Entertainment on Amtrak

[Anderson]

1) I found a few stories about the X-Train, mostly listing late 2011 start dates. I'm ambivalent, though, as a lot of it seems to either be low-key or off the beaten path (and of course, potentially planted stories). Can anyone tell whether Amtrak is in active negotiations there?

2) Peter, oddly enough...given that the DEN-SLC segment is apparently the slowest segment (and with the DEN-SLC intermediate stops being dropped)...it doesn't surprise me that the staff might have gotten a bit bored in the interim, what with no stops to call or tickets to check.

 

[BuzzKillington]

Although not that elaborate, I think that bar car concept would be a great idea for Amtrak. It can't be that hard with new technology to have satellite TV running in at least one car. Last I checked, people still love sports and alcohol. It could also be considered a social gathering point for people with common interests. On other nights, popular TV shows such as American Idol could be shown as well. All they would really need to have for this is one "bartender". They could make up that money in extra sales.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

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.

Um? Bowling. Are the cars long enough for a bowling lane? Of course, it might be hard to keep the ball out of the gutter with the swaying of the train. :giggle:

 

[boxcar479]

Although not that elaborate, I think that bar car concept would be a great idea for Amtrak. It can't be that hard with new technology to have satellite TV running in at least one car. Last I checked, people still love sports and alcohol. It could also be considered a social gathering point for people with common interests. On other nights, popular TV shows such as American Idol could be shown as well. All they would really need to have for this is one "bartender". They could make up that money in extra sales.

We have enough drunks getting thrown off the train as it is. alot of people are instant A holes once you add alcohol.

 

[roomette]

Nothing says great entertainment like a good old fashionned derailment on the Texas Eagle in Dallas! I got about 5 hours worth on Sunday. Got some video and images captured with my iPad2, it's got a camera, taken from several 'rail fan windows'. I will share those when I get home. After the live off the tracks entertainment I watched a couple of movies on my iPad, on which I'm composing and sending this message from my hotel in Chicago.

Well, I'm off to Lou Mitchell's for some eats before I catch the TE at 1:45. Doubt the return trip will offer similar entertainment, but you never know!

 

[rrdude]

Although not that elaborate, I think that bar car concept would be a great idea for Amtrak. It can't be that hard with new technology to have satellite TV running in at least one car. Last I checked, people still love sports and alcohol. It could also be considered a social gathering point for people with common interests. On other nights, popular TV shows such as American Idol could be shown as well. All they would really need to have for this is one "bartender". They could make up that money in extra sales.

WOW. Hadn't thought of updating that. Yes, a BAR CAR with a sports theme IS a fantastic idea. Especially at night. Many here will be in apoplectic fits over the mere THOUGHT of that. Have it sponsored by Bud or Coors, or some other "deep-pocket" firm. I know where I'd hang out at night.

 

[afigg]

Alright, I'm going to try and draft up a letter suggesting the Redbox thing. It seems to be up there with the Quiet Car as something that's not crossed the mind of anyone important high up in the organization.

There are several problems with the Redbox DVD rental box idea. For starters, the standard box you see at the grocery store would probably never stand up to the vibration and stress of train operation. Parts would either fall out of it or it would get jammed up. A ruggedest version in a special vibration isolation rack would likely be needed.

But think about this would work. How often would people check out a DVD, but forget to return it before they get off the train? As the train leaves the station, "Damn it, forgot about the DVD in the laptop!". Then it turns out because you got off the train in Montana, the nearest store with a Redbox is 150 miles away. Oops. Then who would stock and maintain the Redboxes on the train? Probably would only get stocked and serviced at one of the major end stations for the LD trains: LA, Chicago, etc.

Basically, I see most of the ideas posted in this thread as a good way for Amtrak to lose money. In an age of iPads, laptops, smartphones, E-readers, portable DVD players, game players, along with ye old books, why should Amtrak deal with the hassles of providing electronic entertainment options? Amtrak should provide free Wi-Fi for internet access and leave it at that. Talks or lectures in a lounge car are fine, because they don't cost much to provide. These are trains with people getting on and off at each station stop, not cruise ships where all the passengers are usually on the ship for the duration of the 3 day or week long cruise.

 

[Peter KG6LSE]

How about we have a redbox at the station . this way the public can use it and the PAX departing .

I do this anyways at OTM at the wallgreens up the street .

I get 4 and it works wonders ...

Peter

 

[SP&S]

How about we have a redbox at the station . this way the public can use it and the PAX departing .

I do this anyways at OTM at the wallgreens up the street .

I get 4 and it works wonders ...

Peter

Times may have changed, and it was a whole player instead of DVD's, but Railway Media failed. I don't think there's the volume at most depots to support the logistics of rent in one city, return three states away.

 

[Anderson]

How about we have a redbox at the station . this way the public can use it and the PAX departing .

I do this anyways at OTM at the wallgreens up the street .

I get 4 and it works wonders ...

Peter

Times may have changed, and it was a whole player instead of DVD's, but Railway Media failed. I don't think there's the volume at most depots to support the logistics of rent in one city, return three states away.

Well, I'd point out that Redbox (as currently set up) auto-bills consumers for the period until they return the DVD (up to some period before they write the DVD off). That said, I think the problem with Railway Media was the issue with renting the hardware, not just the software. As to the DVD rental machines...a more durable machine wouldn't be the most outlandish thing. I'm pretty sure that was done for the snack machines on the Piedmont, for example.

