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Amtrak partners with Random House for book tours
“Traveling by train will give them the opportunity to slow down…”
Ugh, as a railroader it pains me to read something along those lines. It makes our industry look like a quaint, antiquated, dying mode of transport. In reality, it is one of the most innovative, profitable, and efficient modes that there is (as a whole, not speaking for Amtrak itself).
I know the speaker had good intentions in saying this, but it can still be interpreted multiple ways, and they’re not all a positive point of view.
@ Zach Pumphrey - You make a good point, Zach, but take heart. I immediately thought of a passenger train’s spaciousness and comfort (no way a plane can match it, even in first class), the ever-changing scenery, and the chance to socialize with fellow passengers or “read a magazine and then you’re in Baltimore.” Not enough of today’s Americans know that joy. As more riders find their way back to the rails, I hope our country can find a way to let freight and passenger rail co-exist efficiently once again, but in a new, more innovative way.
An author was featured on CBS News last week, I believe. He traveled on the Empire Builder. Good scenery shots.
Using authors who have an audience of thousands or millions of readers is brilliant publicity.
The more people ride the rails as passengers the more they will understand the railroad industry.
The major railroads understood this back in the 1950’s. People who understand the railroad industry are less likely to legislate it adversely.
As an author and a railfan, I applaud both partners for this wonderful collaboration.
Great plan. And in addition to the book signings at the stops, how about having a book signing aboard Amtrak on each leg of her trip.
There’s nothing quaint or antiquated about using regular passenger rail for serious business travel–it’s a practical transportation solution and it’s smart publicity for Amtrak. I would agree with Zach Pumphery if the book tour events featured restored antique trollies in the destination cities or even mainline steam excursions, but that’s not the case here. An onboard book signing would be o.k. as long as the author had the degree of peace & privacy he/she required the rest of the time.
I’m certain that Mr. Bennett Cerf, (the founder of Random House) would feel that his company was not railroaded into this situation. He was also known as a punster. Check out, “What’s My Line?”