New Memo on private car movements by Amtrak

It sounds like the powers that be came to their senses on this.  Now let's get our full diner service back!

I’m not good at digesting or understanding this kind of stuff. Can someone please summarize what’s changing here or what is notable about this?

It sounds like Amtrak is opening up PV movements across the network again.

peter

Unless they have changed the pickup/dropoff locations list referred to in this document, what has actually changed? Amtrak had never fully shut down PV movement. They had just severely restricted pickup/dropoff locations.

Doesn't look like much has changed to me.  Looks very similar to the previous rule set.

I'm waiting to hear Mr. Seaboard weigh in on this topic.

From the grumblings I have been hearing a bit from my PV owning acquaintances, apparently they have jacked up the charges for handling PVs a bit more again. But that is hard to tell unless you have been affected enough to follow this in great detail.

The rates that went into effect on 01 May 2018 were $3.26/mile, so the soon-to-be-in-effect $3.67/mile represents something of an increase.

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/privatecars/Private-Car-Tariff-05012018.pdf

Well for EH Bowen I am here and I have my opinion.

First off: Amtrak is trying to look like a good guy by the Oakland Switch being added however if you read more into it they really didn't change much. Now you can drop a car off in OKJ off either 11 or 14 but both trains can not pick up a car there. So my friends at LA Rail are still unable to do any real day trips.

Second Off: the rate increase is roughly 20 something percent. So in words I've heard from others they are now trying to price us out of business. The higher the price goes the less trips we will receive because we market our service based on low unit prices. Hence with a 50 seat car my passenger fare on the Carolinian for the CLT-WAS leg at the old rate is 31.16. While at the new rate is 35.02. Which while it doesn't seam like a lot but when you are competing with charter bus companies on price it becomes a challenge.

With what we do with our PVs two fifty seat parlors we offer school field trips. So for us eventually if the rate keeps getting higher we're going to lose our customers.

Consider that a charter bus rents on the same route is $1,675 for 50 passengers. The unit cost is $33.50. So with the new rate we are now a more expensive option. And the prime market for field trip charters are schools who are often trying to be very frugal with their budget.

So to us the per mile charge is a critical part of our examples business plan. Now for people using sleeper lounges, and office cars it won't price them out just yet because it's a different market.

But that too will eventually reach the top of its parabola where demand gets lower due to the price. But for owners of day only cars that point is a lot closer.