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Old 06-12-2014, 07:13 AM
 
Location: Northville, MI
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I wonder why sleeper train services are obsolete in the US. On busy routes, why doesn't Amtrak run overnight sleeper trains to ferry people. For example, wouldn't it be nice if one could board Amtrak in the evening, enjoy a comfortable night sleep, and arrive at my destination the next day morning. These service could be used in routes like Boston-DC, NYC-Montreal, Raleigh-Atlanta, San Fransisco-LA, or any other pair of cities within 400 miles of each other which people frequently travel between. Why has Amtrak decided not to start any new sleeper train services in recent times, when it has the potential to improve ridership on busy routes and increase revenue.
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Old 06-12-2014, 09:50 AM
 
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I don't know if they even make domestically, a Pullman car anymore. Plus I don't think there are that many used passenger rails used like they were 60 years ago.

Years ago people took all kinds of Pullman, on the L&N, Illinois Central, Frisco, Spirit of Noew Orleans, Allegheny etc there were tons of Pullman cars on the lines, including fabulous dining cars, and club cars.

People shifted modes of transportation when flying became cheaper or affordable....better highway systems, more comfortable vehicles with a/c. Personal vehicles offered complete independence ! you could stop where you wanted, have a snack, visit an attraction, and have mobility of your own at you final destination. Also, you could make your own schedule and not beholden to the RRs.

There are still wonderful trips to be had across the entire nation of Canada using the CP ! all the way to the west coast, through the mountains !
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Old 06-12-2014, 09:56 AM
 
Location: Northville, MI
11,879 posts, read 14,143,262 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxxedOut View Post
I don't know if they even make domestically, a Pullman car anymore. Plus I don't think there are that many used passenger rails used like they were 60 years ago.

Years ago people took all kinds of Pullman, on the L&N, Illinois Central, Frisco, Spirit of Noew Orleans, Allegheny etc there were tons of Pullman cars on the lines, including fabulous dining cars, and club cars.

People shifted modes of transportation when flying became cheaper or affordable....better highway systems, more comfortable vehicles with a/c. Personal vehicles offered complete independence ! you could stop where you wanted, have a snack, visit an attraction, and have mobility of your own at you final destination. Also, you could make your own schedule and not beholden to the RRs.

There are still wonderful trips to be had across the entire nation of Canada using the CP ! all the way to the west coast, through the mountains !
I hear the Californian Zephyr is still a wonderful train ride to take. However, it mainly caters to tourists, not for the common person wanting to go to California in a fast and efficient manner. I was thinking of daily overnight sleeper trains for shorter distances, which can be covered in 1 night.

By taking an overnight train ride, you save yourself the stress of long drives, finding a clean motel to stay overnight, and finding places to eat nearby. All of that is taken care of by the train crew.

Among airlines, the only ones treating you like people are southwest. The rest treat you like prisoners for what you pay .
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Old 06-12-2014, 10:55 AM
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Location: Western Massachusetts
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Sleeper service is very expensive to run. Most of the shorter distance routes, fares cover most (75-90%) but not all of the operating costs. The sleeper service get much more subsidy, there's no reason to increase them.

As to why they're obsolete, most people would rather fly even if the service bad and get there. Long distance driving gives the advantage of stopping and sightseeing along the way, but I'd rather do an overnight train than a long drive which gets tiring.
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Old 06-12-2014, 12:35 PM
 
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Because airplanes are quicker. It's quantity over quality for most Americans, and thus a 5-hour trip in a crowded airliner is viewed as a better alternative than a trip in a luxurious train that takes a couple days. Plus, Amtrak is pretty mediocre, train trips (outside of the Northeast Corridor) are often slower than travel car, and many cities don't have Amtrak access in the first place. Our passenger rail system is lacking compared to ones around the world, and it shows.
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Old 06-12-2014, 01:12 PM
 
Location: The High Desert
15,995 posts, read 10,555,538 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adi from the Brunswicks View Post

Among airlines, the only ones treating you like people are southwest. The rest treat you like prisoners for what you pay .
I just flew Southwest from ABQ to San Francisco through San Diego....a horrible experience. Domestic airline travel is no longer a rational way of travelling. Apparently our standards and expectations have dropped so low that the airlines figure they can get away with anything. I would have gladly taken train and enjoyed the trip but I had to get there for a wedding and then get back hme. I often take a sleeper on Amtrak if I take a longer trip.
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Old 06-12-2014, 01:48 PM
 
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We take sleeping cars on vacations. But we also had a weekend trip from Cumberland, MD to Chicago - the timing makes Amtrak a far more rational choice for that than any other mode.
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Old 06-12-2014, 02:06 PM
 
Location: Youngstown, Oh.
5,496 posts, read 9,439,475 times
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In Europe, I've used overnight train trips in lieu of paying for a hotel. Because I already had a Eurail pass, I'd look for long, overnight trips, and zigzag around Europe.

I remember 3 different configurations of cars:
1. sleepers with 4 bunk beds per cabin
2. cabins with room for 6 people to sit with a luggage rack above, (I'd look for an empty or nearly empty one to lay across the seats)
3. an open car with all seats facing forward with an aisle down the middle. This last was the least comfortable for sleeping, and thankfully, the most rare configuration, in my experience.

I've never ridden Amtrak, so don't know how well this would translate to the US.
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Old 06-12-2014, 02:13 PM
 
4,277 posts, read 11,722,235 times
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Amtrak - Plan - Onboard - Sleeping Accommodations
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Old 06-12-2014, 02:13 PM
 
Location: Northville, MI
11,879 posts, read 14,143,262 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SunGrins View Post
I just flew Southwest from ABQ to San Francisco through San Diego....a horrible experience. Domestic airline travel is no longer a rational way of travelling. Apparently our standards and expectations have dropped so low that the airlines figure they can get away with anything. I would have gladly taken train and enjoyed the trip but I had to get there for a wedding and then get back hme. I often take a sleeper on Amtrak if I take a longer trip.
If you think southwest is bad, then fly American cross country next time. They only offered beverages once during the entire trip, and when my 85 year old grandpa asked for more water they served him with frustration .
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