Memphisdoug
Train Attendant
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2010
- Messages
- 19
Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to have a private railcar transported by an Amtrak train. Just curious
It's all on Amtrak's website, details of what stations you can travel from/to by private car and detailed costs (by following the link to the tariff, which is a downloadable PDF). There are a lot of variables.Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to have a private railcar transported by an Amtrak train. Just curious
The mileage does add up... but so do the other costs.At a base rate of $2.10 per mile per car it doesn't seem all that expensive ($1000 minimum).Probably a relative drop in the bucket compared to keeping a private car in Amtrak condition and other costs such as storage etc.
I used to be involved in chartering Greyhound about 20 years ago and I think we were paying $1 a mile then.
If you have to ask you can't afford it.Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to have a private railcar transported by an Amtrak train. Just curious
This is not true... the cost of a private rail car rental is within the budget of a majority of members on this forum (especially if it was to be split between multiple passengers). I think most people automatically think of "Cross Country Month Long Private Rail Car Trip with full time Waiter, and Chef" and forget that these cars can also be rented for a one day trip from say LA to San Diego and back with "Bare Bones" service that costs little more than Business Class on the Surfliner when evened out among 15 people.If you have to ask you can't afford it.Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to have a private railcar transported by an Amtrak train. Just curious
This is the one I've been interested in- http://www.calzephyrrailcar.com/Site/Welcome.html -some of the pricing isn't too expensive!Ive read lots about this topic through the years and have noticed that most "Private car" trips seem to be very pricey but perhaps this is when they are run by a profit making company! Perhaps the non-profit/all volunteer rail operations can run them cheaper, use their trains for fund raising and operation/maintaince expense! (I know steamers cost quite a bit more to operate/maintain,on the Texas Stare Railroad you pay a premium for the steamer trains but it's worth it IMHO!
There may be something to this idea of getting a large enough group of train buffs together (AU anyone?) to share a LD trip (LAX-San Diego would be ideal as the previous poster said!)IF the cost wasnt prohibitive! (I seem to remember the steamer from PDX-Michigan last summer was very pricey, even for short legs?) I for one wouldnt mind paying a comprable fare or even a little more to ride in some private varnish, especially a dome or lounge car!
Most of the trips Ive seen are for wealthy "LandCruise" types, perhaps if the cost was more reasonable, and some of the "perks" were eliminated more of us could ride these gems!
Was that in one of the coach cars though? If thats what they were charging for the super dome or the sky-top lounge then that was a deal!I clicked through the AAPRCO link and ended up at 261.com. They are offering a MSP-CHI trip for $99 per direction with a light food service. That is cheaper than some of the higher coach buckets on Amtrak on this routing.
I'm surprised that Philadelphia 30th Street is not on the list of stations you can travel from/to. Anyone have any ideas/thoughts as to why?It's all on Amtrak's website, details of what stations you can travel from/to by private car and detailed costs (by following the link to the tariff, which is a downloadable PDF). There are a lot of variables.Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to have a private railcar transported by an Amtrak train. Just curious
And it amuses me - particularly now you've said that - that back-and-beyond little city Huntington, WV is one of the 40 or so!I'm surprised that Philadelphia 30th Street is not on the list of stations you can travel from/to. Anyone have any ideas/thoughts as to why?
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