tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11125157.post8574137930724077720..comments2023-09-16T02:32:27.765-06:00Comments on Passenger Rail: Technology Marches Forwardmistertrainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908806266880517883noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11125157.post-44404919877780788922007-08-21T19:34:00.000-06:002007-08-21T19:34:00.000-06:00I see that Christopher has thought this over alot....I see that Christopher has thought this over alot. Nice twist on getting all services into one network matrix. I like it. To tell the truth, it sounds like this kind of system would be a lot less costly than some of the others I have heard proposed. Often these expensive proposals come from expensive vendors with untried ideas that would just like to get their hands in with all the rest in the taxpayer's pocket. Have you sent any of your ideas to Amtrak?mistertrainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06908806266880517883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11125157.post-15871075777295259142007-08-21T14:26:00.001-06:002007-08-21T14:26:00.001-06:00Oh, and I hope you are enjoying your new computer....Oh, and I hope you are enjoying your new computer. Same process happened to me recently too.Christopher Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16947034888487890485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11125157.post-24084881891452256372007-08-21T14:26:00.000-06:002007-08-21T14:26:00.000-06:00wi-fi is coming - it's already on the California C...wi-fi is coming - it's already on the California Corridor.<BR/><BR/>The next step - which is also coming - is to make the train one big integrated local area network. Equipment will be self-diagnosing and will communicate with the repair shop while on the road. I'd like to see fare collection/ revenue management taken into this technological matrix as well - which it will be in some form, but hopefully that form will cut costs and improve the experience rather than just computerize the existing process. Imagine that trains didn't have tickets anymore (like the airlines) - you just called the 800 number (or used the web) and got a reservation. When you got on , to conductor would have a manifest (in real time, as opposed to the print out they get now) that would tell which seats should be occupied an vacant. They could quickly go through the train spot checking people, and actually performing customer service rather than dealing with tickets, which is something that adds no value to the customer (or Amtrak, since it's a pretty major cost). And you might not need assistant conductors and station agents could do things like rent cars instead of selling tickets (see above about adding value or not).<BR/><BR/>A real time electronic environment would allow conductors to record no-shows and re-sell that space. Conductors could look up reservations if there was an issue. <BR/><BR/>station announcements could be made automatically, using gps (like public transit) which would again free conductors for value adding customer service. Unstaffed stations could have speakers rigged to telephones so the automated announcements could be triggered based on the gps location of the train (or the conductor or the national operations center could make announcements).<BR/><BR/>Conductors could accept checked baggage at all stations including unstaffed stations, printing out baggage receipts on the fly.<BR/><BR/>customers could sign up for automated e-mail notifications of train status at the time of reservation.<BR/><BR/>Dinning car menus could be made available on the web and orders on the train could be taken in advance, making dinning car turnover faster or facilitating "take out" back to the seat.Christopher Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16947034888487890485noreply@blogger.com