Comments on: Do you want a holiday train in St. Louis? Let us know! http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/ A Conversation About Transit Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:52:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/comment-page-1/#comment-318 Courtney Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:37:16 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1423#comment-318 That's one of the reasons I love public transit. You can five hundred ordinary rides, maybe even a few unpleasant ones, and then, whoa. An unexpected moment of togetherness and humanity. It sounds like an amazing moment. Thanks for sharing, Daron. That’s one of the reasons I love public transit. You can five hundred ordinary rides, maybe even a few unpleasant ones, and then, whoa. An unexpected moment of togetherness and humanity. It sounds like an amazing moment. Thanks for sharing, Daron.

]]> By: DaronDierkes http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/comment-page-1/#comment-317 DaronDierkes Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:45:05 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1423#comment-317 On night, I waited for the train at UMSL South. It pulled up, and the first car was empty. The second was packed. I got on that one. There were authentic Mexican mariachis strumming away with a couple kids trying to rap over it. Everybody was really into it, and it was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I got off at UMSL North and have lived to regret it ever since. Why did I get off? Why were mariachis playing on the train? I'll never know. I've told this story so many times that it has evolved into legend in my head. It was an incredible moment. On night, I waited for the train at UMSL South. It pulled up, and the first car was empty. The second was packed. I got on that one. There were authentic Mexican mariachis strumming away with a couple kids trying to rap over it. Everybody was really into it, and it was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I got off at UMSL North and have lived to regret it ever since. Why did I get off? Why were mariachis playing on the train? I’ll never know.

I’ve told this story so many times that it has evolved into legend in my head. It was an incredible moment.

]]> By: Jimmy Z http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/comment-page-1/#comment-316 Jimmy Z Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:17:41 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1423#comment-316 One, seems like a fine idea. Two, any money spent to do it will be "spun" negatively by anti-transit folks. So, three, how 'bout sponsorship combined with friendly competition? Let local companies, universities or even individuals compete for the most-well-done car?! Logistically, it could/would be a PITA, requiring giving non-employees access to Metro property, plus having to establish guidelines and limits, plus having top deal with the inevitable maintenance and vandalism issues, but I'd still like to see Metro figure out a way to make it happen . . . One, seems like a fine idea. Two, any money spent to do it will be “spun” negatively by anti-transit folks. So, three, how ’bout sponsorship combined with friendly competition? Let local companies, universities or even individuals compete for the most-well-done car?!

Logistically, it could/would be a PITA, requiring giving non-employees access to Metro property, plus having to establish guidelines and limits, plus having top deal with the inevitable maintenance and vandalism issues, but I’d still like to see Metro figure out a way to make it happen . . .

]]> By: RTBones http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/comment-page-1/#comment-313 RTBones Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:35:21 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1423#comment-313 I see. If that is the case, then I wish you luck on your quest for support. The holiday decoration doesn't do anything for me, but I can understand where it might bring a little holiday cheer to some. I am certainly not against the idea, but neither am I "for" it. I see. If that is the case, then I wish you luck on your quest for support.

The holiday decoration doesn’t do anything for me, but I can understand where it might bring a little holiday cheer to some. I am certainly not against the idea, but neither am I “for” it.

]]> By: Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Courtney Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:11:17 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1423#comment-312 We will not use operations funding to decorate a holiday train. We will seek private sponsorships or employee donations for decorations. I will most likely hang garland myself. It won't be as elaborate as the CTA, but similar in spirit. The idea is that is a gift for riders, and will not take away from their level of service. We will not use operations funding to decorate a holiday train. We will seek private sponsorships or employee donations for decorations. I will most likely hang garland myself. It won’t be as elaborate as the CTA, but similar in spirit. The idea is that is a gift for riders, and will not take away from their level of service.

]]> By: RTBones http://www.nextstopstl.org/1423/do-you-want-a-holiday-train-in-st-louis-let-us-know/comment-page-1/#comment-311 RTBones Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:06:54 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=1423#comment-311 This is going to sound very Scrooge-like, but my honest answer is no. It has nothing to do with holiday spirit or lack thereof, but simple economics. We have enough problems getting funding to run the system as it is. Where is Metro going to get the money to pay for a "holiday train"? I would rather the money used to decorate the train go to pay a driver or mechanic's salary than I would see a holiday train. This is going to sound very Scrooge-like, but my honest answer is no. It has nothing to do with holiday spirit or lack thereof, but simple economics.

We have enough problems getting funding to run the system as it is. Where is Metro going to get the money to pay for a “holiday train”? I would rather the money used to decorate the train go to pay a driver or mechanic’s salary than I would see a holiday train.

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