Passenger Trains > hopeful start of a new Amtrak policy

With the addition of Tioga Pass on this week's #4, does this mark a change in Amtrak not allowing private cars on their trains?  I hope so...it was refreshing to see it this week. 

They have always allowed private cars on the ends of their trains as long as they go from the start of the route to the end of the route. No set offs enroute. Also and pay the new higher charges.

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can you stand out on the open platform of a private car?

66

No,not any more.

Posted from Android

goneon66 Wrote:
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> can you stand out on the open platform of a
> private car?
>
> 66

Sure, as long as you're in the station and not moving.

ABB Wrote:
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> They have always allowed private cars on the ends
> of their trains as long as they go from the start
> of the route to the end of the route. No set offs
> enroute. Also and pay the new higher charges.
>
> Posted from Android

I think Amtrak's policy also allows PVs on and off at intermediate stops when the scheduled station time exceeds 20 to 30 minutes

WP17

WP17 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ABB Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They have always allowed private cars on the
> ends
> > of their trains as long as they go from the
> start
> > of the route to the end of the route. No set
> offs
> > enroute. Also and pay the new higher charges.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> I think Amtrak's policy also allows PVs on and off
> at intermediate stops when the scheduled station
> time exceeds 20 to 30 minutes
>
> WP17

Amtk publishes a list of authorized on and off points for PV's.

Sorry, no, not at intermediates.  Philly is a prime example, 42/43 lay over 25-30 minutes for power and direction change, will not allow PV's on or off rear of train. If you want to go to Pgh. on the rear you ferry your car to Sunnyside and back. That nearly doubles the cost. Otherwise you're coupled behind the outgoing engine, where no PV owner wants to be.

PRR1361 Wrote:
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> Sorry, no, not at intermediates. 

NOT TRUE!

> Philly is a
> prime example, 42/43 lay over 25-30 minutes for
> power and direction change, will not allow PV's on
> or off **** of train.

NOT TRUE!

> If you want to go to Pgh. on
> the rear you ferry your car to Sunnyside and back.
> That nearly doubles the cost. Otherwise you're
> coupled behind the outgoing engine,

AH HA, THE TRUTH COMES OUT! OH WELL!

> where no PV
> owner wants to be.

WAH WAH WHINE WAH.

With all due respect to those that own PVs: Being able to have a PV on an Amtrak train is a privilege.

Contrary to popular belief, no one is entitled to what ever they want when the want it how they want it.

Is our federal government (which includes Amtrak) a mess? Yes. Why? Because it is run by special interests and "give me what I want and I will vote for what you want" politicians. 

You want a better Amtrak policy? Change the overall public opinion of the need for Amtrak.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/20 09:24 by jst3751.

I can see some limitations on PV haulage and set-out/pick-locations, but they went too far.

That said, I do get tired of PV owners whining about where in the consist their cars should be. In the summer of 2010, when the CZ still had cut coach and sleeper at Denver, it took yet another 20 minutes of switching on #5 to place the 4 PV's on the new rear end of the train. We already 2 hours late and lost any ability to make up time. They should have been ahead of the baggage car in the first place out of Chicago. I don't frankly care about their rear end view of wanting to be away from the engines. 
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/20 09:32 by joemvcnj.

part of the reason i paid the $$ for a private car trip was to be at the rear of the train and ride on the rear platform.

i was out on that rear platform for the 1st snow of the season over donner.  i sure couldn't of had that view from ANYWHERE else in the train.

i think amtrak should be soliciting private car moves for the extra revenue they could USE.  obviously, i would hope that the rule prohibiting passengers standing out on the rear platform would be abolished as i think that would INCREASE the demand for riding in a private car..........

66



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/20 10:01 by goneon66.

goneon66 Wrote:
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> part of the reason i paid the $$ for a private car
> trip was to be at the rear of the train and ride
> on the rear platform.

I completely understand that. When I spend money on discretionary travel, I weight out cost verses amenities verses what is possible and what is not possible and so forth and so on.

However, since non-commuter and non-regional passenger rail transportation in the US is a complete mess since it is being completely backwards, it is not going to be possible to enjoy PV moves like we all want to. Yes, there are some allowances now.

The only way to really fix medium and long distance passenger rail transportation is to have the rail infrastructure government owned and the rail transportation providers (freight and passenger) privately owned with some sort of subsidy for basic passenger transporation ONLY. (Coach seat and a snack bar.) 

THEN the market will bear what the market will bear.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can see some limitations on PV haulage and
> set-out/pick-locations, but they went too far.
>
> That said, I do get tired of PV owners whining
> about where in the consist their cars should be.
> In the summer of 2010, when the CZ still had cut
> coach and sleeper at Denver, it took yet another
> 20 minutes of switching on #5 to place the 4 PV's
> on the new rear end of the train. We already 2
> hours late and lost any ability to make up time.
> They should have been ahead of the baggage car in
> the first place out of Chicago. I don't frankly
> care about their rear end view of wanting to be
> away from the engines. 
>  

Putting the cutoff coach behind the baggage car would be a lot simpler, I would think.  

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> goneon66 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > part of the reason i paid the $$ for a private
> car
> > trip was to be at the rear of the train and
> ride
> > on the rear platform.
>
> I completely understand that. When I spend money
> on discretionary travel, I weight out cost verses
> amenities verses what is possible and what is not
> possible and so forth and so on.
>
> However, since non-commuter and non-regional
> passenger rail transportation in the US is a
> complete mess since it is being completely
> backwards, it is not going to be possible to enjoy
> PV moves like we all want to. Yes, there are some
> allowances now.
>
> The only way to really fix medium and long
> distance passenger rail transportation is to have
> the rail infrastructure government owned and the
> rail transportation providers (freight and
> passenger) privately owned with some sort of
> subsidy for basic passenger transporation ONLY.
> (Coach seat and a snack bar.) 
>
> THEN the market will bear what the market will
> bear.

You think the government would even do a great job if that was possible?

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