Passenger Trains > Trip Report # 49 Syracuse-Chicago- Dallas

Just made the first leg of my trip Syracuse-Dallas using 49/21.  So far so good. Got lucky and got a new Viewliner sleeper. Everything worked and no need for the Amtrak tool kit. Arrived Chicago OT ( would have been 25 early but got held for a unit coal train just outside Chicago). Had breakfast in the diner...not bad. Had the railroad french toast w/bacon. Not great but ok.

   Ridership VERY light. 2 hind end sleepers 80% empty. Coaches looked equally light. Between Covid and again changing days of service plus the normal slow season it's killing ridership. None of the 6 bedrooms on the 2 hind end sleepers were occupied. 

     Hoping my next leg on # 21 later today is as good. More soon. Happy New Year. Ross Rowland 

I wish you a safe, enjoyable and restful trip on the Eagle. Looking forward to your report.

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just made the first leg of my trip Syracuse-Dallas
> using 49/21.  So far so good. Got lucky and got a
> new Viewliner sleeper. Everything worked and no
> need for the Amtrak tool kit. Arrived Chicago OT (
> would have been 25 early but got held for a unit
> coal train just outside Chicago). Had breakfast in
> the diner...not bad. Had the railroad french toast
> w/bacon. Not great but ok.
>
>    Ridership VERY light. 2 hind end sleepers 80%
> empty. Coaches looked equally light. Between Covid
> and again changing days of service plus the normal
> slow season it's killing ridership. None of the 6
> bedrooms on the 2 hind end sleepers were
> occupied. 
>
>      Hoping my next leg on # 21 later today is
> as good. More soon. Happy New Year. Ross Rowland 

So Amtrak needs to lower their astronomical sleeper fares if they’re dragging them around empty. I swear I cannot believe the idiots running this company.

Posted from iPhone

alan2955 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> co614 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just made the first leg of my trip
> Syracuse-Dallas
> > using 49/21.  So far so good. Got lucky and got
> a
> > new Viewliner sleeper. Everything worked and no
> > need for the Amtrak tool kit. Arrived Chicago OT
> (
> > would have been 25 early but got held for a
> unit
> > coal train just outside Chicago). Had breakfast
> in
> > the diner...not bad. Had the railroad french
> toast
> > w/bacon. Not great but ok.
> >
> >    Ridership VERY light. 2 hind end sleepers
> 80%
> > empty. Coaches looked equally light. Between
> Covid
> > and again changing days of service plus the
> normal
> > slow season it's killing ridership. None of the
> 6
> > bedrooms on the 2 hind end sleepers were
> > occupied. 
> >
> >      Hoping my next leg on # 21 later today
> is
> > as good. More soon. Happy New Year. Ross
> Rowland 
>
> So Amtrak needs to lower their astronomical
> sleeper fares if they’re dragging them around
> empty. I swear I cannot believe the idiots running
> this company.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Reminds me of my hotel days. This is why the owner liked me over the general manager. I'd take walk ups in the off season for say $39-49 when the normal rate was $79-99 if the person would ask because making a couple of dollars over an empty room losing money was better. I had the best sales numbers year round. 

I hear that, once they overhaul Ammanagment (which is doubtful) Amtrak won't be able to get back to pre Covid Levels at all!

Take notice of the depot at Marshall, Tex. , the stop after Texarkana.  It's a jewel.

I wouldn't want to be stuck in a metal tube for 12+ hours and be forced to wear a mask. 

It's no wonder ridership is down 

altoonafn Wrote:
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> I wouldn't want to be stuck in a metal tube for
> 12+ hours and be forced to wear a mask. 
>
> It's no wonder ridership is down 
Maybe u could just wear a mask for the benefit of those around you, rather than thinking of it as something u are forced to do.  Of course, you would have to think about the welfare of someone besides yourself, which apparently may be very difficult.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> altoonafn Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wouldn't want to be stuck in a metal tube for
> > 12+ hours and be forced to wear a mask. 
> >
> > It's no wonder ridership is down 
> Maybe u could just wear a mask for the benefit of
> those around you, rather than thinking of it as
> something u are forced to do.  Of course, you
> would have to think about the welfare of someone
> besides yourself, which apparently may be very
> difficult.

I'm under no obligation to do something to myself for your benefit. 

Out of respect for the mask mandate on public transportation, as well as others, I will be avoiding public transportation until the mask mandates are lifted. Not because I am "denying science" or "want to kill grandma", but because it is extremely unpleasant and restrictive to me personally to breathe in my own breath behind a cloth mask. Speaking for myself personally.

It will be personal auto travel until this all passes through and the mask mandate is dropped. Again, not being political or denying the usefulness of the mandate. That is way above my pay scale and intelligence. But I guess there are millions like me who like breathing fresh, cool, moist-free oxygen that have the same outlook.

Look forward to using public transportation when and if this all passes.

Posted from Android



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/22 00:40 by cabsignaldrop.

altoonafn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wouldn't want to be stuck in a metal tube for
> 12+ hours and be forced to wear a mask. 
>
> It's no wonder ridership is down 

Seems like he is in a sleeper, where you would not have to wear a mask nearly all of the trip, so I'm failing to see the point of your comment.

altoonafn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'm under no obligation to do something to myself
> for your benefit. 

Congrats on succinctly capturing the driving philosophy of the noisy, cultish movement that has consumed so much of our public discourse in recent years.  It's not just the sociopathic view itself, but the need to advertise it everywhere, including most of your posts on TO, that I find both curious and sad.

Dave

co614 Wrote:
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> Everything worked and no need for the Amtrak tool kit.

I think this kit should be sold on Amazon or something..!
 

SantaFeCF7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reminds me of my hotel days. This is why the owner
> liked me over the general manager. I'd take walk
> ups in the off season for say $39-49 when the
> normal rate was $79-99 if the person would ask
> because making a couple of dollars over an empty
> room losing money was better. I had the best sales
> numbers year round. 

Did you ever read the book "Heads In Beds" ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/22 07:33 by restricted_speed.

altoonafn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm under no obligation to do something to myself
> for your benefit. 


My God we are screwed as a society.

Mask, no mask, it should all be good. Want to wear one, go for it. Do not want to wear one, that's OK too. If you are paranoid enough, just stay home. There are a LOT of people, myself included, that cannot wear a mask, not because we do not want to, but MEDICALLY we are unable. I have not been on a train since 2019, and it is something I miss, but it is not worth my health to get on one. There should be a exception for people with doctors notes, but our current lack of leadership made sure that was not a option.