DO PASSENGER LOADS REQUIRE A 2ndTRAILER CAR?

Colorado Rail cars show about 100 seas in commuter configuration. For long haul operations you will loose a few rows to increase leg room, and possible a few more seats for a reverse direction motorman location, luggage rack, etc. 

That leaves about 85 seats for passengers max, 70 to travel with a comfortable load.

Can we expect to see a travel segment that would routinely exceed 70 passengers, and frequently increase past 85?

The Long Haul Route: Boston to Montreal

  1. From Burlington to Springfield, the Montreal service uses 2 combined power cars, with a combined 170 seats.

  2. At Springfield, the service splits: 85 seats go south to New haven and 85 more east to Boston.

  3. The Burlington to Montreal segment is served by a single car.

Service both east and south of Springfield is additionally served by runs originating out of WRJ, and AMTRAK offers several Springfield to New Haven shuttle runs.. It should not see excess demand on any initial service.

If service from Burlington north into CANADA exceeds the 85 seats offered daily, we will have truly succeeded! There would be funds quickly found to acquire additional units. The quick fix would be to temporarily suspend Rutland service until a trailer car could be acquired. 

Long term, when service is successful and loads improve, the long haul trip Boston to Montreal should see a dedicated trailer car, detailed with additional conveniences designed to attract even more customers.

White River Junction and South

  1. From WRJ to Springfield , the service uses uses 2 combined power cars, with a combined 170 seats.

  2. At Springfield, the service splits: 85 seats go south to New haven and 85 more east to Boston.

  3. The entire route is complemented by the overlaying service provided by the long haul Montreal run.

Conclusion

Generally speaking, the function of the trailer car (i.e. the seats they offer)  is being  replaced by an independent run later in the day. Offering increased frequency will attract additional riders.

 Except for Burlington north, it is hard to foresee demand exceeding capacity, and even there it's a stretch. 

And then "too much business" is a problem many would be happy to work on. 

There just isn't a compelling case for trailer only cars for start up operations.

03/20/2007 19:31