Interesting presentation at the LOSSAN meeting, with a full maximum price chart for the Pacific Surfliner and discussion about possible going all-reserved and the issues that would entail - especially since a large percentage of Surfliner customers are actually Metrolink pass holders.
Thanks for posting the presentation. Along with details on on-time performance, ridership numbers in CA and national, customer service surveys, there is quite of lot of information on Amtrak's approach to maximizing revenue and adjusting passenger loads with "reserved" ticket sales. Provides insight in the strategy behind the bucket pricing on the NEC and other corridors which use it. And for the LD trains as well.
If the Surfliners are at the point where they routinely have overflowing peak time of day trains, but 1/2 full middle of the day trains, then it is time to either go to an all reserved system or peak train pricing strategies. We tend to look at bucket prices at just making us pay more for a ticket, but it also allows Amtrak to improve use of a limited resource, seat capacity. If the 7:15 AM departure to XYZ is at the top bucket price, but the 5:30 AM departure is still at the low bucket, those with flexible schedules and are price sensitive can change their plans and take the 5:30 AM train instead. Or if the 5:30 PM train back home on your business trip to XYZ is sold out, but the 6:40 PM is still available and at a medium bucket price, then change plans to get dinner and take the later train. This is how the NEC works.
Reserve ticket sales and bucket pricing should increase total ridership if done correctly. Lower the prices for the less full trains to increase ridership while using bucket prices to control the crowding on the peak period trains. With states now having to pick up the entire subsidy tab, odds are that we will see reserved tickets and bucket pricing implemented for more state supported corridor trains.
Interesting item in the meeting minutes: "Ms. Sakoda asked about leasing additional equipment. The response was that there is no bi-level intercity equipment available in the United States. Commuter equipment would not work because of connection problems." The entire intercity passenger rail system is bumping up against equipment limits. With the bond funding available from passing the authorizations for the CA HSR project, I expect CA will be placing orders for additional corridor bi-levels beyond the 42 units they will be getting in the combined 130 bi-level order.
The Amtrak ridership and revenue numbers in the report are a preview of the June Monthly report which should be out in a week or so. As Anderson notes, June was a better month than May for Amtrak nationwide with a +8.8% increase in revenue and +3.2% in ridership over June 2011. With gas prices heading back up, August & September could be good months for Amtrak overall.