- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Amtrak Mardi Gras has Doubled Occupancy expectations in 1st 2 months of service……
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:03 am
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:03 am
Perhaps the success of the Amtrak Mardi Gras, will help an Amtrak NOLA to BR line?
quote:
The trains so far have averaged 105 riders per train, so 420 per day times 365 would be 153,300 for the year. That's more than double the first year estimate of 70,000. It's really amazing how these local communities have embraced the trains.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:05 am to AncientTiger
Seems skewed to just focus on the mardi gras events and project the same for every day for the rest of the year
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:06 am to AncientTiger
Great, they can pay for it instead of the state of Louisiana.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:06 am to HailToTheChiz
I don't get the Mardi Gras reference. Are these numbers from earlier this year or is something going on right now that I'm just not aware of?
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:06 am to AncientTiger
A side note: Biden gave Amtrak a lot of money.
Why can't trains expand in America like they are across Europe?
Why exactly did the CA train expansion fail?
Why can't trains expand in America like they are across Europe?
Why exactly did the CA train expansion fail?
This post was edited on 10/13/25 at 9:08 am
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:08 am to AncientTiger
quote:
The trains so far have averaged 105 riders per train, so 420 per day times 365 would be 153,300 for the year. That's more than double the first year estimate of 70,000. It's really amazing how these local communities have embraced the trains.
So if each person is paying a fare of 30 dollars, Amtrak is making just over 3,000 dollars per train.
I am pretty sure operational costs are much higher than that.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:08 am to cajunangelle
We have our own cars.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:12 am to TiderTom
Trains are only feasible in condensed, close geographic areas. They only really make sense in the northeast. Europe has so many because the high-density areas are so close together.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:13 am to imjustafatkid
quote:
I don't get the Mardi Gras reference.
The two cities Mobile and New Orleans have the largest Mardi Gras celebrations. Not difficult to figure out.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:16 am to glassman
quote:
The two cities Mobile and New Orleans have the largest Mardi Gras celebrations. Not difficult to figure out.
Right, that's originally what I thought it meant, but the person I responded to said the numbers are skewed due to Mardi Gras which led me to believe it might have just been a Mardi Gras thing.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:17 am to cajunangelle
quote:
Why can't trains expand in America like they are across Europe?
Unlike Europe we have large swaths of rural communities in the U.S.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:22 am to glassman
quote:
The two cities Mobile and New Orleans have the largest Mardi Gras celebrations. Not difficult to figure out.
The two cities are also majority black, so , by your logic "the black train" would have made sense. The Mardi Gras reference lacks creativity and was obviously their lazy choice.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:32 am to Tarps99
quote:
operational costs are much higher than that
So the average Amtrak Diesel Locomotive will use 180 to 200 gallons of diesel an hour at full speed that is way over 600 dollars an hour just in fuel alone. Then you have a conductor, train attendants, cafe car workers, then you have incremental costs that are paid to the owner of the rails, etc.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:37 am to 4Bagger
So people even think before they type? A lot of cities have blacks. Very few cities celebrate Mardi Gras. It's most famous in new orleans and was started in Mobile. The name makes sense.
Black train would be horrible stupid.
Black train would be horrible stupid.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:38 am to 4Bagger
God damn. Starching the white robes this morning?
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:56 am to AncientTiger
Simple economics of any rail line monetary success is you need 7-10% of the regional population to ride said line 5 or more times a week.
Otherwise it is loosing money and must be propped up by tax dollars from the majority of people who do not utilize the line.
Mind you, the 7-10% still requires taxpayer subsidies.
Otherwise it is loosing money and must be propped up by tax dollars from the majority of people who do not utilize the line.
Mind you, the 7-10% still requires taxpayer subsidies.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 9:57 am to Napoleon
quote:
Black train would be horrible stupid.
THE Black Train - stupid
A Black Train - probably fits
I rode the train from Minneapolis to Memphis and back one time in the 80's.
MPLS-CHI and CHI-MEM were like 2 different countries, more different than trains going between actual different countries in Europe.
Posted on 10/13/25 at 10:11 am to AncientTiger
Great so they can make money without govt subsidies! Capitalism is great!
Posted on 10/13/25 at 10:17 am to AncientTiger
entire thread needs a translator
Posted on 10/13/25 at 10:58 am to HailToTheChiz
quote:
Seems skewed to just focus on the mardi gras events and project the same for every day for the rest of the year
How so? The line has only been running since mid-August (after an absence of 20-ish years). As such, it hasn't had Mardi Gras seasonal traffic yet (and won't for at least another 3-4 months).
Popular
Back to top

10








