The new XTrain service is being started in Las Vegas. Is this the model for AAF?
Amenities, comfortable seats, private party cars for rent.
(http://www.vegasxtrain.com/uploads/8/5/6/4/8564826/6278078.png?239)
(http://www.vegasxtrain.com/uploads/8/5/6/4/8564826/6601847.jpg?421)
(http://www.vegasxtrain.com/uploads/8/5/6/4/8564826/9675948.jpg?206)
http://www.vegasxtrain.com (http://www.vegasxtrain.com)
Quote from: spuwho on August 21, 2012, 07:20:30 PM
The new XTrain service is being started in Las Vegas. Is this the model for AAF?
Amenities, comfortable seats, private party cars for rent.
(http://www.vegasxtrain.com/uploads/8/5/6/4/8564826/6278078.png?239)
(http://www.vegasxtrain.com/uploads/8/5/6/4/8564826/6601847.jpg?421)
(http://www.vegasxtrain.com/uploads/8/5/6/4/8564826/9675948.jpg?206)
http://www.vegasxtrain.com (http://www.vegasxtrain.com)
That looks hideous. But comfortable.
It seems like a great idea. Hope it works. Personally Im surprised Union Pacific is letting them use their tracks. UP seems to hate passenger trains for some reason.
Sounds fun... next up... a Mardi Gras train between jax and New Orleans... 8)
Quote from: BackinJax05 on August 22, 2012, 01:17:48 AM
It seems like a great idea. Hope it works. Personally Im surprised Union Pacific is letting them use their tracks. UP seems to hate passenger trains for some reason.
Correction, Union Pacific AKA: 'Uncle Pete,' may not be thrilled about Amtrak using their facilities for a federal payment agreed upon decades ago, but they LOVE MONEY! Anything that runs on anybody's railroad is going to be paying for the privilege. So if Uncle pete and the X-Train folks have agreed to run this thing, you can bet the benevolent 'uncle' is getting a nice paycheck for his troubles.
Jacksonville - New Orleans? Mardi Gras train? I have learned that the State of Alabama has a federal grant in hand to start the process rolling to get a train running between New Orleans and Mobile, though Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, all want the train to terminate in JACKSONVILLE! After all this is the way God intended it to be. If it happens, this would be a state run route with each state putting something in the pot. The train needn't be an Amtrak train either, which apparently suits Governor Scott just fine, it would be rather easy to upstage Amtrak's 'basic accommodation,' with REAL train service.
I want Miami and Atlanta more than NOLA.
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 22, 2012, 09:50:35 AM
I want Miami and Atlanta more than NOLA.
What would the theme of that train be? Vegas and Mardi Gras are pretty easy... 8)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 22, 2012, 09:52:19 AM
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 22, 2012, 09:50:35 AM
I want Miami and Atlanta more than NOLA.
What would the theme of that train be? Vegas and Mardi Gras are pretty easy... 8)
Well the South Beach theme would be easy and the Atlanta leg could be themed as the "Avoid their Airport tour" or "Jermain Dupree welcomes you to the Georgia Aquarium".
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 22, 2012, 09:59:47 AM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 22, 2012, 09:52:19 AM
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 22, 2012, 09:50:35 AM
I want Miami and Atlanta more than NOLA.
What would the theme of that train be? Vegas and Mardi Gras are pretty easy... 8)
Well the South Beach theme would be easy and the Atlanta leg could be themed as the "Avoid their Airport tour" or "Jermain Dupree welcomes you to the Georgia Aquarium".
Or the Midnight Train to Georgia. Though the hours of operation may be a bit restrictive...
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 22, 2012, 09:59:47 AM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 22, 2012, 09:52:19 AM
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 22, 2012, 09:50:35 AM
I want Miami and Atlanta more than NOLA.
What would the theme of that train be? Vegas and Mardi Gras are pretty easy... 8)
Well the South Beach theme would be easy and the Atlanta leg could be themed as the "Avoid their Airport tour" or "Jermain Dupree welcomes you to the Georgia Aquarium".
I suppose... perhaps it is just me but Vegas and Mardi Gras are infinitly more attractive...
Joking aside, Jacksonville is almost exactly half way between Miami and Atlanta. My problem with the plan is the DOT'S apparent refusal to consider Jacksonville-Valdosta-Tifton-Macon-Atlanta, which would introduce rail service to a vast area without any current passenger train service. In 1951, the Atlanta-Jacksonville segment was an 8 hour 15 minute trip, but there were many stops. The old ACL (ABC) route Jacksonville-Waycross-Manchester-Atlanta was only 7 hours 7 minutes, but it missed Macon. But I digress, the Valdosta MSA has 139,588 people in it, Waycross is less then half of that amount. Also, Jacksonville-Waycross has a divided 4 lane highway the entire route, but Valdosta requires a circuitous trip through Lake City. The old Valdosta railroad route is pretty arrow straight.
All Aboard Florida is supposed to cost $100-$125 one-way between Miami and Orlando....wonder how much the X Train will cost?
Quote from: Ocklawaha on August 22, 2012, 09:09:07 AM
Quote from: BackinJax05 on August 22, 2012, 01:17:48 AM
It seems like a great idea. Hope it works. Personally Im surprised Union Pacific is letting them use their tracks. UP seems to hate passenger trains for some reason.
Correction, Union Pacific AKA: 'Uncle Pete,' may not be thrilled about Amtrak using their facilities for a federal payment agreed upon decades ago, but they LOVE MONEY! Anything that runs on anybody's railroad is going to be paying for the privilege. So if Uncle pete and the X-Train folks have agreed to run this thing, you can bet the benevolent 'uncle' is getting a nice paycheck for his troubles.
Jacksonville - New Orleans? Mardi Gras train? I have learned that the State of Alabama has a federal grant in hand to start the process rolling to get a train running between New Orleans and Mobile, though Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, all want the train to terminate in JACKSONVILLE! After all this is the way God intended it to be. If it happens, this would be a state run route with each state putting something in the pot. The train needn't be an Amtrak train either, which apparently suits Governor Scott just fine, it would be rather easy to upstage Amtrak's 'basic accommodation,' with REAL train service.
Yes, UP does love money.
As for a JAX-NOLA Mardi Gras train, if that ever does come to fruition it better be marketed better than the short lived Florida Fun Train from Tampa - Orlando back in the 90s