Trains.com

CAF Industries Delivery Problems

3173 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Trieste, Italy
  • 258 posts
CAF Industries Delivery Problems
Posted by GN_Fan on Sunday, March 18, 2018 6:34 AM

There's a VERY long thread dealing with the delivery -- or lack of delivery -- of Viewliner II equipment, and I've read it all.  Unless I've missed something, the slow delivery is due to manufacturing problems at CAF Industries, but no where that I can recall it stated what the maunfacturing problems were.  The baggage cars came out reletively fast, then it slowed to a trickle.  Does anyone know what the specific problem or problems are?  Are they short of parts?  Do they have labor problems? Is it a design flaw?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I've taken several coast-to-coast trips from Boston to either Seattle or Frisco, and was wondering if the Lake Shore Ltd will ever get a new diner.  Any input on that would aslo be nice as another trip is in the design phase.

 

Alea Iacta Est -- The Die Is Cast
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: The 17th hole at TPC
  • 2,283 posts
Posted by n012944 on Monday, March 26, 2018 11:18 AM

This article is a little old, but touches on some of the issues.

https://csanders429.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/caf-production-slowdown-behind-delays-in-delivering-new-viewliner-cars-to-amtrak/

 

In the viewliner delivery thread, Buslist commented on some improper weight distrbution on the diners causing some issues as well.

An "expensive model collector"

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, March 26, 2018 4:10 PM

n012944

This article is a little old, but touches on some of the issues.

https://csanders429.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/caf-production-slowdown-behind-delays-in-delivering-new-viewliner-cars-to-amtrak/ 

In the viewliner delivery thread, Buslist commented on some improper weight distrbution on the diners causing some issues as well.

That was published in 2015 and included this statement: 'The reduction in production at the CAF factory in Elmira, New York, has meant that delivery of the order of 130 cars will not be completed until March 2017, which is two years beyond the original due date. Even that due date is subject to further slippage."

An understatement if I ever saw one. We are now a year beyond that date. 

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, March 26, 2018 4:19 PM

Have any of the sleepers been constructed yet?

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, March 26, 2018 10:19 PM

Meanwhile we learn over in Transit that new Boston Green Line cars from CAF Elmira are expected to arrive timely.  

 

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 5:59 AM

They should move this order over to Siemens as well and sue the pants off CAF for inability to deliver multiple times on what was promised, recover the lost revenue as well as put a price on the increased maintence costs of retaining old equipment this long.   

After all, CAF is building the new New York and adding to it's railcar technology expertise or so the commercials go on TV here in Texas.     Yeah right.

  • Member since
    October 2012
  • 177 posts
Posted by Jim200 on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 5:34 PM

SD70Dude

Have any of the sleepers been constructed yet?

 

CAF seems to be near the end in constructing the 25 diners, and the 10 baggage-dorms and 25 sleepers are next. As I recall, there is also an option for 30 or so additional rail cars, which might be advisable for Amtrak to exercise. Amtrak often seems to be short of sleeping space, and sometimes short of coach space. There is also the possibility of new or expanded service sometime in the future.

The following link is over a year old and is somewhat helpful.

https://csanders429.wordpress.com/2017/01/07/new-viewliner-ii-diner-expected-in-march/

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 6:08 PM

With any kind of luck CAF might complete the contract by 2030.Devil

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy