List of 'Leapfrogging' Savings Possibilities on Amtrak
[This list appeared in the April 1993 issue of the Bull Sheet]
_ _ _ _ _
#1 -- SUNSET LIMITED -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
New Orleans LA to Tucson AZ | 223 |
B |
Beaumont TX to Sanderson TX | 96 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 127 |
#2 -- SUNSET LIMITED -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Phoenix AZ to New Orleans LA | 223 |
B |
El Paso TX to Houston TX | 128 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 95 |
#3 -- SOUTHWEST CHIEF -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Chicago IL to Gallup NM | 148 |
B |
Galesburg IL to Lamar CO | 83 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 65 |
#3 -- SOUTHWEST CHIEF -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Chicago IL to Los Angeles CA | 219 |
B |
Galesburg IL to Lamar CO ($83) & Gallup NM to Los Angeles CA ($79) | 162 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 57 |
#4 -- SOUTHWEST CHIEF -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Los Angeles CA to Albuquerque NM | 93 |
B |
Los Angeles CA to Winslow AZ | 76 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 17 |
#4 -- SOUTHWEST CHIEF -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Los Angeles CA to Chicago IL | 219 |
B |
Los Angeles CA to Winslow AZ ($76) & Raton NM to Marceline MO ($83) | 159 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 60 |
#5 -- CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Chicago IL to Denver CO | 125 |
B |
Mt Pleasant IO to Denver CO | 112 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 13 |
#5 -- CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Denver CO to Oakland CA | 209 |
B |
Grand Jct CO to Reno NV | 193 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 16 |
#6 -- CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Oakland CA to Grand Jct CO | 208 |
B |
Reno NV to Grand Jct CO | 193 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 15 |
#6 -- CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Grand Jct CO to Chicago IL | 125 |
B |
Grand Jct CO to Creston IO | 94 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 31 |
#7 -- EMPIRE BUILDER -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Chicago IL to Havre MT | 120 |
B |
Milwaukee WI to Minot ND | 76 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 44 |
#8 -- EMPIRE BUILDER -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Seattle WA to Minot ND | 118 |
B |
Seattle WA to Shelby MT | 76 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 42 |
#11 -- COAST STARLIGHT -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Seattle WA to Los Angeles CA | 159 |
B |
Eugene OR to San Luis Obispo CA | 107 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 52 |
#14 -- COAST STARLIGHT -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Los Angeles CA to Seattle WA | 159 |
B |
Salinas CA to Salem OR | 107 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 52 |
#19 -- CRESCENT -- (Roomette)
A |
New York NY to New Orleans LA | 124 |
B |
Baltimore MD to Atlanta GA | 73 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 51 |
#21 -- TEXAS EAGLE -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Chicago IL to Fort Worth TX | 132 |
B |
Chicago IL to Arkadelphia AR | 101 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 31 |
#22 -- TEXAS EAGLE -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Austin TX to Chicago IL | 152 |
B |
Longview TX to Springfield IL | 101 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 51 |
#25 -- PIONEER -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Denver CO to Portland OR | 106 |
B |
Denver CO to Hinkle-Hermiston OR | 92 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 14 |
#26 -- PIONEER -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Seattle WA to Denver CO | 119 |
B |
Hinkle-Hermiston OR to Denver CO | 92 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 27 |
#29 -- CAPITOL LIMITED -- (Roomette)
A |
Washington DC to Chicago IL | 112 |
B |
Cumberland MD to Chicago IL | 99 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 13 |
#30 -- CAPITOL LIMITED -- (Roomette)
A |
Chicago IL to Washington DC | 112 |
B |
South Bend IN to Harpers Ferry WV | 88 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 24 |
#40 -- BROADWAY LIMITED -- (Roomette)
A |
Chicago IL to New York NY | 131 |
B |
Chicago IL to Greenburg PA | 67 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 64 |
#41 -- BROADWAY LIMITED -- (Roomette)
A |
New York NY to Chicago IL | 131 |
B |
