From: dkantor@uspi2.Prime.COM (Dave Kantor)
Subject: Re: New York <-> Washington DC: air shuttle was better
Keywords: AMTRAK, North-East Corridor, air travel
Organization: Prime Computer, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 18:34:07 GMT

In article <Bz9FrL.8LK@cmcl2.nyu.edu>, mckenney@gauss.cims.nyu.edu (Alan M. McKenney) writes:
> 
>     A second problem is that little attempt has been made to
> provide direct public transportation to AMTRAK stations.  A lot
> of towns, suburbs, etc., have limousines to the nearest major
> airport.  So, even though the airport may be less centrally
> located, it is practical to get there with all your excess
> luggage, even without a car (and without using a taxi.) By
> contrast, I have never heard of any public transportation to an
> AMTRAK station beyond what would have gone there in the absence
> of the station.

Whether or not the direct public transportation to an Amtrak station
is 'by default' or added specifically to serve Amtrak is totally irrelevant.
The fact that it is there is what counts, and in the Boston area, all three
Amtrak stations are served by direct public transportation.

South Station: MBTA Red line subway, commuter rail, commuter buses, inter-city
               buses, MBTA buses, Logan Link airport bus

Back Bay: Orange line subway, commuter rail, MBTA buses, inter-city buses

RT 128: Commuter rail

It looks to me that this problem is actually specific to the NYC area.


> Summary:
> 
>     AMTRAK is OK for the lightly loaded,

  Most people traveling on the NEC ARE lightly loaded - I agree it's
  a hassle if you're not, but this should not eliminate the majority
  of potential train riders between NYC->DC.

> who are not in a hurry,

   I would think that your wife was extremely lucky to have avoided 
   a traffic jam going from LaGuardia to Tarrytown during rush hour.
   Any other NYC-area people care to comment ??

   Also, she was lucky that:

    1) the weather was good enough to fly without delay
    2) the flight was not delayed due to air traffic problems
    3) she could afford to spend the extra $$ for the Shuttle

> and at each end, either know the local public transportation

  Most folks who choose to take the train to go anywhere are usually
  fairly 'hip' to the available public transportation, and if they 
  aren't, one phone call is all that's required.  

> will be dropped off and picked up.

  Why is this any different from airports ??  Judging from the mess
  of people being dropped off at airport terminal curbsides, I would
  say this is a non-issue in terms of comparing the two modes.  

> For anyone else, stick to the car or airplane.

  Yeah, stick to the car or airplane, and continue the environmental
  devastation caused by both of them.  This attitude is counter-productive-
  instead of throwing up your hands and saying it's a lot cause, why not
  make transportation officials aware of this (Metro-North, AMtrak, State of
  NY, County of Westchester, etc...), and maybe something can be done to
  correct the problem.  I don't dispute that access to Penn Station from
  Tarrytown is a hassle, but why not seek a solution instead telling
  everyone to avoid taking the train.  We cannot continue to rely on cars
  and planes to take us everywhere - they are inefficient, polluting, and
  in the case of cars, very unsafe.  If people realized how many deaths are
  caused by automobiles each year, I think they would be shocked.  

-- 
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Dave 'The Rave' Kantor     "I'm gonna call myself on the phone someday and
dkantor@s55.prime.com       tell myself to shutup." - Miles Davis

I support the Knicks and anyone who's playing against the Celtics...
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