Lake Shore / Florida Equipment Utilization (Boston - Florida though service)

[BostonTrainGuy]

I know Amtrak standardizes it's low-level East Coast equipment consists, and I understand that by doing so any set can be substituted whenever needed.  It also allows the Lake Shore Limited to visit Florida every other trip to thaw out in the winter.

I was thinking that there is a missed opportunity in the existing plan however.  I would like to see Amtrak send the Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited south as the Boston section of a Florida train.  Once reunited in New York with it's other half, the equipment can continue south as a Silver Service train.

I would think winter service from the Northeast to Florida would be very successful.  The connecting service now is not as convenient especially for Sleeper passengers and lacks checked baggage service, important for those with luggage heading on vacation.

I don't think this would be very difficult to do, and an entire new through service would be created. 

 

[daveklepper]

I would not be surprised to see a Boston - Miami coach and a sleeper this winter.  Amtrak has done this before and has been constrained by equipment shortages.

[ClicquotZephyr]

What would make more sense if there was a CHI-MIA run. Chicago could be the base for both NYP/BOS and MIA trains, and circulate equipment between the trains.

Failing this, cars could be switched between the 44x and 4x at CHI. This would allow the cars' eastern layover to be Southhampton St or Sunnyside. At Sunnyside, the cars from the LSL pool could alternate with cars from the Silver service trains.

What's the plan when Florida has a cold snap, and 15 hours in 40-deg-F doesn't melt all of the ice under the Viewliner?

 /JB

[daveklepper]

But might be warmer in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia!

[schlimm]

ClicquotZephyr

What would make more sense if there was a CHI-MIA run.

 

Unless the running time for such a train were improved from the 37 hours it took the Floridian to make the 1601 mile run in 1975 (43 mph), I don't think it would be a worthwhile use of equipment.

[oltmannd]

schlimm

ClicquotZephyr

What would make more sense if there was a CHI-MIA run.

 

Unless the running time for such a train were improved from the 37 hours it took the Floridian to make the 1601 mile run in 1975 (43 mph), I don't think it would be a worthwhile use of equipment.

....through cars via DC. You'd need a transition car, though.