How does the California Thruway Network fit into an integrated rail passenger system?
While it is kind of hard to classify how the Thruway network in California works, the best classification would be as a regional carrier. Even though they use buses instead of trains, the system works much the same. The buses are guaranteed revenue and provide the crew (driver) with the main carrier (Amtrak) selling the tickets and being responsible for marketing (OK, the people of California get the real credit for the marketing but that is another story).
The system works well for much the same reason as regional carriers work for the airlines. The rail system is expanded by creating new markets and opportunities for the parent organization, while the operators get guaranteed revenue and do not have to assume the overhead of their own reservations and marketing.
The opportunities for this kind of expansion are virtually unlimited. While there was been limited expansion of thruway service across the country, it is only the tip of the iceberg compared to what is possible. The best areas to start expansion would be in the Cascade Corridor, the Chicago network and the northeast were there are already enough trains to feed an extensive network of connecting buses.
One of the many downfalls of the current Amtrak system is the lack of feeders. There are not enough routes feeding into the lines to create a synergy of a network.
Then you could expand this to the rail network. You can create a network of regional services using the Flexliner or DMU’s connecting to the main train network. For example out of Chicago you could add regional routes on the old Black Hawk line to Dubuque, the existing line to Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Peoria, Indianapolis and others.
These types of routes would feed into your core long distance routes, your main short distance corridors and other regional routes. That will allow the rail system to serve enough markets to build a truly useful rail passenger network.
Next week will be the final part of this series dealing with the politics keeping us from achieving.
Part 1: Poor Integration History
Part 2: The Airlines-Code Sharing
Part 3: The Airlines-The Regional Carriers
Part 4: How it can be applied to rail passenger service
Part 5: Integration of Schedules
Part 6: The California Thruway: It Can Work
Part 7: The Politics that holds us back
John Dornoff is a principal in the Dornoff Consulting Group.
