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Tourism and 'excursion' operators say rail can boost rural economies if communities prepare
Summary
Operators from Rocky Mountaineer and short-line excursion services told the conference that rail-based tourism can deliver measurable local economic benefits — but communities must invest in last-mile connections, packages and marketing to make stations true destinations.
Speakers at the conference emphasized that passenger-rail tourism can deliver direct economic gains to small and mid-size communities — but only with advance planning and coordinated services.
Tom Martinelli (New York by Rail) framed the session by pointing to a rising leisure share of Amtrak ridership and urged communities to prepare stations and last-mile services. "Preparation is key," he said, noting that successful rural stops have hotels, shuttles and integrated packages tying rail schedules to local attractions.
Rocky Mountaineer vice president Bernadette Brown described the company's high-end product and local-economic impact, saying the operator brings tens of thousands of guests to local communities and partners with hotels, indigenous groups and local suppliers. "We are a trip of a lifetime," Brown said, summarizing the service's emphasis on on-board food, excursions and partner coordination.
Short-line excursion operators — represented by Jacob Snodgrass and Nancy Randall (Albany & Eastern/San… excursion unit) — outlined a model in which freight movements occur weekdays and themed excursion services run on weekends; they noted operational constraints (crew-hour rules, equipment maintenance) and the need for community outreach when excursion frequencies increase.
Local examples included Prosser, WA (Bill Jenkins), where a historic depot and a dense cluster of wineries could be a ready-made stop if shuttle and visitor services are arranged. Jenkins said a small downtown taster room and a cluster of walkable wineries make Prosser a plausible short-rail tourism draw if transit connections are available.
Panelists urged communities to organize shuttle services, coordinate with Amtrak's marketing and data, and pursue subsidized first-mile/last-mile pilots when necessary. They also recommended bundling tickets, hotels and activities into 'car-free' packages to make travel simple and sustainable.
Takeaway: tourism rail can produce significant hotel nights and visitor spending for rural towns, but success depends on realistic ridership assumptions, durable shuttle and rental-car solutions, and active cooperation among municipal tourism offices, rail operators and tour companies.
