Tadman wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:06 am
wigwagfan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:59 pm
I don't think that it helps that there is a disconnect between certain rail enthusiasts who want to portray passenger rail as a 21st century solution to intercity travel problems, and certain rail enthusiasts who want to preserve the history of 1800s and early 1900s era railroad stations, no matter how functional (or functionally obsolete) they are.
While I'm not one to suggest we start demolishing 100+ year old train stations en masse, some of these stations are simply functionally obsolete and should be replaced/repurposed. As much as Portland's Union Station is beautiful, it's a hot, miserable and crowded building with very few amenities, and its management is increasingly hostile to the public by cordoning large portions of this publicly owned, taxpayer funded building off-limits to its owners. I've noticed other stations posting large signs making it clear that these often municipal owned buildings are unwelcome to its residents and visitors EXCEPT those with an Amtrak ticket, even though Amtrak corporate is not footing the bill and paying the property taxes on these buildings that should be welcoming people regardless of their current days' travels. Telling me I'm not welcome is not a good way to convince me to buy a ticket for tomorrow.
Again totally spot on. The 20th century limited is not coming back and we should quit pretending it is. Heavy corridor and regional trains have a chance, but not if we tie them into the Builder or Lakeshore, which are perpetually late and ragged.
As for the stations, they a poster child for awful first impressions. I feel like this in a lot of Amtrak stations: "Hi, sit down, shut up, follow directions, we will march to your train when you are told, do not expect any predicatability". In Europe, there is very little interface between the railroad personnel and passengers at the stations, you go to the platform and wait (seriously, no officious Amtrak employee leads you around like school children) and/or grab a snack. You can walk the entire terminal.
WigWag reminds me of a comment Noel Weaver made on here years ago about those pining for the old NY Penn Station. Basically, he hated it. I guess he worked it in his NH days. He said it was hot, and impossible to hear any announcements. I seem to recall a literary quote as well about it being the "depths of hell". Sure, it looked pretty in pictures. That's probably about it, but since I was a single digit midget when it came down, I recall nothing about it.
For me, it really depends on the station. Light year's difference between NYP and NYG (aka GCT lol). New Haven has a pretty good station if meager amenities, Hartford is also nice looking, but they occupy the cramped area underneath the tracks and not the main building. Springfield has according to reports regained some of its past glory. The NH did a pretty good job with stations, but many have been converted to private businesses.
Hoping to get to Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle this year, but at this point who knows.
Tad, I was a little disappointed Anderson didn't try to tackle these issues you talk about. Delta Dick was known for making Delta one of the best airlines at customer service and OTP. Instead, he tackled diners.
You mention the LSL; as far as I'm concerned, ALL of the NYP - CHI trains SUCK. Throw in the Sunset with that too.