by RandallW
From the March 2023 reports at https://www.amtrak.com/reports-documents, which means numbers are through March: The Cardinal is an average of 68 minutes late in March, and 73 minutes late from April 2022-March 2023.
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Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 6:02 am I realize and respect that Mr. Trainguy holds differently in that he has noted here of a desire to have "The Vacationer" restored (a BOS-NH-NYP-PRR-WAS-RF&P-RIC-ACL-JAX-FEC-MIA train that did not handle passengers at NY Penn), but just think of the savings Amtrak would realize if they simply told the political forces in Boston that we are truncating 448-9 at ALB and eliminating the through Boston Chicago Sleeper and Coach lines.I have to wonder how much of a net savings there was when 448/9 only ran BOS-ALB back in 2004-2008. The timing was such that the service would need two trainsets, each of which only made a single five-hour, two-hundred-mile run per day; that's two baggage cars, four coaches and two cafe cars, spending most of their time idling in the yards.
No more having to maintain parts inventory for Sleepers at BOS or Mechanical forces qualified to work on them; no need to have linen supplies.
For that matter, no need for Sleeper passengers assigned to the existing Boston sleeper line to have to "listen to the music through the night", as that line is placed at ALB on the head immediately behind the engines.I do not personally recall being irritated by "the music" on my BOS-CHI travels; of course, the last one was a decade ago, and there was a baggage car between me and the power. What I do recall being irritated by was how narrow the foot of the bed was in the Viewliner I roomette.
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 12:12 pm I hope it goes without saying I respect your views, Mr. Schweppe, but again I must point out that having a Sleeper tied up in Boston - an out of the way place so far as Viewliners go - means that there must be spare parts and qualified Carmen and electricians to work on the car during its turn. It could even mean having to have a protect car assigned there.I fully agree that there are costs associated with running a single sleeper to BOS. Besides sleeper maintenance and linens, there's also the need for the BOS commissary to support two different cafe car menus: the national one and the Northeast Corridor version. (Presumably, similar concerns apply in PDX regarding 27/28, although the cars in question are Superliners rather than Viewliner sleepers and Amfleet cafes and coaches.)
Further, Amtrak must have a vendor to supply linens, not required by any other train serving Boston.
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 2:30 pm Mr. Schweppe, what if the Commonwealth of Tax was prepared to fund Busteetoots for more than just one E-W train? Might that be a fair trade-off to be rid of 448-449?I've been "Busteetooted" once on the Lake Shore Limited; once was one too many times. No, thanks.
Perhaps the Flying Yankee will be resurrected over the B&M.Last I heard, the State of New Hampshire owned the Yankee and wasn't doing anything to restore it, so I'm not going to hold my breath.
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue May 23, 2023 9:11 am Mr. Junkie. you now hold a yard job @ ALB?Have held a regular yard job for 6ish years with a couple six month breaks. Being number 12 in the terminal helps and some of the guys in front of me would rather work the road.
urr304 wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2023 8:29 pm I have not gone back far enough, but I see there is bus service between Albany and Boston. How long will this be? Just wondering?It is the annual kicking of rocks by CSX they shut the railroad down except for a couple of days a week every June, usually weekends. If you need to make a trip consult a live agent. I may be able to find a bid sheet still kicking around if anyone has questions on which days and which direction the train will be traveling.