Another railroad related question from me....(Amtrak employees,please pay attention)?

Question

What would be some VERY positive ways to increase ridership on all Amtrak trains?

Answer 1

People say Delays but it isnt Amtrak's fault! it is the Freight RR's.

Answer 2

I think Amtrak's biggest downfall is the massive delays. I heard that  the Coast Starlight is always late-often several hours and even the regular scheduled ride is a long one.

If trains had a better on time record that would be good PR for increased ridership.

Answer 3

I adore taking the trains in Europe, but in the U.S. they are so inaccessible and don't have good schedules and there are few runs, they run excessively late and it keeps people from riding. I really wanted to take a train on the West coast but they only had one a day and it left in the middle of the night in a seedy neighborhood and on top of all that I heard it frequently runs several hours late, so Amtrak wonders why they don't have a better ridership! Yawza.

Answer 4

Indeed, reducing delays and running trains more on-time would likely help to increase ridership.  However, doing so requires cooperation with the private freight railroads, particularly the Class Is, as Amtrak operates all of their intercity trains over private rail lines.  And, because Class Is have little incentive to help Amtrak as their passenger trains only get in the way of time sensitive, profit-earning, freight trains delays will probably always be a problem to some extent (at least while Amtrak uses private rail lines to operate intercity trains), although things have improved over the past 5-10 years or so with Class Is doing a better job working with the passenger carrier.  

More within Amtrak's control to increase ridership include things like returning onboard prepared meals to intercity trains and other onboard amenities, purchasing new or overhauling current equipment, and most importantly adding more intercity trains.  

Keep in mind that all of the above require that Amtrak (a federally-funded and managed company, and always has been since its creation in 1971) receives more funding than its current level of just over $1b annually (and if you think this is a lot of money simply compare it to what highways and the private [yes, private] airlines receive annually).  And it should be mentioned that with the funding it does receive the passenger carrier actually does quite well as far as providing quality service it is only that Amtrak is a huge asset that is extremely underutilized and could do wonders if it was properly funded (for example, reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, etc.).

Answer 5

More funding so there is more routes.

For instance to get on a train from where I live is a 3 hour drive and there are tracks right here that had passenger rail service with large ridership during the "old days".

For people to want to ride a train, the train has to get you where you need to go.

Answer 6

remodel coaches,eletrical sockets for dvd,lap tops, cd players,cheaper food prices, better seats,more like the airlines.

Answer 7

Make it cheaper!!! I'd ride more often if it didn't cost me more then the price of 3 tanks of gas. The idea of a tax always made sense, but not with the lack of public support we have now. Also those 3 week old sandwiches on the food bar don't help matters. And maybe pillows that aren't stuffed with 3 paper towels, seriously they are that bad.

Answer 8

1. Lower fares. Train fares are higher than airline fares. It's the least they can do. 2. Amtrak should invest into high speed rail on major cross country routes and get off the freight rail. 3. Improve the observation car. Make them more entertainment theme. Clean up the stations. Union Station in L.A. needs a good home improvement..