Time For "Same Old"...Fare Increases, Service Cuts

lstone19 wrote:An article in the Tribune this morning (sorry, no link as I saw it in the Kindle edition) says most of the service cuts are off the table in favor of a 20% fare hike. Article says their survey indicated passengers would rather see a fare hike than service cuts.

i noted same from a Local NBC News report last evening; thanks for learning of print news coverage, Mr. Stone, and to Mr. Lurker for linking to same.

I think it a "very safe" assumption that here in "the Land of the Burlingtons", riders would sooner pay what they must without having service cuts. That 1140P departure, BNSF 1299, "on the block", in addition to being my "back up' for a lengthy CSO performance, would appear to be needed for those attending sports events where the several venues are "not exactly" next door to CUS or C&NW.

Oh and pay what you must; anyone care to check out New York area rail fares?

Gilbert B Norman wrote:I think it a "very safe" assumption that here in "the Land of the Burlingtons", riders would sooner pay what they must without having service cuts.

The Metra fare system has a 20% discount for 10-ride passes and a 40% discount for monthly passes built in. The 10 rides are good for a full year, so even if an occasional rider expects to make five round trips in a year they can get the discount (and if they lose the ticket after four round trips they break even). The $7 weekend pass could be the best deal, depending on how far one wants to go.

Perhaps reducing the discounts might be part of the plan?

Gilbert B Norman wrote:Oh and pay what you must; anyone care to check out New York area rail fares?

Metra fares are available here although broken down by zone not distance traveled.
Which system in the New York area would you like us to compare it to?

Comparo?

http://mta.info/mta/fares/NHTicketOffice.htm

As info; GCT-Larchmont 18.7mi CUS-Clarendon Hills (D) 18.2

Where I grew up in New Jersey is in the 25 to 30 mile range that would be a Metra F Ticket. A Metra F monthly is $128 ($153 after a 20% increase). The NJ Transit monthly for that same distance is $308.