by SouthernRailway
Amtrak is sometimes dismissed as an otherwise-irrelevant mode of transportation that caters to people looking for a land cruise.
In response, I’d say that Amtrak isn’t fancy enough to be a land cruise. From the rough Acela lounge at NY Penn Station to the dodgy stations in small-town USA tonthe dates Amfleet lounges to the cutbacks in dining car service, Amtrak isn’t fancy.
However, a sleeping car room is a very relaxing and nice way to travel, and upper-income people have more and more money to spend.
This why shouldn’t Amtrak cater to people seeking a land cruise? This could be a super-premium class of service at high prices: enough to make a profit and reduce the need for subsidies overall. I’m thinking:
1. A few premium rooms per long-distance train, with lots of space, nice bedding, and a nice lounge space with free drinks and nice snacks.
2. A ride to and from each train station, with no waiting in line.
3. Flexible tickets (canceling or changing without penalty).
4. Very gourmet meals.
All of this would be at a very high price and would be only a handful of rooms per train. This would be in addition to current service offerings.
Day trains could offer this in maybe a third of a car: ultra-luxury, at a high price. Maybe there could be a hybrid Viewliner sleeper-lounge-coach car?
Why not?
In response, I’d say that Amtrak isn’t fancy enough to be a land cruise. From the rough Acela lounge at NY Penn Station to the dodgy stations in small-town USA tonthe dates Amfleet lounges to the cutbacks in dining car service, Amtrak isn’t fancy.
However, a sleeping car room is a very relaxing and nice way to travel, and upper-income people have more and more money to spend.
This why shouldn’t Amtrak cater to people seeking a land cruise? This could be a super-premium class of service at high prices: enough to make a profit and reduce the need for subsidies overall. I’m thinking:
1. A few premium rooms per long-distance train, with lots of space, nice bedding, and a nice lounge space with free drinks and nice snacks.
2. A ride to and from each train station, with no waiting in line.
3. Flexible tickets (canceling or changing without penalty).
4. Very gourmet meals.
All of this would be at a very high price and would be only a handful of rooms per train. This would be in addition to current service offerings.
Day trains could offer this in maybe a third of a car: ultra-luxury, at a high price. Maybe there could be a hybrid Viewliner sleeper-lounge-coach car?
Why not?