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  • Why don't Class Is haul more excursion/private car trains?

  • General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.
General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.

Moderators: mtuandrew, gprimr1

 #1364088  by SouthernRailway
 
Out of curiosity:

Given that:

Class Is have their own passenger train equipment, largely consisting of office cars;
Class Is have plenty of locomotives; and
Class Is seem to like positive publicity; NS and CSX have ads on financial TV shows pretty often;

then

Why don't Class Is haul more passenger trains? I don't mean regularly-scheduled ones, but perhaps more:

* Excursion trains for the general public
* Consists of privately-owned cars

Amtrak seemed to do well with its fall foliage trips; why don't Class Is offer those as well, using their own office cars or chartered third-party-owned cars? NS has done 21st Century Steam excursions; why not more of those? Do Class Is even haul private passenger cars? It seems like Amtrak is generally the one to do so.

It seems as though the Class Is could generate good publicity and goodwill by operating special passenger trains from time to time, without incurring the animosity that regularly-scheduled transportation companies (e.g., airlines) incur from the general public.
 #1364102  by CHTT1
 
Norfolk Southern seems to be the only Class 1 that regularly allows, and even sponsors, such trains. BNSF occasionally hosts special trains operated by outside groups. UP seems reluctant to run excursions open to the public. CN, CP and CSX have absolutely no interest. As Dutch said, insurance is a big issue. Some rail officials seems absolutely hostile to the idea. Also, I'm sure the big rail execs don't want the public messing up their private cars.