Las Vegas Sun NewsParty train from Calif. to Las Vegas could be on tracks next year
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19 November 2012
1:14 p.m.
A company planning luxury train service between Southern California and Las Vegas has signed a key agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad that could lead to the start of passenger service by the end of next year. Las Vegas Railway Express signed the deal last week enabling the company to operate its “X Train” on Union Pacific tracks between Daggett, Calif., and Las Vegas. That means that X Train excursions between Fullerton, Calif., and the company’s rail station at the Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas could begin in December 2013. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are ...
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We'll see if the economics of this plan works out. $99 each way seems fairly steep when you consider if you bring your wife / girlfriend, you are looking easily at $400 (excluding taxes / tips). At that point, you might as well just drive or take an airplane. Plus these are introductory rates so I imagine the price will go up as time goes by. Also, not many people stay at the Plaza / Freemont street, so people would have to pay a cab to take them to the Strip. The costs just keep adding up on why rail isn't the way to go.
It's less than 150 miles (A two hour drive) and then you need to rent a car? The train takes 5 1/2 hrs. EACH WAY! Best of luck with that.
As long as it's private equity and no government funds I'm fine with it.
Been tried many times before and was a miserable failure. They are fools if they trust the U.P...
One important issue is that the freight trains have priority which could lead to delays well beyond the 5 1/2 hour trip. It's not the "deal" with Union Pacific but the details of the deal. I believe one of the problems with the original Amtrak line to Los Angeles is that it became bogged down as freighters had priority on the rails. 5 1/2 hours is long enough. If it turns into 7+ ridership will evaporate.
I agree no taxpayer money Our Country is Broke Now
The funny thing about rail travel is that people beat it up when it comes to taxpayer support. Do they not realize the amount of taxpayer money that goes into air travel? Think that new terminal at McCarran was funded by the airlines? LOL. How about all the TSA security for air travel. All taxpayer funded. The taxpayer is on the hook for an enormous amount of money for air travel vs. rail travel. Even highway travel is massively taxpayer funded. No travel option is self supporting.
The video interview says the fares will be $99 round trip, but the story says $99 each way. Could someone confirm which one is correct?
This is a great idea and $100 each way is a good deal when you consider the real cost of driving and wear on your car.
Nice to see someone getting it right. Knowing what the customer wants and delivering it. Without Government money. What a novel idea...
Eddie needs to get out more and take a look at McCarren and the I15 on a Friday afternoon. -We all don't want to drive little hybred cars... Some people like the comfort and style of a larger mode of transportation... And are willing to pay for it... Not wait for Santa Obama to give it to us...
What is wrong with this idea? Nothing.
Well for starters, you pay the same or higher than Southwest and you still end up in Vegas (sans-car) - so If you're staying any-place except downtown, you're paying the same cabfare as you would from Mccarran. 5 1/2 hours on a train versus 45 minitues via air and you can bet a Heineken is going to be $7 dollars. A novelty that people will try ONCE.
Santa Obama? There just has to be right wing nut jobs in every conversation. I wonder if these village idiots can figure a way to make Amtrak available to the thousands of other communitees that would welcome it without tax payer money? Of course air travel has become a joke where now a few major airlines rule the market and the service is horrible and prices higher than ever. And then comes the after market airlines who will go to a destination twice a week if they sell enough tickets.
It seems that since the Great Depression the Republicans have been cursing and calling everyone socialists as they took their own G.I. Benefits,Social Security and Medicare and they wanted to run FDR out of the country for his New deal which saved America and them,during the great dust bowl of the thirties they cursed the government for getting involved in soil and land management until they were dead broke then they came running for the hand out. All of the good intentions of tough talking Republicans can be bought cheap when the bottom drops out of everything, then they are there with a smilse on their face and nothing bad to say.
I have yet to meet a Republican so principled he waived his right to Social Security.Medicare or G. I. Benefits, hypocritical talk is cheap.
CEO Michael Barron says in the video that the fare is $99 round trip, not one-way. Why is it that "conservatives" don't mind paying for Interstate highways, airports and air traffic control, Army Corp of Engineers built waterways, but consider spending on rail some form of
"socialsm" ?
Comment removed by moderator. Name Calling
A point of clarification: The story is accurate on the price point. It's $99 one way. The video that states the price is $99 round trip is outdated or inaccurate. The ticket includes food and drinks, although there will be an additional charge for some cocktails.
Why would anyone pay $198 per person for a roundtrip? You can fly on southwest for as low as $123.60 roundtrip to LAX.
First of all I love trains and would do the trip just for the ride. $99 is a bargain. Not sitting in traffic for hours in the heat on I 15 is well worth the cost.
Some enterprising go getter will figure out a shuttle to the strip at a reasonable cost.
I wish them success.
AmtrakCalifornia already drive to and from Las Vegas, just put these people at a rebuilt Desert Express Train Route! http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/index.cf...