Amtrak ridership hits record high...again

[K1052]

Amtrak ridership hits record high even as Republicans call for eliminating federal subsidies

By Associated Press, Published: October 10

WASHINGTON — Amtrak trains carried 31.2 million passengers in the fiscal year ending in September, the highest annual ridership since the railroad was formed in 1971, the nation’s intercity passenger railroad said Wednesday.

Ridership grew 3.5 percent over the past 12 months compared with the previous budget year, and ticket revenue jumped 6.8 percent to a best-ever $2.02 billion, Amtrak said. Ridership has increased every year but one over the past decade, and is up almost 50 percent from 2000.

“People are riding Amtrak trains in record numbers across the country because there is an undeniable demand to travel by rail,” Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman said in a statement. “Ridership will continue to grow because of key investments made by Amtrak and our federal and state partners to improve on-time performance, reliability, capacity and train speeds.”

At the same time ridership has been increasing, Republicans have stepped up their campaign to end federal subsidies to Amtrak. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has accused Amtrak of “Soviet-style” inefficiency and held several hearings devoted to criticism of the railroad.

The GOP platform adopted at the Republican National Convention in August calls for “the federal government to get out of way and allow private ventures to provide passenger service” in the lucrative northeast corridor between Washington and Boston — the heart of Amtrak’s operations.

Critics have complained that the railroad’s trains are slow compared to high-speed passenger trains in Europe and Asia. Last month, Amtrak began testing trains in the Northeast capable of reach speeds as high as 165 mph.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/amtrak-ridership-hits-record-high-even-as-republicans-call-for-eliminating-federal-subsidies/2012/10/10/94b8b8f2-12d9-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html

Since Romney and some other republicans have this as a priority to defund along with other discretionary spending it probably worth nothing that it is increasingly a service that Americans are demanding.

Also good luck cutting Amtrak and killing access for tons of rural towns that have limited or no other option. Even the most die hard Republican House member doesn't want to explain to their district why he killed a service they want.

 

[sunzt]

Rail is a good mode of transportation and fits various niches. However, there definitely needs more competition in passenger rail other than Amtrak. As ridership goes up, I hope the calls for more competition does too.

 

[monovillage]

Amtrak snack bars lost over $84 million last year. They've lost over $833 million in the last 10 years.
They can't even run a fucking snack bar and you're happy because they steal money from other Americans to pay for Amtrak travel? Fail, pure fucking fail.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/amtrak-snack-bars-lose-84-million-last-year/

 

[K1052]

Amtrak snack bars lost over $84 million last year. They've lost over $833 million in the last 10 years.
They can't even run a fucking snack bar and you're happy because they steal money from other Americans to pay for Amtrak travel? Fail, pure fucking fail.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/amtrak-snack-bars-lose-84-million-last-year/

Food service on long haul routes always lost money, even when private passenger rail was profitable in the pre-Amtrak/air travel era. Reform is however needed and they should probably contract out commissary operations.

Try to take away long haul routes and those congressmen will scream bloody murder since they don't want to be seen as responsible for cutting it to their constituents even if they ideologically want to do so.

 

[halik]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/amtrak-ridership-hits-record-high-even-as-republicans-call-for-eliminating-federal-subsidies/2012/10/10/94b8b8f2-12d9-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html

Since Romney and some other republicans have this as a priority to defund along with other discretionary spending it probably worth nothing that it is increasingly a service that Americans are demanding.

Also good luck cutting Amtrak and killing access for tons of rural towns that have limited or no other option. Even the most die hard Republican House member doesn't want to explain to their district why he killed a service they want.

REVENUE != NET INCOME

I don't understand why people focus on ridership rather than profitability (hell breaking even would be a start) when it comes to amtrak. If you drop the prices by 50% you can increase the ridership even more; that in no way make it a good idea.

 

[bfdd]

I'm thinking of using it over flying tbh. Seems like less hassle and more scenic.

 

[halik]

Food service on long haul routes always lost money, even when private passenger rail was profitable in the pre-Amtrak/air travel era. Reform is however needed and they should probably contract out commissary operations.

Try to take away long haul routes and those congressmen will scream bloody murder since they don't want to be seen as responsible for cutting it to their constituents even if they ideologically want to do so.

Any normal business would either
a) increase prices on the food offered to the point where additional food revenue = revenue lost from tickets not sold due to higher food prices

b) cut long haul food service to where costs saved = revenue lost from tickets unsold due to small selection of food.

No one in their right mind would run a money losing operation for 10+ years... unless it was losing someone else's money.

 

[Atreus21]

I'm thinking of using it over flying tbh. Seems like less hassle and more scenic.

has TSA made it to amtrak yet?

 

[halik]

I'm thinking of using it over flying tbh. Seems like less hassle and more scenic.

I was thinking the same until I found out that chicago-NYC train ride takes a full day and costs about 100 bucks more than flights for that afternoon.

 

[K1052]

Any normal business would either
a) increase prices on the food offered to the point where additional food revenue = revenue lost from tickets not sold due to higher food prices

b) cut long haul food service to where costs saved = revenue lost from tickets unsold due to small selection of food.

