I agree that the Amtrak Station experience is not always great.
BUT, one of the things to keep in mind is that Amtrak doesn't own many (most?) of their stations. They're owned by the communities they're in or by private owners and Amtrak rents from them.
And unlike many businesses, Amtrak can't simply pick another location, they obviously need something on the tracks, ideally with some parking.
Yes, obviously stations that Amtrak owns, like NYP could be improved upon.
And fortunately, NYS is upgrading its stations, Albany was replaced close to 20 years ago, Schenectady has been replaced, Buffalo being upgraded, Rochester rebuilt, and Niagara Falls. I'm probably missing 1 or 2.
But, NYS has decent ridership.
I think in many communities it's a chicken and egg problem. "We have 1 train a day in each direction, barely anyone rides it. Why should we improve it?" and then of course, "Why should I ride the 1 train a day when the station is a dump and the train only comes at 3:00 AM".
One idea that occurs to me, if Amtrak is serious about increasing corridor service, tie it to certain station improvements and requirements. "Oh you want the 2 new trains a day to stop at your station? Great. For a town your size you need at least 5 parking spots, clean bathrooms, etc."
I will say, I've been fortunate, most of the stations I've stopped at I would say have been quite nice. Perhaps the smallest I've stopped at in years was Klamath Falls, and that was quite nice, but also daylight service. Had it been 3:00 AM, I might feel differently.
So, for many communities, I don't expect much of an improvement unless they get a local cheerleader.
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