Any thoughts or comments on Amtrak adding 75,000 extra seats for the Thanksgiving Holiday? I'm hoping that it gets better for the pre Christmas to post New Years weeks, but guess that it isn't going to make all that much of a dent in Amtrak's woes. Acela ridership is way up. I can already hear some of your comments. Gov't money will be going to the airlines anyway. And Amtrak's funding will be slashed to do it too...........
John, I'm not sure my observations would apply to "adding" seats, but the Sunsets (#1 & 2) have been reduced to two Superliner coaches between Orlando and New Orleans. I don't have any info on the consists between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Since I believe there are five Sunset trainsets with four coaches assigned to each, this could release up to ten coaches for wherever they were needed.
Hank, it was widely reported on several news channels here that Amtrak added 75,000 extra seats for the holiday, but I don't know exactly where most of those seats were. I guess just system wide. If Amtrak could have added those seats all the past holidays over the years, I guess they'd be closer to the Black rather than being in the Red. I don't suppose that added revenue will help. I know the East Coast did well. I don't want to see Amtrak become a Fallen Flag........
I doubt if government-funded rail pasenger service will ever be dropped, too many powerful states and politicians are jumping on the alternative transportation bandwagon. It is possible that Amtrak could be re-organized, or split into separate regional companies, e.g. Northeast, CalTran, Long-Distance, etc. I think what we are seeing is some very important people beginning to threaten the public with dissolving Amtrak so that we will get off our butts and pressure Congress and our State Legislators to get on that bandwagon .... at least I hope that is what's happening.
Some extra cars were added around Thanksgiving to the Surfliners but the ridership far exceded capacity. It was standing room only the Wed. b/4 & Sun. after.
