Tom's Idea for a Kinko's Office Car

A Partnership Idea for Amtrak

I have an idea that might be worth further investigation.

The idea centers around a partnership between Amtrak and Kinko's to develop and deploy a number of "Kinko's Office Cars". The cars would be similar in construction to existing cafe/lounge cars but rather then serving food they would provide:

	work spaces (booths similar to existing dining cars and lounge cars),
	computer workstations,
	onboard network connections (IP over Ethernet ),
	access to laser printers,
	Internet access *,
	FAX service,
	coping services (both self-serve and full-serve),
	retail sale of office supplies

and perhaps even

	meeting rooms
	work suites
	video conferencing suites

Work spaces, work suites, meeting rooms and video conferencing suites, could all be reserved and serviced in much the same manner as other accommodations (such as club & custom class and sleepers). Computer workstations would be available on a first come first serve basis and paid for by the minute as in most Kinko's stores.

The cars would provide passengers with all the necessities to conduct real business on Amtrak trains (a big advantage over air travel). They might even make long distance business rail travel competitive against the airlines' Saturday night stay requirements.

The cars would each be staffed by one or more Kinko's employees that have received Amtrak's onboard service training.

One or two prototype cars should be developed first, perhaps by refurbishing old cars, and tested on select Acela Express and/or Acela Regional trains AND on the Coast Starlight between Seattle and Silicon Valley. Ideally this would be done with a mix of private investment and FRA research and development grants. If the concept proves successful, then additional Kinko's Office Cars could be built (again using a mix of public and private funding) and deployed anywhere in the Amtrak system that market research shows sufficient demand.

The cars would be new custom built rolling stock, painted white on the outside with the red white and blue logos of both Amtrak and Kinko's. This would provide Kinko's with a unique advertising opportunity (and perhaps ad revenue for Amtrak) and provide both Kinko's and Amtrak with many cobranding opportunities.

A communications partner, such as Sprint (an existing Kinko's partner), would also be needed to develop reliable high speed Internet access. Sprint PCS already provides digital wireless service throughout the NEC, along the San Diegan Corridor and the Pacific Northwest Corridor. Sprint PCS, or other communications partner, might also contract with Amtrak (and other track owners) to deploy PCS "cells" along Amtrak routes or perhaps onboard Amtrak trains.

Onboard access to the Internet should also enable the deployment of self service ticketing machines, onboard ATMs, real time schedule displays, real time weather information, pay per view entertainment, real time credit card authorizations and other networked services not currently found on Amtrak trains.

Kinko's might be able to develop the concept further to deploy "Kinko's Office Cars" on state and regional commuter rail lines. Kinko's might also be able to develop services for small rural communities through it's online services and product deliveries from the trains. "Kinko's Office Cars" could also be used to provide temporary services in communities holding special events, or in conjunction with disaster relief activities.

* With a small amount of additional off the shelf equipment, onboard network and Internet access could be expanded into existing coaches and sleepers in much the same way that many coaches have been retrofitted with power outlets.

I sincerely hope that this might be the kind of idea that Amtrak can use to both generate new sources of revenue, (and even capital,) and attract more passengers.

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