Many, if not most posters, suggested that you should be responsible for your own entertainment, above an beyond sightseeing, if needed and desired. Other suggestions included iPods, DVD players, and books. Being able to anticipate your own needs for a muliple hour or mulitple day train ride seems an eminently reasonable position.
Entertainment on Amtrak
- Thread starter BuzzKillington
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I think that some limited entertainment (and by that, I'm thinking in the vein of the Empire Builder/Coast Starlight things...or even something as basic as Le Pub on the Montrealer for that matter) wouldn't hurt in the least...particularly for First Class on a long haul. Honestly, even a Redbox wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to add in the cafe cars: Enough people bring their laptops on trips now that you could probably sell a decent number of DVD rentals from one of those machines on one of the CHI-West Coast runs. I've thought about suggesting this to Amtrak, actually, since I think it's something they could hope to break even on, if not make some net revenue off of rentals.
But other than something you could easily integrate to existing services (the Redbox idea), or marginal improvements such as a first class lounge car a la the PPC (particularly if they ever get around to adding cars to trains, since the sightseer lounge will get very crowded with another coach or two added), I don't think there's a good business reason to add gobs of "entertainment" programming.
Edit: The "occasional entertainment" bit reminds me of the old seasonal special trains that would be run. I wouldn't mind if they did an announced "Mardi Gras Special" or a "Spring Break Limited" (not that it would actually meet the definition of a "Limited"...) and added something for a week or two, as it fit the season. Seasonal movies on a wall projection screen in the lounge, again matched to the season, wouldn't be a bad touch, either. I guess the way I see it, something special once in a while wouldn't be bad...so long as they're not breaking the budget for it. Then again...I do wonder if they couldn't find some jazz trios willing to do a show an evening for a week or two in exchange for three hots, a cot, and a bit of money (particularly if Amtrak was willing to let them sell CDs after the show/agreed to carry a CD or two in the cafe on those trains and give them a decent split on the revenue).
But other than something you could easily integrate to existing services (the Redbox idea), or marginal improvements such as a first class lounge car a la the PPC (particularly if they ever get around to adding cars to trains, since the sightseer lounge will get very crowded with another coach or two added), I don't think there's a good business reason to add gobs of "entertainment" programming.
Edit: The "occasional entertainment" bit reminds me of the old seasonal special trains that would be run. I wouldn't mind if they did an announced "Mardi Gras Special" or a "Spring Break Limited" (not that it would actually meet the definition of a "Limited"...) and added something for a week or two, as it fit the season. Seasonal movies on a wall projection screen in the lounge, again matched to the season, wouldn't be a bad touch, either. I guess the way I see it, something special once in a while wouldn't be bad...so long as they're not breaking the budget for it. Then again...I do wonder if they couldn't find some jazz trios willing to do a show an evening for a week or two in exchange for three hots, a cot, and a bit of money (particularly if Amtrak was willing to let them sell CDs after the show/agreed to carry a CD or two in the cafe on those trains and give them a decent split on the revenue).
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G
George B
Guest
Honestly, with the amount of entertainment you can get from most electronic devices these days, why would you put the burden on Amtrak to entertain you? Their job is to get you to your destination in a comfortable and safe environment. What you do with your time is up to you, as long as it does not interfere with other passengers. It’s not like Amtrak has banned iPads and portable DVD players from their trains. If you were a person commuting from place to place every day on a train and had to use the time on the train to catch up on some sleep, or relax, or do some paperwork, wouldn’t you rather have the train quiet by default? How irritating would it be to try and get some sleep in your seat and every time the door opened from the Lounge Car noise from the “entertainment” would wake you up? Even if Amtrak decided to provide entertainment, they could not possibly satisfy everybody’s definition of “entertainment”, and people would complain.
Amtrak has it right…….they provide the means to get you where you want to go. How you spend your time is up to you. Nobody is stopping you from bringing a book, or electronic games, or a laptop, or watching a movie on your device, etc……….
Amtrak has it right…….they provide the means to get you where you want to go. How you spend your time is up to you. Nobody is stopping you from bringing a book, or electronic games, or a laptop, or watching a movie on your device, etc……….
Rail Freak
Engineer
There ya go, a couple of spots for Casinos!!! 
(refering to Post # 20)
(refering to Post # 20)
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It's a train trip not an entertainment venue. Buy a cheap DVD player and watch as many movies as you wish. Or books. You're talking a couple of days on even the longest distance trains. Or board games if you're into that. The ones who need constant entertainment aren't going to choose the train anyway IMO.
