With airlines charging for checked baggage, now would be a great time for Amtrak to start commercials advertising free baggage. For years railroads have been handling baggage for free, and they still do. Could show a Black/White film of a baggage car being loaded, and then move to a color shot of the same thing being done on a modern train. The way things are going with gas, Amtrak should be doing all they can to get people back on the rails. Mass transit systems are already feeling the increase in use, and many are maxed out already. Many cities that have done nothing in this area are feeling the pains now. If done right, this could be a very good time for Passenger rail service.
I'm with you, Jerry. I hope Amtrak and all the regional light rails have enough servicable equipment to handle the onslaught of new passengers, 'cause they are a'coming, and in droves.
I agree. Now is the perfect time for Amtrak to do some very aggressive marketing. Is their leadership awake, and up to the challenge? This is not a time for dallying! Boxcab E50
The House of Representatives threw their support behind Amtrak yesterday. Now it's up to a conference committee to iron out minor differences between the House and Senate versions, and for Bush to sign the resulting bill. If Bush vetoes the bill, the only result will be to force the House to waste more time having to override Bush's veto, for which they have the votes and have promised to do.
Bush has already threatened to veto the bill if it contains anything to do with guaranteed five year capital funding, which of course both versions do. This article from yesterday's Trains News Wire. Massive funding increase for Amtrak passes House June 12, 2008 WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed a $14.9 billion Amtrak reauthorization by a veto-proof margin, a massive victory for the national passenger railroad, the Associated Press reported. The Senate has already cleared a similar bill by a veto-proof margin, but the two bills have a few key differences the two chambers will need to work out. The last Amtrak authorization was passed in 1997 and expired in 2002; lawmakers had been unable to agree on a forward-looking blueprint until now. The five-year plan would reauthorize Amtrak funding, plus provide billions in matching funds states could use to establish rail corridor services. However, Congress would still have to find a way to actually appropriate the money. The House bill would open the Northeast Corridor to competition from private operators, a concession Democrats made that brought many Republicans on board. Included was John Mica, R-Fla., a longtime Amtrak critic. "Northing could be more fitting to bring before the Congress today, on a day when gasoline has reached $4.05 per gallon across the United States on average," said Mica. The broad margins by which the authorization passed both chambers are enough to override a threatened veto from President Bush. However, the Senate is likely to balk at opening the Northeast Corridor to private operators, and the bill that passed the Senate doesn't include that provision. That's currently the biggest obstacle to passing a bill that would represent the biggest victory for Amtrak backers in decades.
Ohhhh, I don't know about that. If he thinks he's making a principled stand he may very well do it. He's not looking for re-election at this point, so he has very little political risk in doing so. Anyway, I agree with the original point about this being the time for some aggressive marketing on the part of Amtrak. There's no reason they can't capture some of the market at least for the shorter trips up to maybe 1000 miles. Adam
The advertising of free baggage on Amtrak reminds me of the ad's Seaboard Coast Line had in the early 1960's "Want to go to Miami without a stop over in Cuba?" "Try the Seaboard Coast Line Silver Meteor or Silver Star" Something similar could be used by Amtrak regarding the flaws in air travel.
How about: Ride Amtrak and your bags ride free! -or- Ride Amtrak - we won't hassle you for having a middle eastern sounding last name. -or- Amtrak - not patting you down since 1971.
