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[quote user="blue streak 1"] <blockquote> <div><img src="/TRCCS/Themes/trc/images/icon-quote.gif" /> Sam1:</div> <div></div> Amtrak management appears to be trapped in a 1950s time warp.  Baggage, dinning, and sleeping cars!  For trains that are used by approximately 15% of Amtrak's customers and less than 4/10s of intercity travelers.   Again this is a case of not telling the whole story. 1.  Baggage  -- these cars are limited to 110 MPH. Since many of the LD trains to Florida use them baggage cars limit speeds NYP - WASH. Since NYP - PHL is being upgraded to 160 MPH under a Fed grant the slow baggage car trains would slow the whole fluidity of the route to WASH where PHL - WASH is presently 125. When more trains are on a route the result is all trains go the speed of the slowest.  Also there are some trains Amtrak wants to add baggage cars to but does not have the inventory.  [ Pslmetto , Pennsylvanian  { more later }] Cardinal was just able to bet a baggage car this year. The sleeping car numbers are worse.  Just 2.3% of Amtrak's passengers or 15% of the long distance trains users travel by sleeper.   2.  Again how can we say LD is limited to 15% when the sleeping cars regularly sell out on some routes  {  ex. Cardinal , Crescent  }. Using only current train routes an additional sleeping car is needed WASH - ATL, lAKESHORE FROM BOS which often looses sleeper if there is any shortage, Pennsylvanian  { plans to have a NYP / PHL - Pittsburg - sleeper that attaches to the Capitol at PIT  going on to  Chicago.  Cardinal, Florida trains in winter.  The other point is that a number of baggage dorms are being built that will free up regular sleeper space that has to sleep off duty. Most of Amtrak's middle and lower middle class travelers cannot afford a sleeper, which is ironic for a government sponsored railroad that is supported by each taxpayer.   3. That is correct but however if some speciality sleepers {  slumber coaches, europpean style cachettes,  etc. }  in the next order for sleepers maybe there could be a market for them. Certainly was in the past. 4.. Dinning cars  --  Again Heritage dinners limited to 110 MPH and new 125 Mph. 5. Heritage Dinners and baggage.  Due to age and scaricity of these cars  { some over 60 yr old } maintenance costs and availability is much lower that the 87% availability of the whole passenger fleet.  Cars break down for parts that are scare or non- existent  {  due to planned obsolencence in this country }  parts may have to be fabricated locally at Beech Grove. [/quote] Do the numbers!  They can be found in Amtrak's Monthly Operating Reports.  If you think that I am not reporting accurately, then tell me the source of your numbers or show me why my numbers are incorrect.  Your just presenting isolated, subjective analysis in most instances. The key takaway from my argument is that Amtrak should not be buying any long distance equipment.  Long distance trains are an anchorism.  They need to go the way of the horse and buggy.   </blockquote>
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