Harrisburg PA to Garrett IN | 78 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 53 |
#48 -- LAKE SHORE LIMITED -- (Roomette)
A |
Chicago IL to New York NY | 131 |
B |
Chicago IL to Utica NY | 113 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 18 |
#49 -- LAKE SHORE LIMITED -- (Roomette)
A |
New York NY to Chicago IL | 131 |
B |
New York NY to Elyria OH | 88 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 43 |
#50 -- CARDINAL -- (Roomette)
A |
Chicago IL to New York NY | 131 |
B |
Chicago IL to Catlettsburg KY | 77 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 54 |
#51 -- CARDINAL -- (Roomette)
A |
New York NY to Chicago IL | 131 |
B |
Alderson WV to Crawfordsville IN | 79 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 52 |
#59 -- CITY OF NEW ORLEANS -- (Roomette)
A |
Chicago IL to New Orleans LA | 83 |
B |
Chicago IL to Durant MS | 75 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 8 |
#60 -- MONTREALER -- (Roomette)
A |
Washington DC to Montreal QC | 93 |
B |
Newark NJ to Montreal QC | 69 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 24 |
#61 -- MONTREALER -- (Roomette)
A |
Montreal QC to Washington DC | 93 |
B |
Essex Jct VT to Newark NJ | 57 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 36 |
#81 -- SILVER STAR -- (Roomette)
A |
New York NY to Miami FL | 170 |
B |
Raleigh NC to Kissimee FL | 76 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 94 |
#87 -- SILVER METEOR -- (Roomette)
A |
New York NY to Miami FL | 170 |
B |
Baltimore MD to Jacksonville FL | 113 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 57 |
#88 -- SILVER METEOR -- (Roomette)
A |
Miami FL to New York NY | 170 |
B |
Charleston SC to Philadelphia PA | 82 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 88 |
#521 -- TEXAS EAGLE -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Chicago IL to Dallas TX | 132 |
B |
Chicago IL to Arkadelphia AR | 101 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 31 |
#522 -- TEXAS EAGLE -- (Economy Bedroom)
A |
Dallas TX to Chicago IL | 132 |
B |
Longview TX to Springfield IL | 101 |
C |
Savings by leapfrogging | 31 |
NOTES:
The end points in line A were randomly selected as examples. Leapfrog savings are also possible between a number of other end points.
Leapfrogging is a concept that comprehends the use of a sleeper during night-time hours only. During the day, when lesser-priced coach travel is deemed sufficient, the sleeping space gets vacated. The concept works best when there are a lot of day-time travel hours involved, either before or after at least one night of travel.
Another factor to be considered is the value of meals, which are free to sleeping car passengers but not to those riding coach. To this end, it is advisable to structure any leapfrogging in order for sleeping car hours and dinner/breakfast hours to overlap. Lunch, if desired, would have to be paid for by the leapfrogger - who would probably then be riding coach - but the cost of lunch might easily be absorbed by whatever greater savings are realized by leapfrogging.
The list incorporates the basic guideline of occupying sleeping car space beginning at the stop at or before 8PM, and ending at the stop at or after 8AM. This was done in order to capture dinner and breakfast hours along with a full night of sleep. But if the sleeping car space charge under this guideline was found to be the same over an even greater distance, then use of the sleeping space over that greater distance prevails. Also, if the cost for sleeping car space between guidelined leapfrogging points was found to be no more than $5 compared to the cost for that space from or to one of the selected end points, then use of the sleeping space over that greater distance from or to the end point prevails.
Sleeping car space charges shown represent individual one-person travel in either a roomette or an economy bedroom - whichever is offered - and is quoted exclusive of the basic rail fare. Since the basic rail fare applies whether sleeping car space is used or not, that fare will not affect the bottom-line savings shown for leapfrogging. Still, you should be aware that sleeping car space charges are always in addition to the basic rail fare. Fares are for the period designated as 'off peak,' and would normally be higher during summer months and the Christmas season.
Slumbercoach fares are not included. Slumbercoach space charges are generally the same regardless of distance traveled.
Fares quoted are those in effect in March 1993. There is no assurance that leapfrogging will offer similar savings in the future.