RCrierie
Train Attendant
This is actually a very good point that needs to be raised. Amtrak needs to try and raise it's on-board entertainment values a bit.
For all of you who keep saying "look out a window!", what happens when:
A.) The Sun goes down (happens a lot earlier in winter)
and/or
B.) You're stuck for several hours due to a mechanical problem or a freight being ahead of your train?
Yes, the passengers can bring a book or two, along with a couple DVDs. But there's a practical limit regarding the amount you can carry in your luggage; and an unscheduled event can force you to burn through the book or two you were planning to use over the entire trip in a few hours.
A few things Amtrak could do:
1.) Increase the onboard reading material -- give an employee $100 bucks and tell them to go to a used bookstore or friends of the library bookstore and get x amount of y category books to stock a shelf in each car. Leave a collection box beside the shelf for passengers to leave money if they really like a book and take it off the train.
2.) Try to acquire rights to show second run movies -- there's a time period between when movies are in theaters and when they come out on home video formats that you can use to show stuff that would actually be a draw in itself, rather than showing stuff that just came out on DVD/Blu Ray.
I like the redbox DVD rental kiosk idea a lot myself. It would generate revenue with a minimal labor impact beyond making sure the bolts attaching it to the car frame are secure every so often and changing the stock every so often.
For all of you who keep saying "look out a window!", what happens when:
A.) The Sun goes down (happens a lot earlier in winter)
and/or
B.) You're stuck for several hours due to a mechanical problem or a freight being ahead of your train?
Yes, the passengers can bring a book or two, along with a couple DVDs. But there's a practical limit regarding the amount you can carry in your luggage; and an unscheduled event can force you to burn through the book or two you were planning to use over the entire trip in a few hours.
A few things Amtrak could do:
1.) Increase the onboard reading material -- give an employee $100 bucks and tell them to go to a used bookstore or friends of the library bookstore and get x amount of y category books to stock a shelf in each car. Leave a collection box beside the shelf for passengers to leave money if they really like a book and take it off the train.
2.) Try to acquire rights to show second run movies -- there's a time period between when movies are in theaters and when they come out on home video formats that you can use to show stuff that would actually be a draw in itself, rather than showing stuff that just came out on DVD/Blu Ray.
I like the redbox DVD rental kiosk idea a lot myself. It would generate revenue with a minimal labor impact beyond making sure the bolts attaching it to the car frame are secure every so often and changing the stock every so often.
BuzzKillington
Service Attendant
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2009
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- 204
Well I never said that Amtrak was doing a bad job... They aren't. Their ridership numbers show that every year. I'm just thinking about ways to appeal to the vast amounts of people in this country who would not necessarily consider using the train to get to their destination. I'm sure upwards of 90% of the population would not consider taking Amtrak long distances... at least not on a semi-regular basis. I like the Redbox idea... the overhead cost on that would be next to nothing. I think if Amtrak were to market some fun & interesting things to do on the train, besides just looking out the window, many more people would reconsider their previous thoughts about them.
I have never been bored on a train but I do take books. Usually I am just enjoying the ride. My two year old companion skipped his DVD's to look out the window, climb on the beds and so on. However, if someone would like organized entertainment, I say go for it. However, when the wait staff starts singing and dancing like on a Carnival cruise I will kill myself.
