Passenger Trains > A light trip on the Hoosier State

All trains have trips with light loads.  I came back from St. Louis Saturday on a Lincoln Service train that had 15 in coach and 1 business (not counting the three private cars).

Tuesday and Wednesday are usually those light days on most trains.  So when I saw this morning's Hoosier State pacing my BNSF commuter train into CUS (another early Hoosier arrival) I checked to see how many passengers boarded the train (something our operations center keeps track of).

The answer was 22 in coach and 25 in business.  On the last Wednesday in September last year we had 29 in coach and zero in business (business class started in October).  I think people are fond of the Iowa Pacific business class experience on the Hoosier State, even though it is basically double the price of coach....

I know Stupor Chief is always interested in these numbers, so I thought I would pass them along, and the phone picture I took from my BNSF dinky as well....

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Nice.....congrats Ed....

Great to hear business class is catching on-- one of the best values on this train!
Hope the ICRHA trip went well-- sorry I missed it this year... Was hoping it would run on the Iowa Div through my old hometown.

It is of interest, indeed.

The full-length dome car, the freshly prepared meals, and the attentive service are popular with Business Class riders for obvious reasons. Congratulations!

What I wonder is, at what cost, versus the incremental revenue being gained?

eee Wrote:
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> All trains have trips with light loads.  I came
> back from St. Louis Saturday on a Lincoln Service
> train that had 15 in coach and 1 business (not
> counting the three private cars).
>
> Tuesday and Wednesday are usually those light days
> on most trains.  So when I saw this morning's
> Hoosier State pacing my BNSF commuter train into
> CUS (another early Hoosier arrival) I checked to
> see how many passengers boarded the train
> (something our operations center keeps track of).
>
> The answer was 22 in coach and 25 in business. 
> On the last Wednesday in September last year we
> had 29 in coach and zero in business (business
> class started in October).  I think people are
> fond of the Iowa Pacific business class experience
> on the Hoosier State, even though it is basically
> double the price of coach....
>
> I know Stupor Chief is always interested in these
> numbers, so I thought I would pass them along, and
> the phone picture I took from my BNSF dinky as
> well....

The margin on business class is substantial, at least 50% of the incremental revenue.

stuporchief Wrote:
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> It is of interest, indeed.
>
> The full-length dome car, the freshly prepared
> meals, and the attentive service are popular with
> Business Class riders for obvious reasons.
> Congratulations!
>
> What I wonder is, at what cost, versus the
> incremental revenue being gained?
 

If I understand your point, this is about how the math works out, in very round numbers?

25 pax average load x $80 = $2,000 total Business Class revenue Chicago-Indy

Let's assume the cost of the food and the on-board chef is covered by the sales to coach passengers?

So, half of $2,000 is $1,000. The margin (profit) is $1000.

In other words, the total incremental costs of the dome car -- which includes purchase and refurbishment, maintenance, fuel, Amtrak fees, insurance, plus a first class attendant and incidentals -- totals $1,000 or less for each trip. That's pretty good.




eee Wrote:
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> The margin on business class is substantial, at
> least 50% of the incremental revenue.
>
> stuporchief Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It is of interest, indeed.
> >
> > The full-length dome car, the freshly prepared
> > meals, and the attentive service are popular
> with
> > Business Class riders for obvious reasons.
> > Congratulations!
> >
> > What I wonder is, at what cost, versus the
> > incremental revenue being gained?
>  

Good service actually works.....

I suspect the passengers on the Hoosier BC car are not your average commuter. If this can work on the Hoosier, imagine if it were offered on more popular route. Perhaps Mr. Moorman should discuss a contract arrangement with IP for 'real' BC service similar to what was done on the CONO. The difference being a nice lounge/BC car rather than Pullman sleeper.

Posted from iPhone

palmland Wrote:
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> I suspect the passengers on the Hoosier BC car are
> not your average commuter. If this can work on the
> Hoosier, imagine if it were offered on more
> popular route. Perhaps Mr. Moorman should discuss
> a contract arrangement with IP for 'real' BC
> service similar to what was done on the CONO. The
> difference being a nice lounge/BC car rather than
> Pullman sleeper.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Amtrak does have Business Class on other routes, but it is not up to the standard of IPH.  There needs to be enough of a difference to make the passenger want to upgrade.  IPH delivers on this route.  Amtrak needs to make efforts to do so on its routes.   

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> palmland Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I suspect the passengers on the Hoosier BC car
> are
> > not your average commuter. If this can work on
> the
> > Hoosier, imagine if it were offered on more
> > popular route. Perhaps Mr. Moorman should
> discuss
> > a contract arrangement with IP for 'real' BC
> > service similar to what was done on the CONO.
> The
> > difference being a nice lounge/BC car rather
> than
> > Pullman sleeper.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Amtrak does have Business Class on other routes,
> but it is not up to the standard of IPH.  There
> needs to be enough of a difference to make the
> passenger want to upgrade.  IPH delivers on this
> route.  Amtrak needs to make efforts to do so on
> its routes.   

I totally agree. As a frequent Palmetto BC passenger I pay extra just for a less crowded car. It's a regular Amfleet I coach and about half full with no amenities. You would need two cars if Hoosier type service offered- especially with the Charleston tourist market.

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> palmland Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I suspect the passengers on the Hoosier BC car
> are
> > not your average commuter. If this can work on
> the
> > Hoosier, imagine if it were offered on more
> > popular route. Perhaps Mr. Moorman should
> discuss
> > a contract arrangement with IP for 'real' BC
> > service similar to what was done on the CONO.
> The
> > difference being a nice lounge/BC car rather
> than
> > Pullman sleeper.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Amtrak does have Business Class on other routes,
> but it is not up to the standard of IPH.  There
> needs to be enough of a difference to make the
> passenger want to upgrade.  IPH delivers on this
> route.  Amtrak needs to make efforts to do so on
> its routes.   

Yep, I rode Business Class once from WDC to Boston on train 66. Other than sleeping close to an AEM7 there was no real incentive. The seats in Coach actually allowed you to sleep better once the crowd gets off at NYP so only did it once. Oh we did get to see the car dept from WUS use a sledge hammer to 'fix' a baggage car door, that was defiantly a perk of First Class.

Jim