I think Don is barking up the wrong tree. In Wisconsin we have small airports that are served by passenger airlines. Guess who pays for this nonsense? Guess whom pays for the air traffic control in my small town, yup you and I do. If a regular train were put on the riders will come. I did, when it used to run. The bigger question is why the delay?
One can get to Houston’s near downtown in around an hour from the the Florida panhandle. Why would anyone set foot on a bus ?
All your bags are free, too ! (SOuthwest Airlines)
Solution: restore a reliable ‘Sunset’, NOL-JAX, with First Class service. Buses are no substitute.
It’s worked beautifully in California and should have been expanded throughout Amtrak long ago. The Sunset, stretching all the way from LA to Florida, was often late and passed at odd hours. I would rather see convenient short haul service to Baton Rouge or across the Gulf Coast, or even to Houston.
Riding the bus sucks big time. We need trains! As others have posted here, what a hassle to get to Phoenix! More trains, less busses.
Have you EVER read a disclosure from Amtrak as to WHY the Jax-NOL service was lifted beyond the quick repairs after Katrina? I haven’t. And apparently, you won’t.
Mr. Weisberg, I can tell you from talking with the Director of Connectivity with the Thruway Busses that they desperately want to serve Phoenix again. Once the 2 year ban on new routes along the lines owned by UP, Amtrak will continue to pursue a daily Sunset and return to Phoenix.
As I know the people who are in charge of making this happen, I want to be fair because I know that they’d prefer using the train, too. Right now, bus is the more cost-efficient means of reconnecting the towns.
That being said, after reading the press release, I’m not too thrilled with the fact that anyone going east on the Sunset has to wait in New Orleans until 6p the next night to go into Alabama. I’m really surprised they didn’t work out a connection at Lafayette instead as even I looked into a temporary bus connection. The Greyhound schedule puts you in JAX at 9a the next day, despite the three transfers (one in Baton Rouge, which would be a nice added connection on top of the one from NOL; and one in Tallahassee).
Do not take long distance bus service.
Do not take long distance bus service.
I find it curious that a natural bus connection linking the Sunset to Phoenix is ignored, but Amtrak will serve the much smaller cities on the Gulf. Amtrak should make the Phoenix market a major goal, but seems to pretend that there is no market there. Until the Sunset returns to Phoenix, at least there should be a bus between Maricopa and Phoenix.
Jim Norton and Dr. William J. Mc Donald: Did either of you bother to read what was written directly below the red words “Add Your Comments”?
There is no excuse why Amtrak cannot restore the Sunset Limited between New Orleans and Jacksonville with the equipment they currently have. for living in Tampa Bay, I’d rather take a bus to/from Orlando, transfer with a Silver service train at Jacksonville, and then be on a cross country train trip for three consecutive nights. Riding a bus all the way from Tampa Bay to New Orleans requires an overnight bus ride, and a change of buses in the middle of the night.
Busses fill the gaps where passenger traffic density does not justify a train. Even many segments of Amtrak long distance routes don’t justify a train with their passenger count. But a bus can connect people to the train from more places, expanding the network and increasing the interconnectivity of the entire system, while helping fill the empty seats on those underutilized portions of long distance trips.
What a dumb idea. How about we stop cutting services and slashing routes and how about GROWING our way out of this mess by increasing frequencies, increasing amenities, and expanding the route network so that it is truly NATIONAL?
It’s like Amtrak has been kept on life support since 1971. It’s embarrassing that we as a country keep pretending that Amtrak as it exists is “viable”. It isn’t because of the chronic underfunding and government meddling. Either FIX IT or pull the plug already.
If I wanted to take a bus, I would take a bus. When my choice is to ride the train, that’s what I want to do. If tracks are still in place, Amtrak needs to run trains, not buses. As I understand it, part of the original agreement between the railroads and the government was that in return for being relieved of the cost of owning, operating and maintaining passenger trains, the railroads would accommodate their presence as run by Amtrak. Has that agreement run out? Can the buses. We need more trains.
I do not have an old copy of the Sunset’s NOLA-LAX schedule but I think Mr. Norton’s idea of re-establishing service with a separate train is a good idea. It will insulate operations on each side of New Orleans from delays and problems occurring on the other and allow through passengers a “reset” to get them back on schedule. The drawback is a forced overnight stay for people travelling across New Orleans but there are less entertaining places to have to layover between trains, I suppose.
Amtrak should forget buses and get some decent train service going through the East Gulf Coast Cities by restoring the former Sunset Limited. It is a badly needed service. Think of how many persons would enjoy going to New Orleans for a day trip or longer. Also, living in Biloxi, I see all kinds of tour buses full of people going back and forth to the casinos. Don’t you think they would prefer a nice comfortable train ride as compared with riding on a cramped up bus? I’m sure Amtrak and the casinos could also work out some package deals for additional revenue.
Talk about swallowing camels and straining at gnats ! The government approves spending on unproven military equipment and is so demanding and stingy with Amtrak. Puzzling , very puzzling .
Never rode the sunset, i do have family that live along the coast and it would be easier to ride the train than a bus because of the young kids. Can someone tell me where to get information on this debate so I can be better informed on this route. Thanks
Just reviewed the bus schedules. None of this does any good for the cities on the Florida panhandle that were previously served by the Sunset, albeit in the middle of the night in both directions.