that their fares from Chi to Twin Cities and to
Seatlle were roughly 1/2 of the airlines. Examples (R/T): Chi-Twin Cities via
Q was $18.35 coach & $33.75 Sleeper; airlines were $37 & $44.20. From Chi to
Seattle it was $82 & $161 via Q; $178 & $218 via air. The Q also pointed out
there were even better savings via the Family Plan (whick Amtrak has with the
'Family bedroom' on all Superliner sleepers)
One area Amtrak has gotten on track with (no pun intended) is their own credit
card. (which we use as you score points for free trips). A few progressive
RR's started up the idea of a rail travel credit card in 1947! (Burlington
being a charter mbr of course) - it was called "Rail Travel Credit Cards" and
came in two versions: corporate & personal.
And of course for high-speed rail: the Twin Zephyrs, on jointed rail, regularly
went over a 100 mph from E. Dbq to LaCrosse 55 yrs ago with a full diner & all
those domes. (& from E units to obsv - all late 40's technoloogyu) This with
the usual mix of freights sharing the rails - compare that to Amtrak's best;
the exclusive NE corridor with welded rail & state-of-the art power but only a
snack car. Guess we were all born too late! Gerald
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