 

[leemell]

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 problem is that the casino could only be open in Nevada, about the first or last 30 minutes of the trip.

 

[TransitGeek]

How about we have a redbox at the station . this way the public can use it and the PAX departing .

I do this anyways at OTM at the wallgreens up the street .

I get 4 and it works wonders ...

Peter

Times may have changed, and it was a whole player instead of DVD's, but Railway Media failed. I don't think there's the volume at most depots to support the logistics of rent in one city, return three states away.

According to RedBox's web site, you can return a movie to "any of 26,000 rental kiosks nationwide." I'm sure that probably includes people renting a film for a flight, enjoying it, and returning it at their destination already. Perhaps installing a few at crew-change points and major stations would be beneficial. Of course, with the hodgepodge of station ownership and responsibility that we have, rolling out anything like a comprehensive trackside program would probably be worryingly difficult.

 

[dlagrua]

The best thing to do is to petiton Amtrak to have an orchestra and dancing in the lounge car. Its the least that they can do while we wait for the next generation design with the swimming pool and hot tub.

 

[GG-1]

The best thing to do is to petiton Amtrak to have an orchestra and dancing in the lounge car. Its the least that they can do while we wait for the next generation design with the swimming pool and hot tub.

Just think 65 musicians and audience in the lounge

Aloha

 

[jdcnosse]

They don't offer these services on Greyhound or any flights, why offer them on Amtrak? Every passenger should understand what they're getting themselves into when they make the trip. I for one bring along my phone (I use it to surf the web), my iPod to listen to music, a book to read, and of course sometimes you just wanna stare out the window.

 

[MrJake]

They don't offer these services on Greyhound or any flights, why offer them on Amtrak? Every passenger should understand what they're getting themselves into when they make the trip. I for one bring along my phone (I use it to surf the web), my iPod to listen to music, a book to read, and of course sometimes you just wanna stare out the window.

Pretty much any flight of significant distance offers individual video entertainment. I know it's a pipe dream, but I don't see how it's out of line to look for some more distractions on 12-48 hour train ride. And all Greyhound/Bolt Buses have Wi-Fi.

 

[afigg]

The best thing to do is to petiton Amtrak to have an orchestra and dancing in the lounge car. Its the least that they can do while we wait for the next generation design with the swimming pool and hot tub.

Just think 65 musicians and audience in the lounge

Aloha

First, we just need to create a new clearance plate standard, the double wide. The train runs on 2 parallel sets of tracks (and switches). Then you can have the 24' wide land cruiser train, wide enough for the lounge, orchestra and hot tub. Of course, there would have to be some upgrades to the tracks, tunnels, bridges, the whole train infrastructure system in the US, but, hey, we could have double wide trains!

 

[zepherdude]

The best thing to do is to petiton Amtrak to have an orchestra and dancing in the lounge car. Its the least that they can do while we wait for the next generation design with the swimming pool and hot tub.

Just think 65 musicians and audience in the lounge

Aloha

First, we just need to create a new clearance plate standard, the double wide. The train runs on 2 parallel sets of tracks (and switches). Then you can have the 24' wide land cruiser train, wide enough for the lounge, orchestra and hot tub. Of course, there would have to be some upgrades to the tracks, tunnels, bridges, the whole train infrastructure system in the US, but, hey, we could have double wide trains!

I got it, just like Jumbo Jets! Jumbo Train Cars, "Amtrak 452 Heavy, turn to track number 32 East, over"

 

[Peter KG6LSE]

I got it, just like Jumbo Jets! Jumbo Train Cars, "Train 452 Heavy, turn to track number 32 East, over"

Ok you JUST made my day ......

Peter

 

[trainman74]

First, we just need to create a new clearance plate standard, the double wide. The train runs on 2 parallel sets of tracks (and switches). Then you can have the 24' wide land cruiser train, wide enough for the lounge, orchestra and hot tub. Of course, there would have to be some upgrades to the tracks, tunnels, bridges, the whole train infrastructure system in the US, but, hey, we could have double wide trains!

That actually was the conceit of the short-lived late-1970s TV show "Supertrain" -- a super-deluxe double-width train, which was like a cruise ship on the inside. (Yes, it was an obvious ripoff of "The Love Boat.")

 

[BuzzKillington]

Getting back on topic, I believe the plausible ideas we've heard so far are a bar car with some sort of entertainment/video/TV, a Redbox in the train, maybe games/books in a lounge car. I think organized tournaments with maybe some small prizes would be great for games between passengers. If you could expand the wine tasting and maybe have a movie playing at all times during the day for long distance trains, I think it would be a great start for drawing people toward an adventure on the train, instead of only a (relatively slow) means to get somewhere. This could really attract many more people.

 

[Rider]

None of those ideas are plausible and given the current status of funding we have no need to attract more riders- miserable conditions on airlines are doing that for us, thank you very much.

Keep it as it is. Read book or stay home and watch TV. to avoid boredom, fly - it;s a lot quicker.

 

[AlanB]

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.

Amtrak used to do just that, pre-DVD's, with video tapes.

Aside from the expense of the movies & tapes and the constantly breaking equipment, the tapes had a way of walking off on their own.