Yes Mr. Lord, I know you "lucked out" on your SPG-GRA Zephyr round trip, even if the delay to #6 @ WIP made your return "touch and go". Just as well your family was also there and gave you a lift to DEN, where you had options of the winged varietal.
Also, as I have previously reported here at the Forum, my next-door neighbors rode #5 NPV-GJC during same window as Mr. Lord's journey. The only previous Amtrak journey of his I know of was RAT-NPV in Coach ("if it's good enough for the Scouts, it's good enough for me!!).
Well, they loved it - and want to do it again!!!!
I'm silent beyond suggesting "get a Big Room" (be it assured in common with any of my neighbors, they can afford it). But I'm not placing any bets that next time will be as flawless.
Now to the Board; by now there must be acceptance the "crown jewel" - the Corridor - is never coming back. It's not Amtrak's fault but simply COVID has become the most transformative event ever for knowledge workers - and knowledge is the principal factor of production in products produced along the length of the Corridor. Amtrak will be hard pressed to fully utilize the new Acela equipment commanding fares in the "dollar a mile" range. The culprit of course is WFH and teleconferencing.
The burden will fall to this Board to formulate policy to deal with these adverse new realities. I really do not envy them and I must wonder just how much of a political reward they have been extended.
Last edited by Gilbert B Norman on Mon May 02, 2022 7:23 am, edited 1 time in total.