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For a while, The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin) had 44 coaches and was over 1000m long. That’s the world record for regularly scheduled passenger trains.

If folks are choosing long distance transport according to what it looks like then they’d choose a jet airliner over an Amfleet train that looks like a jet airliner. Amtrak needs to differentiate itself from airlines by offering what they don’t - spacious interiors and big windows for the view.

I did this a few years ago. I went to the dining car early to make sure that I was finished breakfast and ready to get off the train as soon as we got to KCY. However, both the dining car attendant and the sleeping car attendant said I could take as long as I wanted for breakfast as long as I...

Sorry, but this is very misleading. The Government spends more total money on rail now than it did under BR, but the total number of passengers is much higher now than it was under BR. The per-passenger subsidy is significantly less. It is also worth noting that at the end of BR, the rail system...

Should there be a national network of government-subsidised passenger rail? Yes. Should that national network always be run in it's current form by the National Passenger Railroad Corporation? Maybe.

I know it isn't popular on these forums but End of the Line: The Failure of Amtrak Reform and the Future of America's Passenger Trains by Joseph Vranich is an interesting read.

I've just had a look through the reference section of the book and I can't see one time the Reason Foundation is cited. Most of the data seems to come from Amtrak itself. I also find it bizarre that you claim there is a pro-road and petrol influence considering the book is in favour of passenger...

Just wondering if any members have read Joseph Vranich's "End of the Line" and what they think about it. Vranich makes claims similar to those of the OP but is able to back them up with facts. Specifically, he refutes claims about other modes receiving more subsidies and that increased ridership...

Hello fellow Amtrakers, I am considering visiting your great country at the end of this year and as usual I would enjoy a few trips on Amtrak! One trip that I would like to do is LA to Chicago on the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle. I would definitely be paying for sleeping accomodation. Right...

There's just something special about the odour of a girl who has been riding in coach for 2 days...

Maybe things are different in America, but are you really wanting to be a conductor after you have a Bachelor's degree? Not saying anything bad about conductors. Just wondering if it's worth spending all that money.

Or what is actually required is passengers prepared to pay a fare that covers the cost of providing the service. Of course, for that to happen the subsidy on interstates and airports would have to be dropped too. Reduce taxes and let the people decide where their money should go by choosing to...

Only the engineer and conductor change along the route. Everyone else, including your sleeper attendant, work the entire route from Chicago to Seatle/Portland. You could tip as you board the train and that person will be with you for your entire trip. I prefer to tip as I leave the train...

Oh I've got some "special memories" of doing some horrible, horrible things in a bedroom on the Empire Builder. And the Capitol Limited. And The Cardinal. :giggle:

Started life as Union Station, renamed Penn Station shortly after but now officially goes by the name of Union Station again. Or so I heard.

Hang on a second... :giggle:

I've done 14 States plus DC in 9 days. Kept going to make 19 off 27. Admitedly, very little of that was in coach.

What's going to happen to ABQ if the SWC runs on the transcon?

I was in a roomette on a northbound SWC detraining in Kansas City about a year ago. There is a 20 minute dwell scheduled plus we arrived early. The SCA said it was cool if I wanted to hang around and enjoy a cup of coffee for a while. I'm not saying that's Amtrak policy but there is a chance of...

So um... I heard that Amtrak cancels a ticket if the ticketholder does not board the train at their station. Even if two seats are booked in the same name there will only be one person by that name boarding the train. Doesn't that mean the other ticket would/could be cancelled?