Question about Viewliner.

[ALCO Fan42]

Restoration of sleeper service on 66/67 makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, Amtrak does not seem interested in any service expansion.

[calzeph]

I could've sworn I saw where they were going to restore sleeper service to train 66/67. Given the fact that it is an overnight train, there's really no reason why it shouldn't have a sleeper again.

[oltmannd]

daveklepper

 And first-class privacy could then be offered to travelers between Washington and Newport News.

Ed Ellis, are you listening?

He may be the only hope!  Doubtful Amtrak is listening.  Imagine if he were the head of Amtrak's marketing?

[oltmannd]

zkr123

I'm also surprised that amtrak never created observation Viewliners there are some really scenic areas in the northeast.

Not surprising at all.  A shame, but not surprising.  By watching what Amtrak does, you can see that Amtrak's goal for new LD equipment is be able to today, what they did yesterday....exactly.  There is never any thought about doing anything different, no matter how useful that may be.  

The Viewliner order is designed to make their Mechanical Dept less grumpy.

[zkr123]

I'm also surprised that amtrak never created observation Viewliners there are some really scenic areas in the northeast.

[daveklepper]

The market for a sleeper on the Boston - Newport News train, both ways, would be easily developed.  There are plenty of people in Boston and Providence, both at convenient hours southbound and just a little too early for Providence northbound, who would welcome essentially zero time travel between those two cities and Baltimore, New Carrolton for the Washington suburbs, and washington and Alexandria themselves.  Add to that the fact that Boston-area residents are very historically minded, and packaged tours to Colonial Willliamsburg would sell well.  And first-class privacy could then be offered to travelers between Washington and Newport News.

Ed Ellis, are you listening?

i used the Federal sleepers plenty of times when living in Cambridge, MA.

[Deggesty]

zkr123

Not even if its just for the 2 over night regionals? Just take the sleeper from either the Boston Lakeshore Limited (from its return journey to Boston) or one of the Viewliners that are in DC.

Sorry, this will not work; Washington is not a terminal for any train that carries Viewliners; the Cardinal is a New York City-Chicago train that runs through Washington.

[zkr123]

I'm only talking about the overnight/night owl regional not the ones that run during the day.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I don't think that the market for an overnight sleeper on the NEC really exists.  The distance is short (Boston-Washington is less than 500 miles) to too short to justify such a service and modern business travel doesn't even consider such an option on a regular basis.  It would be interesting to see the ridership and revenue figures for the NY-Washington sleeping car during the last period it operated.

[zkr123]

Not even if its just for the 2 over night regionals? Just take the sleeper from either the Boston Lakeshore Limited (from its return journey to Boston) or one of the Viewliners that are in DC.

[NorthWest]

There will not be enough sleepers to put any on the NEC. I think that it would be an interesting topic to discuss, though.

[Dragoman]

Why not?  What are your thoughts about sleepers on this service?  Is your answer "No" just because the sleepers are needed more elsewhere, or something else?

[D.Carleton]

No.

[zkr123]

With the addition of more Viewliner sleepers, dining cars, and baggage card. Do you think Viewliner sleeper cars will return to the overnight regional?