Amtrak Auto Train Discussion

I won't be surprised if some of this is due to Boeing and the major airlines having issues. I haven't even got on board an airplane since the pandemic.

I doubt that, Mr. Wolf.

I realize there have been some airline "scarys" of late (including one involving an FL A-321 @ LAS yesterday. The aircraft was on fire making an emergency landing but with no injuries), but I think the public still regards air travel to be quite safe.

But you are not the only "faithful" I know, and know of, to avoid air travel.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:46 am I doubt that, Mr. Wolf.

I realize there have been some airline "scarys" of late (including one involving an FL A-321 @ LAS yesterday. The aircraft was on fire making an emergency landing but with no injuries), but I think the public still regards air travel to be quite safe.

But you are not the only "faithful" I know, and know of, to avoid air travel.

I have to admit, there's a lot of "oh, this happened, we know what to do about it" with airplanes, and it's professionally dealt with on a regular basis (including the mentioned flight). But then when you think it's safe to fly again, Boeing breaks again, Southwest's tech tanks and... hold on... (*checks careers page... Dallas but remote...* Damn, ineligible for remote work due to being in Maryland).

Anyway, with how badly timed these issues keep coming up, it makes you think the only really safest thing to do with airlines is make fun of them. Now if I can get paid for it...

Trust me, the airlines are still quite profitable and busy with or without your business.

Boeing and even Airbus issues are a matter of fear mongering by the media. The last fatal jet crash of any type in the US was in..... *checks Wikipedia*.... 2019. Three Atlas pilots died when their aircraft crashed on landing due to what was later ruled pilot error. When I first entered the industry 38 years ago, it was a given that there'd be one or two fatal crashes every year.

Statistically, whether going per movement or per passenger mile, you're more likely to die in a train accident than by flying.

Yeah it doesn't make much sense to be worried about flying a major American commercial airline in the lower 48.

As an aside noticed while looking at that wiki, there've been an alarming number of ground crew members sucked into engines in recent years.

eolesen wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 1:52 pm
The last fatal jet crash of any type in the US was in..... *checks Wikipedia*.... 2019. Three Atlas pilots died when their aircraft crashed on landing due to what was later ruled pilot error.

Statistically, whether going per movement or per passenger mile, you're more likely to die in a train accident than by flying.

Off topic, but so long as Mr. Olesen has addressed Giant 3591, this Wiki article appears to be factual and comprehensive.

Anyone know how much auto-train business is Floridians going to the northeast and back, rather than northeasterners going to Florida and back? It seems like we always talk and think about it as the former (including snowbirds who may be legal residents of Florida but who spend 5.5 months up north where they are originally from, accounting for all those Florida license plates in driveways in New England in the summers).

I'm picturing Florida folks taking a trip to Pennsylvania Wilds, Adirondacks, Green Mtns, White Mtns, Acadia NP, Gettysburg, Concord and Lexington, etc., etc. (Hopefully not all of those things in one trip--and hopefully not too many people are foolish enough to use the auto-train to bring their car on a trip to DC or NYC or downtown Boston, where no tourist should drive if they can possibly help it. But then I wonder about Floridians heading to DC etc on planes and non-Auto trains.)

Or even Floridian retirees who hate the summer heat and can afford to spend four months in a cottage on some pond in Maine or whatever.

Upshot: I know there are hordes of tourists headed to Florida all the time, but there are also millions of people in Florida and growing every year and some of them must go other places as tourists, family visitors, "summer people", etc. But how many?

When I was at Appalachian State, we quipped there were four seasons: when Floridians come up into the mountains to ski, (I forget what Spring was), escape the heat, and look at colorful leafs.

MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:57 am

Tadman wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2024 5:48 pm idle curiosity here, but what does the AT do during the off months? It makes sense that NEC area snowbirds are booking trips to Florida Nov- April, but is anybody going to Florida in July or August? It is HOT.

TD and Everyone: Does Amtrak market the Auto-Train in Florida as a northeastern destination service?

From May thru September there are those that want to escape the relentless heat and humidity of a FL summer
and travel to northeast destinations N and E of the Washington, DC area...Those that live in the North think of the
Auto-Train as a FL-oriented service-do FL residents consider the A-T service to the Middle Atlantic and Northeast
in a similar manner? This is just another thought about what makes the Auto-Train a year-round service option...

AWF - This was my Auto-Train question on the preceding page...We both have the same general idea
and questions about going northward getting out of FL for summer vacations or visits...Those that own two
homes wintering in FL and summering in the Northeast are a prime demographic for the AT as we realize...

Has Hurricane Milton enhanced northward AT ridership in the past week before Amtrak decided to cancel
the AT service? With mandatory evacuation under way any possible alternates to busy highways would be
welcome by some before all modes of travel in FL become affected by the Storm...MACTRAXX