No one in their right mind would run a money losing operation for 10+ years... unless it was losing someone else's money.

Talk to Congress. Amtrak would like to drop the routes but they can't.

You've still got to have foodservice on a train that takes days to get from origin to destination.

 

[CycloWizard]

I'm thinking of using it over flying tbh. Seems like less hassle and more scenic.

That's fine as long as you have an extra week to travel cost-to-coast round trip. I love traveling by train but have not ridden Amtrak in years because it takes too long to get where I want to go. Slow trains and the lack of hierarchical (regional vs local) service turns what would be a 90-minute trip in Germany into a five-hour trip between St. Louis and Chicago for example.

 

[K1052]

I was thinking the same until I found out that chicago-NYC train ride takes a full day and costs about 100 bucks more than flights for that afternoon.

Medium and long haul travel is better served by air presently. Improvements to short haul rail trips are getting people out of cars and off shuttle flights. Amtrak has effectively captured the market along the NEC and most shuttle flights are gone.

 

[halik]

Talk to Congress. Amtrak would like to drop the routes but they can't.

You've still got to have foodservice on a train that takes days to get from origin to destination.

You have pricing power on those things, increase the food price and reduce ridership, which will allow you to make fewer long haul runs.

 

[Genx87]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/amtrak-ridership-hits-record-high-even-as-republicans-call-for-eliminating-federal-subsidies/2012/10/10/94b8b8f2-12d9-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html

Since Romney and some other republicans have this as a priority to defund along with other discretionary spending it probably worth nothing that it is increasingly a service that Americans are demanding.

Also good luck cutting Amtrak and killing access for tons of rural towns that have limited or no other option. Even the most die hard Republican House member doesn't want to explain to their district why he killed a service they want.

If it is a service Americans demand they should pay for it like any other service. Congress should drop the subsidies and drop any control over Amtrak. Meaning they can drop unprofitable routes.

 

[halik]

Medium and long haul travel is better served by air presently. Improvements to short haul rail trips are getting people out of cars and off shuttle flights. Amtrak has effectively captured the market along the NEC and most shuttle flights are gone.

Absolutely, I take amtrak between Chicago and Michigan every now and then. No qualms other than spotty 3G coverage.

 

[K1052]

That's fine as long as you have an extra week to travel cost-to-coast round trip. I love traveling by train but have not ridden Amtrak in years because it takes too long to get where I want to go. Slow trains and the lack of hierarchical (regional vs local) service turns what would be a 90-minute trip in Germany into a five-hour trip between St. Louis and Chicago for example.

If we're willing to spend the money on fully grade separated electrified HSR we can do it in 90 minutes. Germany spent that money, we haven't.

When the 110mph upgrades are complete to CHI-STL it will be 4.5 hours. Much superior to drive time.

 

[K1052]

You have pricing power on those things, increase the food price and reduce ridership, which will allow you to make fewer long haul runs.

They'd never get away with that.

 

[K1052]

If it is a service Americans demand they should pay for it like any other service. Congress should drop the subsidies and drop any control over Amtrak. Meaning they can drop unprofitable routes.

I agree if they also drop all subsidies to air and road transportation too.

 

[PokerGuy]

Ridership is up.... but they still won't make a profit. Sounds like a losing proposition -- even in favorable conditions when gas prices are high and people are looking to save money they still can't turn a profit. Time to let that business sink or swim on it's own, stop the subsidies.

 

[SheHateMe]

I'm thinking of using it over flying tbh. Seems like less hassle and more scenic.

Try doing a long distance trip on Amtrak and having to sit next to someone that snores loudly.

Eh...Next time, I will probably upgrade my ticket so I can get my own cabin thing.

 

[halik]

They'd never get away with that.

Link for any efforts? If it's a standard government enterprise, they'd have no incentive to reduce size and headcount...

 

[Genx87]

I agree if they also drop all subsidies to air and road transportation too.

Hey go for it. It wont make trains any more interesting or profitable.

 

[DougK62]

I looked in to taking an Amtrak and was surprised how expensive it was. I can get a plane ticket for the same or less.

 

[ichy]

Amtrak snack bars lost over $84 million last year. They've lost over $833 million in the last 10 years.
They can't even run a fucking snack bar and you're happy because they steal money from other Americans to pay for Amtrak travel? Fail, pure fucking fail.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/amtrak-snack-bars-lose-84-million-last-year/

The problem is that idiots in Congress force Amtrak to run long-haul passenger services that no one uses.

Amtrak should concentrate on areas where rail travel makes sense (areas with relatively short trips and congested airports like the Northeast Corridor.) Trains from New York to Florida are retarded.

 

[Jaskalas]

Amtrak snack bars lost over $84 million last year. They've lost over $833 million in the last 10 years.
They can't even run a fucking snack bar and you're happy because they steal money from other Americans to pay for Amtrak travel? Fail, pure fucking fail.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/amtrak-snack-bars-lose-84-million-last-year/

They spent money? That's GOOD, that's STIMULUS!!!

Why do you want to throw out those jobs?

Why do you want Americans unemployed?

Why do you hate America?

We need more spending, more stimulus, more jobs! More amtrak snack bars! :ninja: