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Amtrak's Thanksgiving operation

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    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
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Amtrak's Thanksgiving operation
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, November 29, 2010 10:55 AM

a quick glance at Amtrak's operations revealed that for the most part the operations went fairly smoothly.  A breakdown by areas is hereby given but any corrections, updates, revisions, special happenings that you posters know of please "come on down"

1. Downeasters - essentially on time with maybe a few 10 min delays

2. NYP - Albany on time

3. NEC - maybe 5 - 10 trains over 30 min late but others on time esp Sun.

4. LD trains out of NYP on time to ALB and WASH but almost all trains delayed in / out WASH - Alexandria both north and south even Sunday -- CSX what is your problem?

5. Chicago had delays for all outbound long distance trains (there is some indication that Amtrak was short servicing personel anyone know?) Chicago short distance departures mostly on time.

6. Inbounds to Chicago almost all LD & SD experienced delays from last station into CHI with exception of BNSF and MKE (CP) lines  inbound especially Sunday

7. Cascades trains almost all left on time and arrived SEA/PDX early even with 2 additional round trips'

8. Northern and Southern California Short distance almost all on time.

 The equippment shortage problem continues to haunt Amtrak.

9. Bear was supposed to overhaul 134 Amfleets under the FY2010 regular budget plan but only finished 124. Under the ARRA Bear was supposed to rebuild 42 thru September but only fiinished 33. As I have no idea how many more were competed by Thanksgiving only a guess is appropriatels Maybe 20 overhauls and 5 rebuilds The rebuilds are behind and Amtrak is or has applied for an extension beyond the mid Feb ARRA deadline to finish all rebuilds at all locations. If the overhauls are on a regular schedule the total of maybe 38 rebuilt Amfleets would give additional seats of about 2280 seats/day

10. Beech Grovwas scheduled for 155 Super liner overhauls and completed 156. ARRA SL rebuilts were scheduled at 16 but only 9 completed in FY 2010 and maybe 2 additional by thanksgiving. If all were coaches (do not have # of sleepers rebuilt) that gives 990 additional SL seats / day.

11. Additional Super liner level 1 overhauls that were completed at Sanford were 17 for FY with none in original FY 2010 budget. That may be the reason Beech Grove was able to output more cars than scheduled. There is insufficient data to know how many more seats became available vs thanksgiving 2009.

Now for some ridership choke points!!

The Overnight south bound trains out of NYP are as usual needing more available seats.

12. Observed southbound Silver Star with 14 cars Sun in Florida which is the practical NYP train length.

13.  -The Crescents were sold out very early and the sleeper spaces even sooner. The Crescent even in early Amtrak days would  have the SOU RR running extra sections ATL - WASH - ATL only. No cars north of WASH. During holiday periods that extras were all sold out. All extra sections ended when SOU went Amtrak.

14. The new order for Viewliner - 3 sleepers may allow 2 - 3 extra sleepers on the Florida (terminating at Orlando and the Crescent terminating at Atlanta. Maybe these sleepers could be added / removed at WASH there by allowing allowing 2 sleepers each  to cover 1 additional car per train each direction the way SOU accomplished the extra sections. Also  .

15. Even the Cardinal was  sold out close to Thanksgiving.

16. Lakeshore just barely sold out so maybe new sleepers assined to it can be used for these southern trains.

17 Chicago LD and the STL trains for most part all sold out with Eagle being first to sell out. Some SW limited seats did not sell out.

18. Norther California acquired many more seats by borrowing an excess Calrain set(s)(# of cars used?) and using California cars the Caltrain equipment replaced to lengthen other trains to spread additional seats onto other trains.

19. Do not know if same was done in Southern Ca.??? r

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