The city stands ready to assume its former role as a principal gateway along with Chicago and New Orleans. Such an operation would be recreated by this proposal which would also serve another time-honored market over a somewhat different route. Considerable study was given to track conditions, traffic levels, market potentials and earlier experiences with schedules both pre and post Amtrak. The most important feature to consider is attractive arrival and departure times at major points along the line. All else notwithstanding, money is the name of the game if Amtrak is to succeed and the components necessary to make money must be present.
Speed is of secondary consequence.
Patrons of interstate trains place other features before speed and even over on-time performance. A clean, comfortable ride, friendly personnel, good food and, above all, air conditioning that works is what they want. Travel on long-haul interstate trains is largely a discretionary commodity and bears little resemblance to corridor rail travel or air travel. Only Amtrak can run scheduled trains and they have a monopoly if they could only realize it. They continue to allude to competition that does not exist assuming the fare structure is anywhere within reason.