I have noticed that most Surfliner trains have what appears to be a long distance Superliner coach in their consists. Wouldn't these cars be better utilized in long distance service, or is there some particular reason why they are running on Surfliners?
WILLIAM BRUCE I have noticed that most Surfliner trains have what appears to be a long distance Superliner coach in their consists. Wouldn't these cars be better utilized in long distance service, or is there some particular reason why they are running on Surfliners?
The Superliner coaches spliced between the Surfliner cars came to the Pacific Surfline in 2007. If I remember correctly, they were bad order cars that Amtrak did not have a pressing need for.
The California Department of Tranportation, which shares ownership of the cars with Amtrak, put up most of the money to overhaul and repair them. They were needed because of the higher than anticipated demand for passenger rail along the southern California coast.
I ride a Pacific Surfline train two or three times a year. I have never sat in one of the Superliner cars, but I believe that they don't have the automatic doors found on the Surfline cars.
I always try to sit in the Superliner cars when in consist as they are more comfortable to me and since they lack opening lower doors, they take longer to fill up.
As was stated, they were pulled from the Amtrak repair tracks.
I also tried to sit in the superliner when in consist the same reasons YoHo stated, along with being able to use a laptop on the seatback tray when the seat in front of me was reclined. Seems that only one of the bi-level trainsets was lacking the Superliner, and note that Amtrak runs one Amfleet/Horizon trainset on the Surfliner service.
The Superliners do seem to ride a bit more roughly than the normal Surfliner cars.
Some conductors will open the door on the Superliner, Will on 582 did that maybe 50% of the time.
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