Just another example of the Wal-marting of America. Aim for the lowest common denominator. I suppose they figure that air travel has become so uncomfortable and demeaning that even with these cuts they are still ahead of the game.
Only a railroad - government-run railroad, at that - could lose money selling food and alcohol to a captive audience.
Amtrak should sub-contract out all the food/beverage service just providing the equipment.
A restaurant chain, run by professional managers and not held down by union BS and wages, should be able to make money from this captive audience.
George Dubya Bush in stalled Joe Boardman for a reason; that is to destroy Amtrak. Mr. Boardman was no friend of Amtrak when he was the chairman of the AAR.
Another victory for the dogmatists on Capitol Hill. If they don’t like something, it shouldn’t exist.
This is depressing. It does seem to follow in the tracks of 50’s an 60’s CEOs when they killed passenger service. I’ve ridden the Autotrain and enjoyed the amenities. Now I wonder if it would be worth it again. I also detest the smelly flying buses that pass for transportation. Air transport started suffering in the 80’s when in- flight air was recycled at 50% instead of the 15% with resulting stench. I am 6’ 4" and over 75 and the small top bunk in the sleepers has no appeal for me.
I’m not following Michael Morris’s logic when he states “There is always a minimum of 9 hours from the time alcohol sales are closed and passengers leave the train.” I see people in the dining cars and lounge cars all the time fill their guts with alcohol, then stagger off the train at the next station. Am I missing something?
The rich and Congress get to fly around in private jets. The Republicans not only want to kill Amtrak but stop service at regional airports. It is either drive or fly in the flying sardine can (even in first class). Even the bus service is only between major cities. Funding rail service is about allowing people to travel around the country. Not everyone can or wants to drive a vehicile for many hours.