Why did Amtrak build the Horizon fleet?

[aegrotatio]

Why did Amtrak build the Horizon fleet and not build upon known technologies that they already had institutional knowledge of, like Amfleet or Viewliner? I've always wondered why they just ordered a modified commuter car for medium-distance passenger service. Plus, they look funny when Amfleets are in the consist.

[narig01]

The Horizon cars are basically modified Comet II commuter cars. The biggest difference is the use of GSC(I think) trucks. At the time they were available. By 1987 Budd was out of the railcar business. And Viewliner was the last railcar Budd produced.
To an extent the Horizon cars were what was available without spending a huge amount of money.
Rgds IGN

[Buslist]

They were available on short lead time when Amtrak had the money and the need.

[D.Carleton]

This happened in that window of time between Budd closing its doors and Bombardier buying the Budd design catalog. Who knows? If Amtrak had waited a few months there may have been an Amfleet 3 fleet.

[richardtrains219]

I wish that there was some Amfleet 3. The Afleet cars are great. I live in the Philadelphia area and some friends of mine help build the Afleets

[D.Carleton]

Somewhere in the deep recesses of my failing cranium there is a very vague memory of Amtrak attempting to persuade TransitAmerica, which was the rail remnant of Budd, to stay open just long enough to build an order of coaches. By then it was too late for Red Lion and Amtrak had to look elsewhere. Just imagine a fleet of Amshells with the larger windows and cast trucks.