John:
My argument to increase the speed of C&TS trains is in my mind good for business. We begin with the premise that the track and roadbed are upgraded and maintained to standards that would be the equivalent of what the D&RGW had when the San Juan was operational. Second, the passenger fleet is equipped with passenger trucks for revenue operations at an average track speed allowing a daily roundtrip of each set of equipment.
Here are the reasons I think it would be a win-win situation:
Given the choice, I believe the average tourist who rides the C&TS would opt for a half day one-way trip over the full day ride as now exists (bus return is still offered) at a similar ticket price (less lunch). Most people today don’t want to spend all day on a train and if they do they could buy a roundtrip train ticket.
Elimination of the Osier meal stop reduces overhead and puts the tourists into the local restaurants in each terminus; Chama/ Antonito for lunch/ shopping which benefits the local economies. From what I am hearing more and more of the tourists are day trippers so the additional capacity required for motels should be manageable.
The same equipment in use today is then potentially generating 2X the revenue per day with no additional capital or equipment outlay (except the aforementioned truck upgrades and the already in progress track upgrades). This is where the bottom line gets black. Instead of 2 trains, one each way per day we now get 4 trains per day. No additional operational crews are required. Additional fuel and maintenance for the locomotives but with a 5 engine operational roster it should be doable.
Other than the guys who say it can’t be done and those who don’t like change I would like to understand why management isn’t preparing a marketing plan to double the revenue like I have outlined.
Rod