fredandgingermad
Train Attendant
In preparation for my first Amtrak trip last year i bought a portable dvd player (i needed a region 1 player anyway) so that if i got bored i had some entertainment other than my books,
With all the lovely people i met on the Lake Shore Limited (NYP-CHI) and the Texas Eage/Sunset Limited (CHI-LAX) i barely used it once, it was more useful to me when in LA and i sprained my ankle and had to rest
On the TE they had the Trails and Rails which provided a different form of entertainment specially for me who'd never been to that part of the US before and on the Sunset i spent an entire day watching Texas go by, enjoyed it thoroughly
When i took the Empire Builder a few months later (visiting a guy who i'd met on the TE) they also had Trails and Rails, i think the programmes between Amtrak and The National Park Service is fantastic, i learnt a lot about the US that i wouldn't have done otherwise i used my laptop to watch movies after dark but during the daylight hours on the train i didnt use it at all
With all the lovely people i met on the Lake Shore Limited (NYP-CHI) and the Texas Eage/Sunset Limited (CHI-LAX) i barely used it once, it was more useful to me when in LA and i sprained my ankle and had to rest
On the TE they had the Trails and Rails which provided a different form of entertainment specially for me who'd never been to that part of the US before and on the Sunset i spent an entire day watching Texas go by, enjoyed it thoroughly
When i took the Empire Builder a few months later (visiting a guy who i'd met on the TE) they also had Trails and Rails, i think the programmes between Amtrak and The National Park Service is fantastic, i learnt a lot about the US that i wouldn't have done otherwise
i used my laptop to watch movies after dark but during the daylight hours on the train i didnt use it at all
the_traveler
Engineer
I agree with everything you said. If someone wanted constant entertainment, they would most likely fly, and get their entertainment that very night! Even if I saw the same scenery over and over, I feel the view is better (and more interesting) at 15 feet than at 30,000 feet! Besides, the view at 30,000 feet is pretty much the same no matter where you're traveling!
Instead of carrying books, DVD's, games, etc... - I just download them on my iPhone! I currently have 3 books on my phone (which I'd carry anyway) - including a 500+ page novel!
There ya go, a couple of spots for Casinos!!!
Now That is an Idea! Imagine if in the lower part of the lounge car they installed a few electronic slot machines for when the CZ goes though Nevada
Just to cover their bases Amtrak could give out AGR points instead of cash :giggle:
GlobalistPotato
Lead Service Attendant
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Messages
- 344
Considering how many people already said that we're responsible for bringing our entertainment, the most Amtrak can do is to make sure we have power outlets for every seat and Wi-fi on board.
The only on-board entertainment I could see working is a dance-hall on the lower level of some luxury lounge on one of Amtrak's premier trains (like the Autotrain, Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, etc). Even then it would only be useful for about 6 hours each day.
EDIT: There is a serious idea of having a casino car on a LA-Vegas train, and some say that sells from there could alone make the train break even. Hey, I guess it's another revenue-earning car on the train! :giggle:
The only on-board entertainment I could see working is a dance-hall on the lower level of some luxury lounge on one of Amtrak's premier trains (like the Autotrain, Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, etc). Even then it would only be useful for about 6 hours each day.
EDIT: There is a serious idea of having a casino car on a LA-Vegas train, and some say that sells from there could alone make the train break even. Hey, I guess it's another revenue-earning car on the train! :giggle:
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zepherdude
OBS Chief
GlobalistPotato
I have enclosed a link for that service LAX-LAS train. It is cool as heck looking and I have been getting e-mails about it for a while. It will be pulled by Amtrak, but not be an Amtrak train. It is called the Las Vegas Railway Express (X-Train). I bet that will be some entertainment
Check it out.
http://www.xtrainvegas.com/
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JAChooChoo
Service Attendant
Point 1: in the mid 60's the B&O/C&O ran movies in the dining and lounge cars of the Capitol and National limiteds using the same equipment as the airlines
Point 2: My amazing mother would take me and my siblings on an annual vacation overnight coach between Baltimore and Wheeling.
Point 2: My amazing mother would take me and my siblings on an annual vacation overnight coach between Baltimore and Wheeling.
Aloha
Wish someone would run between lax and Vegas but this is a pipe dream that has had the site around 10 years.
Note: Service was to start June 2010, so it is now 11 months past and no press for the last 6 mo. in Vegas
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Devil's Advocate
⠀⠀⠀
The line makes sense and probably will come to fruition one day. Eventually. The weird thing is that there was a huge anti-rail political movement that came out of nowhere during the Bush years and blasted a completely fictitious government-funded HSR link from LA to Vegas and that sort of put the damper on the whole thing. Private funding has supposedly been in the pipeline for a long while but when the credit markets seized up those projects also took a major hit. Now I think people are waiting to see if the global economy is going to recover sufficiently to bring Vegas back into the forefront of leisure locations again and to see if and how other rail links can be brought into the fold. I'd be surprised if nothing ever comes of this, and I'm probably one of the most pessimistic folks on here, so that's gotta count for something.
TVRM610
Conductor
First of all, the general public has iPods, iPads, laptops etc for watching movies, playing games, reading etc. So that solves your movie theatre, and video game idea.
Second, have you ever spent time in an Amtrak lounge? There is usually plenty of great entertainment. Seriously. I've seen magic tricks, heard some great live music by musicians on their way to perform concerts, even heard one time from a fantastic "Beat poet"
Of course there is also the lectures by the rails to trails guides.
