MADD spokeswoman says....
Posted on 08/02/2007 8:09:15 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
WASHINGTON (AP) - Amtrak is trying to gin up new business by offering $100 in free alcohol to customers on some overnight trains. The national passenger rail company is making the unusual offer to promote a new high-end service being offered on a trial basis for certain sleeper car trips.
Members of Amtrak's guest rewards program—the railroad equivalent of frequent fliers—can get a $100 per person credit for alcohol between November and January.
The offer of free drinks comes on top of the dinner wine that is already included in the cost of a ticket for GrandLuxe trips on the California Zephyr—chugging between Chicago and San Francisco—the Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles, or the Silver Meteor between Washington, D.C., and Miami or Orlando, Fla.
At about $6 for a house wine or $7 for a top-shelf scotch, that credit could fuel a long ride. The credit would not go nearly as far for, say, a $250 bottle of Dom Perignon—also available.
Christina Messa, vice president of marketing for GrandLuxe, said the drinks promotion is part of an effort to revive some of the luxury of old-fashioned, cross-country train trips.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving questioned whether $100 in free alcohol was too much.
"This sounds like a lot of credit toward possible overindulging," said MADD spokeswoman Misty Moyse.
GrandLuxe offers separate cars, with their own private dining and lounge sections, attached to regular Amtrak trains. Tickets for such trips range from $789 per person for a two-day, one night trip on the East Coast to $1,599 or higher for three days and two nights for travel to or from the West Coast.
Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Morero said the goal is to entice people to try the new, high-end sleeper car service. The free alcohol promotion "is a test run so we're going to see how our passengers respond to it," she said.
In Long Island, N.Y., the commuter rail company considered ending alcohol service out of concern some passengers might disembark at their destination and drive home while they were drunk. The proposal was shelved after some patrons opposed the idea.
...Ozzy Osbourne
Believe, you need a lot of booze to ride Amtrak.
The trains are filthy; the help is comatose; and their schedules are a joke.
Other than that, it’s a pretty swell service.
“Mothers Against Drunk Driving questioned whether $100 in free alcohol was too much.”
As long as the driver of the train isn’t getting free alcohol, MADD doesn’t have a dog in this fight.
This train has got a Bar car, this train.
This train has got a Bar Car, this train.
And as this train goes down the line
I’m gonna help myself to beer and wine
This train has got a Bar Car, this train.
That’s harsh. I take Amtrack between NYC and D.C. often, and, aside from occasional track or mechanical delays, the service has been outstanding.
MADD is neo-prohibitionist. They want all alcohol banned, but they can’t just come out and say that because they’d become the laughingstock of the nation.
Besides, on Amtrak $100.00 buys, what, maybe 4 beers and a bag of pretzels?
You forget, MADD is the modern version of the Temperance Society.
What’s wrong with free booze? I like free booze.
Agreed, MADD doesn’t have any say in this. Anybody traveling down the east coast, or across the continent to the west coast, will be well sober by the time they reach their destination. That is, if they don’t use $50 credit at once and binge drink. Binge drinking is bad, very bad *shudders*
I said, Train Kept A Rollin' all night long
Train Kept A Rollin' all night long
Train Kept A Rollin' all night long
Train Kept A Rollin' all night long
With a heave, and a ho
But I just couldn't tell her so, no, no, no
Well, get along
Sweet little woman get along
On your way
Well, get along
Sweet little woman get along
On your way
I'm in heat, I'm in love
But I just couldn't tell her so, no, no, no!
I will never take a cross country trip on Amtrak again, I don’t care how much booze they give me. I’d have to be drunk to do that again....comatose drunk.
Not long ago I rode Amtrak from South Carolina to Michigan. Coach was about $300. Sleeper car about $1500.
They're going to offer this service on the California Zephyr. I think it's time to book a trip.
I have nothing but good things to say about the service I've received on Amtrak. And I've taken more than just a few cross country trips with them.
Amtrak is the last civilized mode of travel left to Americans. It's just a real pity the private sector has been so effectively shut out of the passenger train market in this country.
L
The problem is....that’s just two beers on an AMTRAK train.
We just took the Amtrak Cascades from Vancouver to Seattle and had a wonderful trip. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, the cars were clean and the staff was friendly.
Sadly, no free booze. I did cough up the $10 for a small bottle of an acceptable Cabernet.
Wasted years, huh? Clever FReepr name.
lolol
Sounds like the voice of experience talking.
Nah, just got the name from a song.
But yes, I’ve had bad experiences from binge drinking.
While I didn't go completely across the country, I'll never get on another bus as long as I live. It took 54 hours to go from Kansas City to NYC... Then I had to get on the subway, and head to Yonkers! Never again.
Mark
I'm a member of Amtrak's rewards program. If they offer me that $100 of free alcohol, I may very well have to plan my next major trip by Amtrak instead of by car ;)
Yes, I'm 21.
Augh!
Well then, screw Amtrak, my next trip will be by car.
Most of these trips are 3-4 DAY trips... at $7 a glass over 4 days, that’s what? Maybe 10-15 drinks over 4 days assuming every drink you take is a cheap onewhile you can’t drive yourself anywhere, you are on a train. MADD needs to get a life.
