An extra fee that goes toward track maintenance is prudent and wise. That helps assure that the track conditions are maintained and not allowed to deteriorate.

I am assuming that their main would be maintained to Class 2 standards which permit 30 mph operation. With 131 or 132 lb. rail and a good roadbed, ties, surfacing and some bolt replacement should be most of what they need.

Agreed, don't even mention the fact that you raised prices on the tickets by $3. Just do it. If you were raising ticket prices by $8-10 each, then maybe put out an explanation - or strongly encourage donations beyond a minor fare increase. If someone raised ticket prices by $3 each, how many people are going to notice? Anyone who notices and asks why the increase, then bring up the maintenance fees.

With fresh Journalism degree in hand, I worked for a couple of smaller papers for a couple of years. When assigned to a story, you had to become an "expert" in a few hours before deadline. Back in the day, it was either through interviews or finding someone on the phone. Over time, the editor would learn who knew a little about a common topic and would try to assign that reporter to that article.

While today, the reporter can look stuff up on the Internet (it's all true, right? ;-), I suspect the time crunch is worse. And in most cases, the staffing is much less and there is even less post reporter editing.

Always assume the writer doesn't know anything. At all. Always explain slang or terms you use everyday. I would never assume a reporter from a smaller paper would know what ties, or spikes, or even the difference between a diesel and steam locomotive.

Bob

Are they still teaching the inverted triangle, Bob, because that one looks more like an inverted rhombus... LOL

I don’t know what their usual ticket sales are, but $3 per ticket for track maintenance seems pretty cheap to chip in to the kitty for an activity that never ends. So if explained adequately, I’d think it should be no problem. For those unfamiliar with the joys of track maintenance, I can tell you that ties, rail, ballast stone and OTM are not inexpensive items to purchase. Throw labor on top of that and it can all add up quickly to a large amount for a short stretch of track. It’s a necessary evil for the business we’re in.

As someone who spent over 10 years selling tickets at a tourist railroad, I would not want to be working a ticket booth explaining why there was an extra $3 fee per ticket. Of course now that most people buy tickets online because of covid I suppose they will cuss at the screen instead of the poor ticket agents!

For better or worse, Ticketmaster and hotels almost always pile on surcharges and fees, I don’t like it but it is what it is.

How dumb. You don't want your riders ever thinking about track conditions!

Just raise the ticket price. Jeez.

Totally agree. But if someone wants to know the why....

Don’t leave us hanging like that!!! Haha

Eric is saying "if someone wants to know why [ticket prices increased]" you'd explain the rationale as an investment in track maintenance. No hanging thread there.

I can't help wondering if the approach used at Petco might be useful in regard to this $3, which is almost tailor-made to cause needless resentment as-is.

Petco has a screen in their checkout which cleverly asks "Will you help a helpless pet in need?" with yes and no buttons below. This (rather calculatedly, in my opinion) plays on the sympathies of pet owners to hit that button and add a dollar or two, or 'round up' your total to an even amount as at Goodwill.

Exactly how to word this to 'fix trackwork' is of course a bit more difficult, although I can remember a picture of lateral roadbed slide (with cracks opening up) that would be a fine poster-child visual. The key (I would think) is to let it be 'their' idea to give the small amount, and that it is appreciated when they do, but suggestively sell the opportunity in all the ticket sales collateral.

I think there is a big difference between being sympathetic to a helpless animal vs infrastructure. How many people would hit the button if Petco was asking you to help pay to repave their parking lot? Also, I'm not so sure advertising to the general public about to get on a train that the railroad they will be riding is in dire need of track work is a very good idea.

That's EXACTLY my point.

It's like offering cruises and advertising "your tickets help us stop the leaks in our boat".

It's terrible from a marketing perspective.

And I'd bet that if they just quietly raised prices nobody would even notice.

The average tourists just want to have a good day out with the family without being confronted with technical problems. Many don't even care about steam or diesel. Pictures of roadbed slides might just raise concerns about buying a ticket at all "if it is that unsafe"...

I'd just put the 3$ on the ticket and if anybody should ask, blame it on the virus.

Mike

That's EXACTLY my point.

It's like offering cruises and advertising "your tickets help us stop the leaks in our boat".

It's terrible from a marketing perspective.

And I'd bet that if they just quietly raised prices nobody would even notice.[/quote]


well this bunch sure can't be accused of bad marketing.....not like they've made big announcements, and repeatedly missed them.....