If I may quote from the Cardinal forum:
1) Too few trains. Example: Atlanta. One train a day in each direction doesn't permit much ridership. But, that one train does do pretty well.
2) Horrible times. Example: Toledo. Yes, I've gotten on and off here for Ann Arbor, but realistically, it's not very practical.
3) "Tradition". Not sure of an example, but I'd say some cities would probably take more to trains than others. i.e. it's ingrained in them as a possibility. I'll use Albany as a counter example here. It seems its ridership is outsized compared to the local population. Yeah, being close to NYC helps, but I think too, it's simply assumed, "the train is a possibility"
For the first two, it seems "more trains" is part of the answer. i.e. a train that arrived/departed Toledo during daylight hours would probably help.
For Atlanta, I think no doubt a day train to WAS could be supported.
But, what about the 3rd cities. Is this a real problem? I mean would Toledo generate enough ridership with a practical train or is "highway driving" so ingrained it would be a hard sell?
Thoughts?
David Benton wrote:Population does not always mean ridership, many big cities don't have large ridership figures and v.v.I think this is worth exploring and want to posit 3 reasons and get your thoughts:
1) Too few trains. Example: Atlanta. One train a day in each direction doesn't permit much ridership. But, that one train does do pretty well.
2) Horrible times. Example: Toledo. Yes, I've gotten on and off here for Ann Arbor, but realistically, it's not very practical.
3) "Tradition". Not sure of an example, but I'd say some cities would probably take more to trains than others. i.e. it's ingrained in them as a possibility. I'll use Albany as a counter example here. It seems its ridership is outsized compared to the local population. Yeah, being close to NYC helps, but I think too, it's simply assumed, "the train is a possibility"
For the first two, it seems "more trains" is part of the answer. i.e. a train that arrived/departed Toledo during daylight hours would probably help.
For Atlanta, I think no doubt a day train to WAS could be supported.
But, what about the 3rd cities. Is this a real problem? I mean would Toledo generate enough ridership with a practical train or is "highway driving" so ingrained it would be a hard sell?
Thoughts?
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