I keep hearing that Amtrak is in the process of developing a a plan for new equipment. I was wondering if anyone has heard anything interesting in this matter and also opinions on the direction this should go.
We all know that double-deck cars are the most efficient design. Now that there are existing double-deck cars capable of traversing the entire system (i.e., NYP tunnels), could Amtrak come out with a basic design that could satisfy and standardize the entire system?
If anyone has ridden the LI or NJ double-deck cars, can you tell us what they are like? Also do you think there is enough headroom to allow upper sleeper bunks in these lower profile cars?
A fleet of new standardized double-deck sleepers, diners/lounges, and coaches (baggage and full coach maybe) could result in much more efficient train consists.
BostonTrainGuy wrote: If anyone has ridden the LI or NJ double-deck cars, can you tell us what they are like? Also do you think there is enough headroom to allow upper sleeper bunks in these lower profile cars?
A double deck car isn't required for an upper bunk to be installed in the sleeper. The current Viewliner Sleepers have an upper bunk in the bedrooms and roomettes, just like the Superliners have. The Superliners have upper level bunks in the bedrooms and roomettes on both the upper and lower levels, just to name some current rolling stock.
And if you go back in history, there's a lot more examples of upper level bunks in cars that would clear the old tunnels into NYC.
On other threads, I've been pretty insistent about Amtrak's need to get started building Superliner compatible equipment now. I believe the support is there in Congress to finance a steady production line which would be the key to cost savings. It is near inexcusable that during holiday periods such as now some Amtrak trains are sold out days in advance, and the expansion of services in terms of new routes or increased frequencies is equipment constrained.
From making a decision to proceed to getting a good share of the route running took New Mexico about three years. I doubt that Amtrak could decide where to put the rest room in the design for new cars in that time!
chefjavier wrote:It would be nice if Amtrak could ride all the way to Mexico or Canada.
You can ride Amtrak to Canada.
An "expensive model collector"
n012944 wrote: chefjavier wrote:It would be nice if Amtrak could ride all the way to Mexico or Canada.You can ride Amtrak to Canada.
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