AAAOOOW!
Posted on 01/22/2019 6:48:06 AM PST by Kaslin
If 1,700 people were being paid government wages to make grits, they should have been fired long ago.
I would NEVER have guessed 8 hours by rail from Pittsburg to DC. I’d have thought half that at most.
85,000 daily riders on 300 trains. I’d say that 1700 food service employees is reasonable. I hope the union will become genuinely optional, but the number of workers (presumably two shifts and seven days a week) is reasonable for that number of trains.
the long-long-short-long warning whistle
The Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago is a great trip provided you go first class (sleeper). It’s a forty-five hour trip through great country scenes.
Fifty years ago Delta was a fun way to travel... you'd get to the airport 15 minutes before takeoff and run out to board your plane. Meals were included and seats were wide and comfortable. Guess we can assume Richard Anderson keep with the tradition of making travel a form of punishment for everyone except phony 'elites'...
The condition of rails is why it’s so slow. Our trains have had to really slow down because they were derailing.
Obviously this particular rail line is antiquated. It takes twice as long as driving and there is only one inconvenient departure time. The government, via Amtrak should not be in the business of providing inefficient service and this line really should be cancelled in view of the bloated Federal budget and the shutdown.
If this guy wants an authentic rail experience, there are many privately operated tourist trains to choose from throughout the country. Many offer gourmet meals and special themes. I’m sure there is a nice on in WVA that showcases the beautiful scenery.
Why should the American Taxpayer subsidize her hot grits, white tablecloths and otherwise quaint experience?
Stop funding Amtrak.
Nice tax payer amusement ride you got there.
Ping for Willie Green
Ping for Dagny Taggart!
“Used to enjoy the Southern Crescent between Atlanta and New Orleans, back in the day.”
I have read good things about it. The Southern ran a first class train ‘til they turned it over to Amtrak in ‘79. I think it was ‘79.
I had heard for a number of years afterwards that Amtrak did a fairly good job of keeping up the reputation but I can’t speak for what it’s like now.
AAAOOOW!
I am probably the only person in the entire world reading about grits on FR as I was literally eating grits.
I have grits just about every morning, made by myself at home.
Still love trains but never ride on them.
Its a 10 trip from Charlotte to DC.. Can drive it at 6hrs.
But I can’t read, nap, and eat my take along Deli made ham and cheese sandwiches and a Beer !!!
I agree with the premise, rail cannot be an airline... If you treat people like they are on a cattle care, you will lose...
Amtrak however, just seems like it just wants to fail...
It can’t compete with the airlines on speed... but where it can blow them away is service... It doesn’t even have to be GREAT service... just ANY SERVICE will be better than domestic cattle soul crushing experience that is commercial air travel today.
However, Amtrak has to attract new customers as well... and this is where I just don’t see the effort. Maybe I am missing it, but can anyone tell me the last time they even saw ANY marketing for Amtrak?
Lord knows I can’t...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.