GLENWOOD SPRINGS (AP) - Amtrak ridership is up, as gas prices soar toward new highs. In May, total ridership was up 12 percent over last year and ticket revenue was up 16 percent. Amtrak has said its own marketing research shows about half the increase can be attributed to gas prices. Ridership for May was up 10.9 percent in May from October, and the California Zephyr route, which passes through Denver and Glenwood Springs, was up 10.1 percent. Ticket prices can be much cheaper than flying or driving. However, long-haul trips can take at least a day, and there can be delays. The Zephyr's on-time performance was 43.5 percent in May.
My dad died 3 weeks ago and I would have taken the Chief back for the funeral if it hadn't already been booked solid. It would have been about $400 a person round trip for just a seat. The Airlines charged me $650 with the bereavment fare (which cut the price in half.
Well, I am presently away from home. My 88 year old father has had some major health troubles. Getting here, I took the Empire Builder. And was not impressed. We were as much as three hours late, although they somehow made up half an hour. So we ended up being only 2&1/2 behind. Made it difficult to arrange for my ride to meet the train. And we were not informed as to why the delays. The car had a flat spotted wheel, machine gunning away, thus, no sleep was possible. Needed to be cleaned, and the rest rooms were a mess. The day before I left, fare was $103. The day I left, $135. Now it's $185. By the time I am ready to head back home, I may need to walk! Next time, I'm driving. It's faster, cheaper, and when I get here, I'd have the necessary wheels! :tb-sad: Boxcab E50
About a month ago Lisa and I took the California Zephyr from Denver to California and as normal it was late arriving in Denver as well as in California. The thing is, it's not Amtrak's fault, UP & BNSF constantly cause Amtrak to be late throughout this route. What made it even later was the weather we have all read about which finally caused the route between Denver and Chicago to halt do to flooding. With all the cut backs hitting all over the nation do to economy issues you could also see it's impact on the services on the train too. Still, I would rather spend two days on the train then drive and it was sure much better than flying given the poor seat sizes on the planes and the services on the planes is also going from bad to worse. Given the choice, I will ride Amtrak much more often in the coming years then fly or drive long distances if the route is covered by Amtrak. :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin:
The train is our choice too. Four years ago we took the Empire Builder. The service was good. We went first class with a bedroom as we were going to be two nights on the train. The trick with Amtrak is to buy your tickets as soon as you know the date of your trip. Amtrak has some gimmicks like the airlines but they don't volunteer them. I contacted Amtrak in December for our trip in May. The fare was $2300 something. I asked the agent on the phone what the special of the week was. After being on "hold" for a minute or so I was given a price of $1100 if I purchaced the tickets with cash in 48 hours. Needless to say I made a hasty trip to buy the tickets. The price was for three adults in a bedroom round trip from Vancouver Wn. to Milwaukee Wi. and return. That also included our meals in the diner.
When I retired in 1992, I took my mother back east to see my sister. We took AMTRAK from Dunsmuir, CA to Portland where we transfered to the Empire Builder. We too had a first class bedroom, which we found comfortable. The trip to Chicago was great! From Chicago to Boston the rails were extremely rough ... so rough that my mother was bruised even while laying on the beds' mattress! (Honest!!!). We were taken off the train in Buffalo and put on a bus. We were told there was a problem with the rails ahead. We found out later there had been a derailed train. This September, my wife and I are taking AMTRAK to Lamy, N.M. My oldest daughter lives in Santa Fe. We intend to ride the Durango & Silverton, Cumbres & Toltec while there. Enroute home, we'll get off in Williams, AZ and catch the Grand Canyon train before we continue our trip back home via the Coast Daylight. My personal experiences have been good with AMTRAK. Yes, they are seldom on time, but as stated above by "The Lion" it's not AMTRAKs' fault. If you are in no particular hurry, in my mind, it's the only way to travel. With high fuel prices and ridership of AMTRAK at record levels, now is the time for the government to reinstate passenger train service over freight service, as it was during WWII. Maybe we could emulate the train service of Europe by doing so. High fuel prices are tough on everyones' budget, but something good can come out of it if we look far enough ahead.
