Philly Amtrak Fan
Engineer
It seems like most new trains (or revived trains) are lost causes. So maybe another option would be to increase possible Thruway connections, either to pick up new cities/markets or to "improve" service to various cities/markets.
I had mentioned largest metros without Amtrak train service: http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/66538-largest-metros-without-amtrak-service-how-to-serve-them/
Here are the biggest cities without Amtrak and Thruway connections listed in the Amtrak timetable:
San Francisco: Unknown from Emeryville/CZ, "Amtrak Thruway" from Emeryville/CS and Oakland/CS
Phoenix: Greyhound from Flagstaff/SWC, Arizona Shuttle from Flagstaff/SWC.
Las Vegas: Greyhound from Salt Lake City/CZ, "Commuter Services" from Kingman/SWC, Greyhound from Los Angeles
Columbus, OH: Greyhound from Pittsburgh/CL and Pennsylvanian
Nashville: Greyhound from Indianapolis and Chicago
Louisville: Greyhound from Indianapolis and Chicago
Baton Rouge: Greyhound from New Orleans/CONO
Dayton, OH: Greyhound from Pittsburgh/CL and Pennsylvanian
Colorado Springs: Greyhound from Denver/CZ. Greyhound from Raton, NM/SWC
Boise: Greyhound from Salt Lake City/CZ, Greyhound from Portland
Wichita: Village Tours from Newton, KS/SWC, Village Tours from Oklahoma City/HF
Madison: Van Galder from Chicago
Ogden: Greyhound from Salt Lake City/CZ
Scranton/Wilkes Barre from Philadelphia
Several markets listed in the previous post have no Thruway service.
I would say any "new" routes would have to be an existing bus that stops at or near an Amtrak station (if there are any intermodal station it would be a plus). Greyhound is the obvious choice and there are many routes via Greyhound. Martz is part of the Trailways brand. Would Amtrak ever consider teaming with Megabus? Megabus's Philadelphia routes go to 30th Street Station so no extra stops would be required.
The only bus routes I am somewhat familiar with is I know Martz Trailways runs many buses to/from New York (way more than to Philly). Currently the Philadelphia buses go to the Amtrak station (I have never ridden from Wilkes Barre to Philly although I have ridden from Wilkes Barre to New York). Maybe Martz can be talked to about making an extra stop to Penn Station for some of its routes. Ideally you could use Martz to Amtrak trains to Boston or Montreal or even the LSL. When I was at the Port Authority Bus Terminal I know there are buses to/from Allentown (not sure if there are buses from Allentown to Philly). Maybe they can set up service as well. Of course, you can take the subway between the Port Authority (42nd Street) and Penn Station (34th Street). Also, SEPTA goes from Jefferson Station near Philadelphia Greyhound and 30th Street Station.
I imagine there are buses to/From State College for Penn State students although I have never taken any. You could set up connections to/from Pittsburgh for the western CL or to/from Harrisburg for Keystone routes (Harrisburg is intermodal).
The Columbus, OH-Pittsburgh connection is horrible (requires a wait of many hours in Pittsburgh during the Greyhound shift). I'd suggest Columbus-Indianapolis to the Hoosier State although since there is only one daily train serving IND makes it tough. Another idea is to go from Columbus-Chicago. Maybe Columbus-Cleveland to LSL.
Feel free to suggest other ideas.
I had mentioned largest metros without Amtrak train service: http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/66538-largest-metros-without-amtrak-service-how-to-serve-them/
Here are the biggest cities without Amtrak and Thruway connections listed in the Amtrak timetable:
San Francisco: Unknown from Emeryville/CZ, "Amtrak Thruway" from Emeryville/CS and Oakland/CS
Phoenix: Greyhound from Flagstaff/SWC, Arizona Shuttle from Flagstaff/SWC.
Las Vegas: Greyhound from Salt Lake City/CZ, "Commuter Services" from Kingman/SWC, Greyhound from Los Angeles
Columbus, OH: Greyhound from Pittsburgh/CL and Pennsylvanian
Nashville: Greyhound from Indianapolis and Chicago
Louisville: Greyhound from Indianapolis and Chicago
Baton Rouge: Greyhound from New Orleans/CONO
Dayton, OH: Greyhound from Pittsburgh/CL and Pennsylvanian
Colorado Springs: Greyhound from Denver/CZ. Greyhound from Raton, NM/SWC
Boise: Greyhound from Salt Lake City/CZ, Greyhound from Portland
Wichita: Village Tours from Newton, KS/SWC, Village Tours from Oklahoma City/HF
Madison: Van Galder from Chicago
Ogden: Greyhound from Salt Lake City/CZ
Scranton/Wilkes Barre from Philadelphia
Several markets listed in the previous post have no Thruway service.
I would say any "new" routes would have to be an existing bus that stops at or near an Amtrak station (if there are any intermodal station it would be a plus). Greyhound is the obvious choice and there are many routes via Greyhound. Martz is part of the Trailways brand. Would Amtrak ever consider teaming with Megabus? Megabus's Philadelphia routes go to 30th Street Station so no extra stops would be required.
The only bus routes I am somewhat familiar with is I know Martz Trailways runs many buses to/from New York (way more than to Philly). Currently the Philadelphia buses go to the Amtrak station (I have never ridden from Wilkes Barre to Philly although I have ridden from Wilkes Barre to New York). Maybe Martz can be talked to about making an extra stop to Penn Station for some of its routes. Ideally you could use Martz to Amtrak trains to Boston or Montreal or even the LSL. When I was at the Port Authority Bus Terminal I know there are buses to/from Allentown (not sure if there are buses from Allentown to Philly). Maybe they can set up service as well. Of course, you can take the subway between the Port Authority (42nd Street) and Penn Station (34th Street). Also, SEPTA goes from Jefferson Station near Philadelphia Greyhound and 30th Street Station.
I imagine there are buses to/From State College for Penn State students although I have never taken any. You could set up connections to/from Pittsburgh for the western CL or to/from Harrisburg for Keystone routes (Harrisburg is intermodal).
The Columbus, OH-Pittsburgh connection is horrible (requires a wait of many hours in Pittsburgh during the Greyhound shift). I'd suggest Columbus-Indianapolis to the Hoosier State although since there is only one daily train serving IND makes it tough. Another idea is to go from Columbus-Chicago. Maybe Columbus-Cleveland to LSL.
Feel free to suggest other ideas.