X Train Update

When you check the "stock pages" online for XTRN -- the stock symbol for the Las Vegas Railway Express, the X Train -- there is "no news." But check their Facebook Page (Las Vegas Railway Express) and there are some interesting tidbits.

The latest is that they plan to have 15 rail cars and they're asking for suggestions on what to name the cars.

Some Facebook fans suggested names based on gambling terms and poker hands -- royal flush, full house, aces full -- and some suggested naming the cars after the Rat Pack members but there might be a problem there with the estates of Sinatra and the others.

My suggestion: sell the naming rights to the hotels and the casinos. I also suggested putting name plates on the individual seats much like the Rio did years ago under Harrah's when certain suites were named after 7 Stars players.

I thought that was pretty cool... seeing someone's name on a big brass plaque outside the door to a suite at the Rio.

Just took another look at their Facebook page (Las Vegas Railway Express) and now there is some discussion that they won't be starting until the end of 2013.

Las Vegas Railway Express this week put a promotional video on YouTube which really doesn't say much. In the description on YouTube it says the XTrain will be starting service in 2012. Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCgFD3X7QdA
More info on our Travel page: http://alanbestbuys.com/id141.html

There is a new update on the X Train... now on their Facebook page their expected start date is MAY 2013... ONE YEAR AWAY.

In after hours trading the stock closed at 6 and a half cents a share. According to the CNBC website, the 52-week low was six cents a share.

I think this is all premature until UP gives the go ahead. My perception is that the UP has been stringing everyone along, but at some point they will want to see cash for operations on their tracks, especially when their freight is going to be delayed. An occasional tourist or railfan train is one thing, but five days a week is another. It should be noted that the Atlantic City Express, despite operating in a much better area for public transportation, failed. Right now this has all of the disadvantages of public transportation and none of the advantages, like higher speed. Sure there is the epic Sunday traffic jams leaving Vegas but with some simple planning and monitoring of traffic information that can be avoided. Unlike the Z Train people they at least have legitimate rail experience, but it will always be one year away.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by calwatch

I think this is all premature until UP gives the go ahead. My perception is that the UP has been stringing everyone along,

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Do you have any more information about this? Thanks for posting.

The train doesn't make sense in this part of the country. It wouldn't work. With the wide open, high quality roads we have who would want to get to & from a train station just to take a trip with a bunch of unknowns? That's east coast stuff. If it didn't work in AC then that ought to tell the tale for this one.

Rob, you don't make the commute from Los Angeles or Orange County to Vegas. It is the schlepp of all schlepps. There are plenty of people who would take the train. Southwest has no trouble filling its planes every day from all of the So Cal airports: Burbank, LAX, John Wayne in Orange. But give an option that avoids going through airport security grief and a lot of people would jump at the chance.

There have been Sundays when the ride from LV to LA has taken eight hours. And if you're going to LV from LA you either leave Thursday or after 9PM on Friday night to avoid the crush on the freeways.

Believe me, I'll take the train.

My thoughts on UP are from observing them dealing with various public agencies and dealing with them on various engineering projects. They are always willing to listen, never willing to shut the door on you. It is politically incorrect for the big bad railroad to shut down someone's semi-baked idea, especially if they have financial backing or political power. But you can spend tremendous amount of effort, with no indication that they will reject your concept, until they do.

X Train put on its Facebook page on Saturday:

Stay tuned for the XTrain IPO

Las Vegas Railway Express posted on Facebook on Tuesday night that they are looking at rail cars to purchase and they will start refurbishing them soon.