Lets have a serious discusion about Amtrak tacking Passengers cars on the back of Hot Intermodals

[rrnut282]

The link didn't work for me, either.
I think scheduling will be a major drawback. Is Amtackacarontheback going to publish a timetable that states we're supposed to leave at noon, but depending upon crew availability, car loading times, EOT problems, line congestion, terminal delays, etc, actual departure may vary. That sounds like a great way to plan a trip, doesn't it? If you want to kill what's left of intercity passenger travel, this is a great idea.
Another drawback is the partial release feature of passenger car brakes doesn't work very well mixed in with regular freight equipment. And if this problem is dealt with, how and who is going to supply head end power for the coaches when they are at the end of a stack train?

[Anonymous]

Okay, tried the link, it didn't work, so if you can provide a more accurate link to your source ClevelandRocks, we'd appreciate it.

That being said, we covered this a while back, and the consensus was this:
1. The Amtrak schedules are usually faster than the hottest intermodal, although that could change
2. Intermodals go to intermodal terminals, not downtown passenger stations. You'd either have to move the waiting shack out to the terminal, or have a dog catch crew bring the passenger equipment the rest of the way into town.
3. Those points aside, it would be cheaper for the taxpayers if Amtrak would pay the railroads for the added costs of tacking passenger equipment onto intermodal consists, rather than running their own trains.

[Anonymous]

...that link doesn't work for me.

[Anonymous]

First, lets take a look at that website via a link:

<http://www.scedz.com>

[Anonymous]

Spoke with a Mr Sallem today about Passenger Trains and freight who is the Amtrak Operating head for New England. He mentioned that Amtrak did do a cursery look at tacking Passenger Cars on the back of intermodal trains about 7 years ago. There are a number of corridors were this could work Such as NJ-Albany-Buffalo-Chicago . This could minimise freight-passenger conflicts. Now before you say "WHAT ABOUT THE SLACK ACTION" I can assure you that Slack Action is minimal on Stack Trains and Piggybacks from Personal Experance Riding such trains. I would place Passenger cars Up Front on Pig trains and on the rear of Stacks. Also remember that there was a TRAINS artical were trains writers rode on a buisness car tacked on the back of a BNSF freight train. Buisness Cars have been tacked on the back of freight trains for years for railroad managements buddys. For A look at the nations freight railroad intermodal scedules and the places tha they serve go to scedz.com