Errr ticket man.... yes... I’ll order a round of whatever the conductor is drinking? BTW.. is his name Casey Jones?
“Believe, you need a lot of booze to ride Amtrak.
The trains are filthy; the help is comatose; and their schedules are a joke.
Other than that, it’s a pretty swell service.”
***
Agreed. Instead of the free booze, why doesn’t Amtrak put some money into fixing the trains and actually providing some service. At a time when flying is a pain in the rump and gas prices are so high, Amtrak could make some money as an alternative way of travel. But nooooooooo!!!
<”This sounds like a lot of credit toward possible overindulging,” said MADD spokeswoman Misty Moyse.>
Oh, go soak yer head. Man, I’m sick of these neo-prohibitionist nanny types. And I hardly even drink anymore.
One main problem with this country is that our passenger rail system is worthless. Now I will preface this by saying I am pretty much a radical libertarian but I really think we need to beef up our rail infrastructure if we want to prepare for our future. The reason that Amtrak loses so much money every year is because instead of cutting ticket prices and filling some seats, they price themselves out of the picture and fill NO seats.
There are 2 trips I take 6 times a year each, that I would be HAPPY to take the train to, but it’s just out of the question:
Leave Boston on Friday, to Rochester NY, returning on Sunday = $167
Leave Boston on Friday, to NYC, returning on Sunday = $202
How is this acceptable? I can get to Rochester NY from Boston on 1 tank of gas, so let’s say round trip, $90 including gas and tolls, round trip.
As our metro areas get bigger and our population increases, we should really start to think about beefing up our rail infrastructure even if it means paying for it with bonds or taxes now, if it will build us up for increased efficiency with our grown later.
I would welcome thoughts and comments.
Thank you for the link! My husband is a train buff and I think he might like a trip like this. We travelled on the last real California Zephyr trip through the Rockies years ago and it was such a nice trip. He also travelled in Europe on the Orient Express. The GrandLuxe service looks like it would be a great time.
LOL ping!
So they offer $100 in free booze, but if you take them up on it they throw your butt off like they did that guy in the middle of a national forest?
I suspect this will go the way of free Mexican food at dance clubs after happy hour. The smell on the dance floor could evacuate the entire club within minutes.
One if by belch, two if by gass-pass.
(sorry)
I've taken the New York Penn Station train to Orlando at least a dozen times. On the average, the train is two to three hours late. Once we were 6 hours late. The trains are invariably filthy and the staff is rude and hostile. Therefore, I was totally suprised when we took the Auto Train from Lorton, Virginia for the first time last year and discovered that the train was clean, the staff cheerful and helpful and we arrived in Florida on time.
I understand from others who take the cross country trains and the accella trains to and from DC that the serice is excellent too.
I can only conclude that it is just the east coast run that is neglected. I wonder why?
Glad I don’t ride Amtrak.
The train on that link is way cool! I have never taken a train but that looks like a very nice way to see the country. I may have to consider something like that.
The ride through the Rockies is worth it! We live in Denver and have taken several train rides through the Rockies. You get to see beautiful scenery that you cannot see on any road. And it is a very peaceful and relaxing trip.
I took the same trains and service is dreadful.
That sounds like a very nice trip. And not having to drive is a bonus to me.
Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car.
Penny a point ain't no one keepin' score.
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle
Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor.
We take the Auto Train every year to Orlando and we love it. The service is fine, the food is good, at least our sleeper car is always clean. The schedules are sometimes dorked up but that is because Amtrak doesn’t own the actual line so CSX freight trains have priority. This year, one derailed and our Amtrak train was delayed two days! We bit the bullet and drove. That happened one other time on the return trip because of flooding.
More proof that these nags are nothing more than a nanny-state temperance society. What the hell is wrong with having a whole lot to drink on a two-day train ride?
Glad you enjoy the auto train...but it’s terribly expensive, is it not?
Yep, these booze deals...all are tied to $1000 tickets or more. To be honest...why would you pay $1500 for a sleeper cabin to go from Chicago to Seattle...when I could pay $700 round-trip and have a $150 room with real service? AMTRAK is for train-addicted folks and the rest of us can just smile at the offer.
In the summer of 1980, I took an Amtrak train from Los Angeles to Detroit. The air conditioning didn’t work in the hot weather, and the windows wouldn’t open, so passengers desperate to stay cool quickly drank up the train’s supply of beer. When it stopped at La Junta, Colo., a mob of passengers stormed into a small convenience store near the station in an effort to purchase suds.
By the way, the train was 14 hour late getting into Detroit and 12 hours late on its return trip to Los Angeles.
For some strange reason, I have never taken another ride on Amtrak.
The cheapest plane ticket I could find was 500 and something, and I wasn’t in a hurry.
And of course, "romance" on the train is great! ;)
Stupid question.
I suggest you take your family on an Amtrak ride and be sure to ask for the car full of loud obnoxious drunks.
Enjoy.
LOL is right! AMTRAK just refunded us $100 plus another $200 in certificates for suffering related to our storybook trip across America!
8mm
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