Now I am probably going to take a lot of crap for this, but I do not totally rule out wrap ads as a future revenue source for Amtrak; either as a step on the path to profitability, or a way to replace lost funding. It is not my preference, but think about it. Airlines, banks, etc. rely on ancillary income to make their bottom line viable. With airlines, its baggage fees, etc. With banks, its service charges on previously free services. Amtrak and its followers need to keep an open mind.Spotted this on the Capitol Limited #29 out of DC today at Rockville, MD (RKV):
Superliner Lounge Wrap by RyanCrierie, on Flickr
WHY WHY WHY?
Also, the CapLimited today was running quite long. I spotted no less than TWO lounges on this consist.
That's a given. If they obscure views, they constrain revenues.
Looks to me like they're wrapping the windows as well. So do you still support the wraps anyway or not?
Not if windows are obscured.
However they do reduce the light transmission, plus mess with auto-focus cameras.
Umm aren't folks over-reacting? That Sightseer Lounge was for Martina McBride special train, so it was wrapped in ad. Does it say anywhere that Amtrak is starting ad-wrapping SSL in normal revenue trains? Until they say that, we are good. But if and when they start doing that, including the windows, time to say bye bye to enjoyable train travel
Visible scenery is a huge part of what makes train travel appealing to me. Having the scenery tainted with colored crap over the window isn't very appealing to me and somewhat defeats the original purpose of the SSL in my view. Amtrak has decided that we can't have true domes. We can't have park cars. We can't have parlor cars on all but one solitary route. We can't even have clean and clear windows on most of the trains I ride. Adding wraps over windows is a bit of a slap in the face at this point. I would suggest they find ways to keep the windows as clear and clean as possible. I found VIA's exterior advertising to be ugly and in poor taste, but at least it never screwed with the on-board experience. So far the wraps have mainly been on commuter lines, but as budget cuts loom on the horizon it doesn't seem so absurd to worry about wraps becoming more common system-wide in the future.
Amtrak has has advertising wraps on trains before. I think it was last year, there was an Acela trainset with several cars with a Cake Boss ad wrap. This is not new.
