Amtrak recently added sleeper cars to trains 65-67, the overnight service between Boston and Washington. These trains currently continue to Newport News, Virginia, albeit without sleeper service south of Washington.
I think this train could get much more patronage if it instead continued to Charlotte, North Carolina. The late departure and early arrival in Washington would allow this train to serve every city in North Carolina at reasonable times. The sleeper cars should be carried throughout the route. This would also be the first one-seat service between Boston, New Haven, and North Carolina. And one thing the Night Owl has going for it is that the Cafe Car is open all night.
I made up this schedule, it's not showing the stops between Boston and Washington because they'd be the same as the current Night Owl. Only the parts south of Richmond Staples Mills Road Station are different, and I got those times by copying the headways of a similarly timed train.
If Amtrak continued 65/66/67 to Charlotte and upgraded to high-quality equipment and service, this could be a popular and profitable service. Of course it would ideally go on as far as Atlanta, but the current Georgia government has zero chance of supporting new rail service.
I think this train could get much more patronage if it instead continued to Charlotte, North Carolina. The late departure and early arrival in Washington would allow this train to serve every city in North Carolina at reasonable times. The sleeper cars should be carried throughout the route. This would also be the first one-seat service between Boston, New Haven, and North Carolina. And one thing the Night Owl has going for it is that the Cafe Car is open all night.
I made up this schedule, it's not showing the stops between Boston and Washington because they'd be the same as the current Night Owl. Only the parts south of Richmond Staples Mills Road Station are different, and I got those times by copying the headways of a similarly timed train.
If Amtrak continued 65/66/67 to Charlotte and upgraded to high-quality equipment and service, this could be a popular and profitable service. Of course it would ideally go on as far as Atlanta, but the current Georgia government has zero chance of supporting new rail service.
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