Most of Kevin and Merchant's observations do seem accurate, at least to what I witnessed. "Loop Bashing" or so some call it is not all lies, in fact the contrary (CHS BS) is the real farse here, and those thinking the 9 will be safely operating on the Loop by July or August need a reality check.
In all fairness to the new operator, I did throw down $16.50 (having to bite the bullet in knowing what 'organization' would get a piece of even such a small sum) to judge this operation as a paying passenger, particularly as I am running an article about it.
For a sunny day in Georgetown...visitors walking the streets appeared few, passengers on the train appeared average, and traffic in town was minimal. Given the time, I would think this would be the busiest time of day there.
There were several vacancies on the train, and in all truthfulness I did hear negative comments about the operation spoken on the train, including contrasting their experiences to past seasons.
If the CHS wants to offer a train ride through the scenery of the Rockies, they've got it, and that's just about its only selling point. A first class operation like the GLR Inc? No, and obviously no replacement could have done so. "Historically Accurate" as the CHS intended? No.
Railstar aside here, who didn't have many options as any new operator would have, the sh** isn't going to quit flying because they chose to land themselves on a political cesspool. Unfortunately for them, this is what they will have to put up with.
Label me a "Loop Basher" if you so choose, I don't care, but remember I didn't have to throw down $16.50 to be a fair judge, I simply could have continued driving right past Georgetown and repeated (correct) second-hand information. And I do not hide behind a moniker.
