Mark,
I base my conclusion on this years' trends and historical trends. Ridership did NOT abruptlyy take a downturn after Sept. 11. Go to the link below and read the spreadsheet.
Because of the transitional period, you can't really make a valid comparison of this year with any other year, and you certainly cannot compare the results at CTSRR with those of say- Durango.
If you take a serious analytical look at the numbers you will agree that (1) The CTSRR was NOT way ahead of last year, and that (2) making 60,000, OR even 55,000 was a pipe dream at the outset. Remember that last year, 4 days out of the last week were cancelled due to lack of ridership. It just does NOT increase during the last two weeks. It dwindles.
Certainly, the terrorism had some effect on ridership. But I contend that a local/regional effect offset a LOT of that. Tourism has been off in the region all year. Santa Fe, Taos, and ALL of the Colorado summer and winter tourist destinations are hurting and WERE hurting, long before Sept. 11. We are in a serious economic depression.
Marketing:
The brochures were not released until May. When they WERE released, almost everyone who I talked to, was as dismayed as I was by the product. Too many graphics, too small type, and printed in brown ink on brown paper. Damn near unreadable.
A personal tour of the region - looking at brochure racks here and there, showed that noplace I looked had any of ours.
Reservation system: That is a serious marketing tool. It does not work properly. The on-line system is just plain shabby. Try to use it sometime. Speaking of web-sites: While the RGRPGC is suing me for supposedly stepping on their toes, their own web-site is as dull as dishwater.
The marketing 'genius'- Mr. Craft. tells me that TrainCams is 'worthless'.
While it is nice that we are advertising in ABQ, it's a mature market. Good that Denver and Colorado Springs are finally hearing about us.
I have only anecdotal evidence, but people in big cities like Chicago tell me that there is NO advertising done there.
