Re: [Sunset Un-Limited] Digest for sunset-un-limited@googlegroups.com - 1 Mes...

[henry...@aol.com]

I haven't given this a lot of thought, but the new schedule is just that:  new.  So before we draft media releases about how great this is, let's think about it.  Without considering the implications for other cities along the route, just think about the LA arrival.

 

The projected arrival was during the 5 a.m. hour.  Some have suggested that it could be as early as 4:45 a.m.  The coach passengers will detrain, but the first class sleeper passengers will remain onboard and their sleepers will be moved from the platform to the yard.  And they will all remain sound asleep during this detraining and movement of their sleepers.  Right!  At 6:30 a.m., they will be expected to get out of their sleeper.  So this means they can sleep until 6:00 a.m. or 6:15 a.m.?  Then will their sleepers be moved back to the platform for them to detrain?  Or will they wheel their luggage from the sleepers in the yard to the station?  Or do the platforms go all the way into the yard, so it is just a long walk down the platform?

 

At best the new agreement is a "Win/Win" for UP and a "Win/Lose" for Amtrak (or at least its riders).  The UP gets a reprieve from fighting expanded Amtrak service.  It also avoids the argument over seven day-a-week service on the Sunset Limited.  Amtrak riders in some cities get better service hours (Houston and Tucson) while other cities get worse service hours (San Antonio and Los Angeles).  And Amtrak gains flexibility in the use of its Sunset Limited Superliner equipment.

 

And think about the situation in San Antonio.  More about that later.

 

Henry

 

In a message dated 3/15/2012 12:56:42 A.M. Central Daylight Time, sunset-u...@googlegroups.com writes:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/sunset-un-limited/topics

• [A_A] Re: [SunsetFriends] New Sunset Schedule eff. May07 [1 Update]

 [A_A] Re: [SunsetFriends] New Sunset Schedule eff. May07

"Richard L. Friedman" <rfri...@pacbell.net> Mar 14 04:13PM -0700  

Not terribly user friendly, I'd say, but GB is correct that at that hour at what is still LAUPT there are commuter trains running in and out, and plenty of Amtrak trains needed to be readied for departure.
 
Most likely, it's Amtrak incompetence, but there may be an actual reason. 
 
Maybe they could get the coach passengers off, then move the train to the nearby yard, and let the sleeping car passengers stay there until they wake up.  Yeah, that would work.
 
--- On Wed, 3/14/12, gbla...@aol.com <Gbla...@aol.com> wrote:
 
From: gbla...@aol.com <Gbla...@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [A_A] Re: [SunsetFriends] New Sunset Schedule eff. May07
To: all_a...@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 2:59 PM
 
 
 
 
"Sleeping car passengers will be able to remain on #1 at Los Angeles until 630am."
 
 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 
 
Well, that's pretty generous of 'em, eh?!
 
Can you IMAGINE this happening during the railway age? Once again, we're reminded how fortunate we are to have ANY sort of full service, long distance trains in operation. [And whatever you do, don't complain! You'll disturb the karma.]
 
"We're making the trains worth traveling again. Now, GET OUT OF YOUR ROOM! It's almost dawn!"
 
[sigh]
 
Garl
 
 
P.S. Is there any _reason_ for this (I mean besides Amtrak management)? For example, is there an issue concerning track capacity during morning rush hour at the station which all too recently was L.A.U.P.T.?
 
Just curious.
 
GBL
 
 
 
 
 
 
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 
 
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