Interesting article about the Pennsylvanian train being discontinued.
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Based on the numbers given in the article, the train actually has pretty good ridership and a minimal state subsidy (as these things go, anyhow).
Curt
Curt
My opinion: Save the Pennsylvanian. It's the only Amtrak train that some of year (according to last year's spring or summer schedule) comes thru Pittsburgh at a resonable hour for photography.
Originally Posted by pittsburghrailfan:
My opinion: Save the Pennsylvanian. It's the only Amtrak train that some of year (according to last year's spring or summer schedule) comes thru Pittsburgh at a resonable hour for photography.
That should certainly sway the tax payer's thinking!
$5.7M divided by 145241 people is $38.98 / person. Here is an idea, raise the price of the ticket by $60.00 per ride to make up for the people that will abandon riding this train if they are actually charged the true cost, and keep the train.
Sounds fair to me. User pays.
Regards,
GNNPNUT
I found the following quote on a blog. Makes a lot of sense to me...
"Now, the next element is something lots of people tend to forget: the Turnpike ain't free. In fact, although it's a five-hour trip from Philly to Pittsburgh, it's also $26.50, usually plus overpriced gas at Sideling Hill. Try it for yourself. It's not like the Turnpike has a lock on the market purely because we're subsidizing the road, the way it is for, say, the Buffalo-Pittsburgh market. In fact, the Amtrak fare, $54.00, is price-competitive with the Turnpike. (Think about it: a $30 Turnpike toll plus $30 for gas at Sideling Hill is about the same as a one-way Amtrak fare.) It's not time-competitive, but it doesn't really need to be to begin building ridership; it can appeal to time-rich demographics, like students and weekenders, and start worrying about time-sensitive travelers later. In fact, this is the very way its ridership is growing where the service is convenient".
http://philadelphia2050.blogsp...nnsylvanian.html?m=1
"Now, the next element is something lots of people tend to forget: the Turnpike ain't free. In fact, although it's a five-hour trip from Philly to Pittsburgh, it's also $26.50, usually plus overpriced gas at Sideling Hill. Try it for yourself. It's not like the Turnpike has a lock on the market purely because we're subsidizing the road, the way it is for, say, the Buffalo-Pittsburgh market. In fact, the Amtrak fare, $54.00, is price-competitive with the Turnpike. (Think about it: a $30 Turnpike toll plus $30 for gas at Sideling Hill is about the same as a one-way Amtrak fare.) It's not time-competitive, but it doesn't really need to be to begin building ridership; it can appeal to time-rich demographics, like students and weekenders, and start worrying about time-sensitive travelers later. In fact, this is the very way its ridership is growing where the service is convenient".
http://philadelphia2050.blogsp...nnsylvanian.html?m=1
Update.
Looks like Amtrak and Pennsylvania have been able to reach an agreement that keeps the "Pennsylvanian" in operation. Following pasted in from Progressive Railroading.
Curt
Amtrak, Pennsylvania agree to continue rail service
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Amtrak officials have agreed to a new funding plan that will maintain passenger-rail service between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, the governor announced yesterday.
Under the revised agreement, Pennsylvania will contribute $3.8 million a year to maintain the "Pennsylvanian" service, which operates one train daily in each direction between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. The service continues to and from Philadelphia and New York City.
"I applaud Amtrak for its willingness to work with my administration on a funding plan that makes sense for Pennsylvania in these difficult economic times and maintains this passenger rail service that provides important connections for many towns in western Pennsylvania," said Corbett in a prepared statement.
The agreement will require Amtrak to recover more costs for the service than it has in the past. Initial funding estimates totaled $6.5 million a year, according to Corbett's press release.
Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman said in a prepared statement that the pact will preserve the Pennsylvanian service.
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, hailed the agreement.
"This is an example of how partnerships between states and Amtrak can produce savings while maintaining service," he said in a prepared statement.
Originally Posted by PLEzero:
I found the following quote on a blog. Makes a lot of sense to me...
"Now, the next element is something lots of people tend to forget: the Turnpike ain't free. In fact, although it's a five-hour trip from Philly to Pittsburgh, it's also $26.50, usually plus overpriced gas at Sideling Hill. Try it for yourself. It's not like the Turnpike has a lock on the market purely because we're subsidizing the road, the way it is for, say, the Buffalo-Pittsburgh market. In fact, the Amtrak fare, $54.00, is price-competitive with the Turnpike. (Think about it: a $30 Turnpike toll plus $30 for gas at Sideling Hill is about the same as a one-way Amtrak fare.) It's not time-competitive, but it doesn't really need to be to begin building ridership; it can appeal to time-rich demographics, like students and weekenders, and start worrying about time-sensitive travelers later. In fact, this is the very way its ridership is growing where the service is convenient".
http://philadelphia2050.blogsp...nnsylvanian.html?m=1
"Now, the next element is something lots of people tend to forget: the Turnpike ain't free. In fact, although it's a five-hour trip from Philly to Pittsburgh, it's also $26.50, usually plus overpriced gas at Sideling Hill. Try it for yourself. It's not like the Turnpike has a lock on the market purely because we're subsidizing the road, the way it is for, say, the Buffalo-Pittsburgh market. In fact, the Amtrak fare, $54.00, is price-competitive with the Turnpike. (Think about it: a $30 Turnpike toll plus $30 for gas at Sideling Hill is about the same as a one-way Amtrak fare.) It's not time-competitive, but it doesn't really need to be to begin building ridership; it can appeal to time-rich demographics, like students and weekenders, and start worrying about time-sensitive travelers later. In fact, this is the very way its ridership is growing where the service is convenient".
http://philadelphia2050.blogsp...nnsylvanian.html?m=1
Your figures are not far short on parity when it is based on a single person travelling. If there are say two people traveling together then the costs are going to be halved at least.
So the toll fee of $26 becomes $13 each and gas costs reduce to $15. The total cost for each person becomes $28. For four people in a car sharing the cost, makes it $14 each way. On this basis the train will never compete cost wise.
The train will only become viable when gas costs increase to say a level the same as in Europe. But then costs of fuel oil/electric will also increase the fare but tax breaks could keep those costs down to make train travel an alternative option.
Regards,
Neil.
I was talking to a relative of mine one day, and she said that because of Airtran or some other airline discontinuing service or something airfare from PGH to the Big Apple nearly quadrupled. Yet another reason to keep the Pennsylvanian running.
When the new Viewliner sleeper/diners are delivered, the plan is to add through sleepers and a diner to the Pennsylvanian. These will be added to the Capitol Limited in Pittsburgh when it arrives westbound, and dropped off eastbound for the Pennsy's eastbound trip.
This combination of moves would turn the Pennsylvanian into a NY-Chicago long-distance train, freeing PA from having to foot the bill.
---PCJ
Add this to the discussion (From yesterday's AAR SmartBrief newsletter)
NYC-Philadelphia HSR among alternatives to speed N.E. Corridor service
A new high-speed rail service in the Northeast Corridor between Philadelphia and New York City is one of the 15 "preliminary alternatives" for service improvement on the busiest U.S. rail route, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Amtrak's $151 billion project between Washington and Boston is also being reviewed as a viable solution by the FRA. The Philadelphia Inquirer (4/2) 
