Amtrak will recieve $1.3 billion dollars with the passage of the Stimulus pkg.

[passengerfan]

HarveyK400

I have heard that old saw; but I don't think it is as serious a problem as what it is made out to be. 

• With adequate inspection and maintenance and quick changeout, the chance of component failure affecting service readiness is minimal.  Many railways run whole trains through maintenance facilities.
• Amtrak runs most Midwest services with little variation in consist that I'm aware of.  Adding or removing an articulated section has been accomplished readily enough to adjust capacity to the needs of a given service.  Beside, switching cars in and out cost money too; and I'm not aware of Metra switching many cars in and out for respective peak and off-peak runs despite running with over half the cars closed.
  

It was not that long ago that one of the Talgo train sets was out of service when one car received some damage in a slow moving accident approaching Portland Union Station. Even that minor accident forced Amtrak to move in some conventional equipment for about a month until the Talgo was returned to service. The Acela trains have had to be removed from service for repairs on a couple of occasions, I realize they are not articulated but they do require extra maintenance to keep them running at peak performance that is not required of other equipment running in the NEC.

If Amtrak is serious about acquiring new equipment than I suggest for the eastern trains as I have already mentioned the Breda cars that run on NJT and on the new trains to Atlantic City. I think the design can be altered to any interior configuration so desired including sleeping and dining /lounge cars. They could become the new workhorse for Amtraks eastern routes.

For the midwest routes I see nothing wrong with the Amtrak California cars. This would permit Amtrak some breathing room and concentrate the Superliners on the major long distance routes in the west. The old single level Amtrak equipment could be used in the east and midwest for peak travel times and Amtrak would not have to build additional junk like the Viewliners. This should solve Amtraks problem of equipment shortages until such time as some serious proposals for HSR are addressed.

Al - in - Stockton