by Tadman
west point wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:59 pm Have to challenge this assumption of day trains only is cheaper. IMO a sleeper's revenue per car is much more than a coach revenue.A month out, a ticket CHI-BOS is $96 coach, $548 roomette, $1092 bedroom. Assuming three coaches and two sleepers, 100pct occupancy in coach and single occupancy in sleeper, you have a revenue of $44k per two-day journey. That's $22k/day.
Assuming the same ticket prices and five coaches on a day train, That's $55k/day revenue. Also dont' forget you aren't subsidizing the diner with three employees that loses money.
Not counting the diner, that's a $30k/day in favor of a coach day train.
west point wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:59 pmWould I want to ride a day only route?.It's not about you. It's about the traveling public. They want a 3-5 hour daytime ride. The 20+ hour rides on sleeper are less than 1% of the traveling public, who mostly choses to fly. I have a trip to LA in a few weeks, I just can't justify $3000 round trip and two days en route. My flight was $800ish and 6-8 hours each way including 90 min in ATL. I'll have a decent dinner at One Flew South.
While there I will ride Metrolink to a meeting in the burbs and maybe sneak in an evening at Orange Empire if I can get away from the customer entertainment.
The new Acela: It's not Aveliable.