Amtrak viewliner contract awarded to CAF USA in Elmira NY

[Paul Milenkovic]

MerrilyWeRollAlong

oltmannd

New Amtrak ad: "Thinking of driving to Aunt Minnies? Take the train! Your luggage will love our new, state of the art baggage cars! And wait until you try the same old food in our brand new diners!"

In response to your past 5 comments which are all in a row:

Dude you have some serious issues if this post is really bothering you.  Your pattern seems to be that of some of the trolls who frequent this site... (just saying).  I get that you don't like some of Amtrak's decisions and fine, they are debatable.  But you seem to be really obsessed in taking on everyone who disagrees with you.  Chill out my friend. There are bigger fish to fry than this.

I, for one, have always found Don's comments to be . . . delicious!

[blue streak 1]

blue streak 1

blue streak 1

This order averages $2.24M per car which is below the $3.5 estimated for single level cars. Of course the order to build 55 Baggage and 25 Baggage-Dorms skews the figures. A wag for Baggage at $1.5M, Bag-Dorms $2.M, and Sleepers -- dinners at $3.5M comes close to the $298M figure

I am disappointed that no one has challenged my possible wag for the costs of baggage cars. I threw out those figures to hope someone would take me to task. I really do not feel the above figures are correct and we need to see the actual contract with CAF before we go off the deep end. More later when I have time. 

Now for a detailed wag to establish the costs of various equipment types; with first some definitions. a. Cost of viewliner-2 shell. Common frame assembly laid out the same for all cars. Although each type car will have different openings top and sides the stainless steel sheets will all come from the same batch type. The stamping process for each of the car openings will be different.  Stainless is not generic and there are all types and grades = different costs. Will assume that shell includes 4 – 4wire HEP cables (maybe a spare wire as well). HEP connectors at each end, two 27 point connector cables ( loco control and train control), common electrical cabinet, heat and AC controls (even bag cars will need some heat and AC. Car end diaphragms, etc.b. Baggage interior: Furnishing unique for baggage cars.c. Sleeper interior furnishings. Probably the most expensive.d. Bag-Dorm interior. Use common items from baggage and sleeper cars. Depending on train length the specific train can have need for anywhere from 4 – 14 non operating crew members so all units should be built for public sale (maybe an economy price) and the extra crew spots not needed sold to riders. Costs of interior may be [ d = ½ b + ½ c] if ½ of car used for dorm above.e. Dinning car interior costsf. Testing costs of car type at Pueblo, Co. Should be a one time cost. $1M??g.  Amtrak Management costs (inspections etc.) Listed at 5% of contract in (FSP) Fleet Strategy Plan $14.9M do not know if this is capitalized into car costs. Usually is and builder reimburses Amtrak. h. Capital spares. FSP lists this as 10% and should be included in contract. $29.81M. This cost figure will allow Amtrak to reduce operating costs as Heritage equipment uses up maintenance spares and other heritage cars are cannibalized to keep remaining units operating.  Bag cars = a+b; Sleepers = a+c; Bag dorms = a + ½ (b+c); Dinning cars = a+eSo a cost formula should look something like this:130(a) + 55(b) + 25(c) + 25(d) + 25(e) + f = $298.1MReducing equation and using $1M for f     130a + 92.5b +37.5c + 25e = $297.1MNow try assign some arbitrary values for a, b, c, e and calculate value for d. a. = .8, b = .4, c = 3.1, d = 2.1, e = 2.7So maybe baggage = 1.2M, Bag-Dorms = 3.5M, Sleepers 3.9M, dinners = 2.9M