Show Streamlined Coaches Low Fares For U. U S. S Postwar Train Travelers Travelers' Officials Plan Moves to Hold Big Bib g Share of Passengers Lightweight Equipment cu to Replace Heavier Trains rains The Iron Horse a steed of war for the duration is determined to become a sleek speedster in the postwar race for traffic according according according accord accord- ing to a cross section of opinion advanced ad by more than 20 of the nations nation's leading railroad executives These officials predict a new era of railway passenger progress progress ress after the war and indicate that t they ey intend e dL to fight t. t a 4 f r real th I battle to 10 hold noia a big Dig share snare o ui UL mi- mi c pr present sent record-breaking record travel according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to Railway Age A majority of the executives declare declare declare de de- clare themselves in favor of a considerable considerable considerable con con- slash in passenger fares after the war and some would like to make this cut at once to cash in inon inon inon on the advertising values of wartime wartime war war- time rather than to make a series I of small reductions Another important point developed by the survey is that present passenger passenger passenger pas pas- equipment is recognized as being outmoded and plans are being being being be be- ing made to replace most of it with new modern lightweight equipment Many of the railroads report that they intend to augment their fleets of coach streamliners materially to I add the appeal of frequency of service service I ice to the present advantages of comfort and speed as compared to highway competition The survey also indicated that all these improvements will be merchandised merchandised merchandised mer mer- properly This program includes not only better salesmanship salesmanship salesman salesman- ship but also far more effective and voluminous advertising for passenger passenger passenger pas pas- traffic The railroads railroad's present present present pres pres- ent widespread advertising campaigns campaigns campaigns cam cam- have convinced them of the I effectiveness of this type of sales sales- manship Lower Fares Stressed Throughout the survey the hope for fare reductions is emphasized As expressed by one executive I Fares shall be cut to the bone I I when the war is over Another official official official cial Voices his agreement by saying I We Ve cannot hope to stand pat on our I present fare structure and adding I that I ardently hope that they will willbe willbe be lowered immediately before the railroads have a chance to empty their trains by incorrect pricing Still a third executive asserts We Ve shall have to reduce rates a after ter the war and do it quickly and thoroughly thorough thorough- ly ly This new era of passenger business business business busi busi- ness after the war promises to make the streamlined train the rule rather rath rath- er than the exception One executive executive executive tive in a typical statement says We Ve plan to buy streamliners streamliners lots lots lotsof of them them to to take advantage of frequency frequency frequency fre fre- fre- fre quency of s service between heavily populated centers A death knell to the heavier passenger train can be read into another of these statements statements statements state state- ments which declares I see no reason why we should not hold our own afterwards after the war by bythe bythe bythe the complete replacement of all our passenger equipment with modern lightweight cars The attitude of Americas America's railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads in so far as postwar competition tion is concerned is pretty well wen summed up by one railroad head who declares Passenger revenues are so important to this railroad that we have prepared to tackle postwar competition and fight it tooth and nail And he adds I am convinced that our competitors who are gleefully anticipating a walkover walkover walkover walk walk- over as far as taking traffic away from the railroads is concerned are in for an unpleasant surprise |