Passenger Trains > Any News!

It's getting kinda close to October, any news or rumors on the Sunset Ltd. schedule changes.

SP7615

Union Pacific wants more money.

First step they should implement is reinstating the Starlight connection in LA from #11 to #2. But this stub train idea from San Antonio to New Orleans is just not a good idea. Take a walk through the coaches of #1 or #2 and you'll see that they're packed with people going the entire route from NOL to LAX or visa versa. Houston is also a big market and most passengers would not want to detrain from a nice Sleeper to a Coach in San Antonio. If Amtrak really wants to upgrade the train, why not make it daily to New Orleans with daily through cars from the Eagle? Or if they're so set on sending the Eagle to LA why not combine the 2 sets in San Antonio much like the Desert Wind/Pioneer/CA Zephyr did back in the 90s?

In a perfect world (if it ever existed) Amtrak would make this the premier route. They're already named 1 and 2 why not make them a flagship like the Starlight? Bring back the true transcontinental train all the way back to Miami, with amenities similar to the Starlight. Run it daily with 3 sleepers and 4 coaches with 2 sightseers one being a first class overhauled one similar to the Parlor cars. 7 sets would be needed for daily service to Miami, and just a suggestion, but each state along the route could design the interior of one of the first class sightseers and name if after that state. For example, they could name one Texas and decorate it accordingly, all 8 states would have a car with their name and decor (one spare to be rotated for maintenance). The Eagle can in turn still exchange cars in San Antonio, which has been done for quite some time now.

Ah, One can always dream........



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/10 10:55 by SunsetLtd.

With host RR traffic way up, don't look for it to happen any time soon.

The way Am Managment likes to drag their feet when it comes to announcments, looks like it ain't happenin'!

UP is the problem, not Amtrak management.