Second, have you ever spent time in an Amtrak lounge? There is usually plenty of great entertainment. Seriously. I've seen magic tricks, heard some great live music by musicians on their way to perform concerts, even heard one time from a fantastic "Beat poet"
Of course there is also the lectures by the rails to trails guides.
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R
Rider
Guest
I go with the consensus here - the train itself is plenty entertaining, it's why I go. And no I am not speaking only of the WINDOW, but of the whole scene.
Stay home and watch TV if the train is not stimulating enough. Or go bowling. And it is not as if AMTRAK is in any way prepared to adjust to a huge increase in ridership. Nor is it likely to any time in the foreseeable future.
Video arcades etc - hey how about we put a little car just for Disney rides - maybe a miniature golf course - or, wait! How about a go-cart track? Or a water slide - plus, make the cafe into a combination of McDonald's and Hooter's - now we are talking some REAL entertainment.
No Thanks.
Stay home and watch TV if the train is not stimulating enough. Or go bowling. And it is not as if AMTRAK is in any way prepared to adjust to a huge increase in ridership. Nor is it likely to any time in the foreseeable future.
Video arcades etc - hey how about we put a little car just for Disney rides - maybe a miniature golf course - or, wait! How about a go-cart track? Or a water slide - plus, make the cafe into a combination of McDonald's and Hooter's - now we are talking some REAL entertainment.
No Thanks.
A couple of years ago I rode in coach overnight from ATL to WAS. A nice well behaved young kid sat a couple of rows from me on the opposite side of the car. I could see his screen. He watched train stuff most of the waking hours of the trip.
So what wrong with that?
Well.....nothing.....except he seldom if ever looked out the window or even in in the inside of the car to look at REAL TRAINS.
Something wrong with that. Play with the machines, sure, but not at the total expense of the real thing!!
(Yes, I know it is none of my business.)
So what wrong with that?
Well.....nothing.....except he seldom if ever looked out the window or even in in the inside of the car to look at REAL TRAINS.
Something wrong with that. Play with the machines, sure, but not at the total expense of the real thing!!
(Yes, I know it is none of my business.)
TVRM610
Conductor
Was it a cab ride video of the Crescent route? haha.
I know you are kidding.....it makes a good joke.. but just for a moment, speaking seriously, no it was not. If it had been, I would have been watching it, too!! (that is, in addition to looking out the window}
Nickrapak
Service Attendant
The only "entertainment" I'd like to see on Amtrak trains are some bags of checkers for the checkerboards on the sleeping car tables!
TransitGeek
Service Attendant
When I was at LA Union for National Train Day, I toured their exhibit train, which included a Pacific Parlour Car. (Glad I got to see one before they're retired- I doubt I'll be able to afford sleeper on the CS anytime soon!) I noticed a cabinet aboard that contained some board games and a small lending library. Seems to me that a similar cabinet would be a welcome addition to the lounge car on nearly any long-distance train, and many traveler-oriented establishments (hostels, cruise ships, B&B's) manage to support a library on the take-a-book-leave-a-book principle. Shouldn't cost much, either, and it would provide a form of entertainment that would simultaneously be compatible with the socializing and the peace-and-quiet provided by rail travel.
Peter KG6LSE
Lead Service Attendant
I bring My own entertainment.....Me ..
Yes if you must ask I was asked to dress up by a Very bored conductor on the CZ this past winter .
She noticed I had My stuff with me as I was hand sewing on new snaps to my suit .
and we were on that north Detour Around Denver so we had 6 hours of no stops .
She said " do you have the rest of it with you ?
I said " Yes in my car 2 back .
she said " oh cheer us up , Put it all on ! .
So I did reluctantly ..
* irony is I'm in the same suit right now as I type this I I just did a seam test and repair .*
Peter
Yes if you must ask I was asked to dress up by a Very bored conductor on the CZ this past winter .
She noticed I had My stuff with me as I was hand sewing on new snaps to my suit .
and we were on that north Detour Around Denver so we had 6 hours of no stops .
She said " do you have the rest of it with you ?
I said " Yes in my car 2 back .
she said " oh cheer us up , Put it all on ! .
So I did reluctantly ..
* irony is I'm in the same suit right now as I type this I I just did a seam test and repair .*
Peter
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