Tracktwentynine
OBS Chief
Fred Frailey makes a good case over at Trains that when the axe falls, the long-distance routes are likely to see cuts. He shows that it doesn't make sense for Amtrak to cut the NEC and the state-supported/corridor services. Personally, I think we should be expanding service, not cutting it. But I think Fred's analysis is a good one, and I think Amtrak will probably get less money than they need (if not this year, then soon).
If the federal funding situation does not improve, I think we could be at risk of losing at least one of the long-distance routes. Therefore, I think it would be interesting to discuss what you would cut if you had to cut one train. I'm not asking what you think is most likely to actually be cut, but for what you would do if you had to cut one.
So the question for discussion is: Which route(s) would you cut, and why?
I'm also interested in what you would do with the equipment that would then be free for reassignment. Would you somehow preserve service on parts of the line? How?
The 15 LD routes are listed below in order of their financial performance according to the PRIIA reports (#1 is best, #15 is worst):
In case you choose to discuss what you'd do with the spare equipment, I've included this information below:
Equipment Required - Note: this information deduced from Donctor's frequent updates to the line numbers thread. It does not include the spares necessary for each train.
[Format]: Train Name: # sets needed to operate | 1 baggage per train (total for all sets) | 2 sleepers (4 total) | etc.
Superliner trains:
If the federal funding situation does not improve, I think we could be at risk of losing at least one of the long-distance routes. Therefore, I think it would be interesting to discuss what you would cut if you had to cut one train. I'm not asking what you think is most likely to actually be cut, but for what you would do if you had to cut one.
So the question for discussion is: Which route(s) would you cut, and why?
I'm also interested in what you would do with the equipment that would then be free for reassignment. Would you somehow preserve service on parts of the line? How?
The 15 LD routes are listed below in order of their financial performance according to the PRIIA reports (#1 is best, #15 is worst):
- Auto Train
- Empire Builder
- Southwest Chief
- City of New Orleans
- Coast Starlight
- Silver Meteor
- Crescent
- Palmetto
- Lake Shore Limited
- Silver Star
- Capitol Limited
- California Zephyr
- Texas Eagle
- Cardinal
- Sunset Limited
In case you choose to discuss what you'd do with the spare equipment, I've included this information below:
Equipment Required - Note: this information deduced from Donctor's frequent updates to the line numbers thread. It does not include the spares necessary for each train.
[Format]: Train Name: # sets needed to operate | 1 baggage per train (total for all sets) | 2 sleepers (4 total) | etc.
Superliner trains:
- Auto Train: 2 sets | 1 TransDorm (2 total) | 6 sleepers (12) | 3 diners (6) | 2 lounges (4) | 4 coaches (8)
- City of New Orleans / Texas Eagle: *The CONO and TE share the same consists, see below:
.....[NOL-CHI-SAS] 6 sets | 1 TransDorm (6 total) | 1 diner (6) | 1 lounge (6) | 2 coaches (12) | + 1 coach [CHI-STL] (2 total)
.....[NOL-CHI-SAS-LAX] 9 sets | 1 sleeper (9) | 1 coach (9) - California Zephyr: 6 sets | 1 baggage (6 total) | 1 TransDorm (6) | 2 sleepers (15*) | 1 diner (6) | 1 lounge (6) | 3 coaches (18) | + *1 sleeper [CHI-DEN] (3 total)
- Capitol Limited: 3 sets | 1 baggage (3 total) | 1 TransDorm (3) | 2 sleepers (6) | 1 diner (3) | 1 lounge (3) | 3 coaches (9)
- Coast Starlight: 4 sets | 1 baggage (4 total) | 1 TransDorm (4) | 3 sleepers (12) | 1 diner (4) | 1 lounge (4) | 1 PPC (4) | 4 coaches (16)
- Empire Builder: 5 sets | 1 baggage (5 total) | 1 TransDorm (5) | 3 sleepers (15) | 1 diner (5) | 1 lounge (5) | 4 coaches (20) | + 1 coaches [CHI-MSP] (2 total)
- Southwest Chief: 5 sets | 1 baggage (5 total) | 1 TransDorm (5) | 2 sleepers (10) | 1 diner (5) | 1 lounge (5) | 3 coaches (15)
- Sunset Limited*: 4 sets | 1 baggage (4 total) | 1 TransDorm (4) | 1 sleeper (4) | 1 diner (4) | 1 lounge (4) | 2 coaches (8)
*The above count does not include the TE through cars. - Texas Eagle: - See City of New Orleans above.
- Cardinal: 2 sets | 1 baggage (2 total) | 1 sleeper (2) | 1 lounge (2) | 3 coaches (6) | + 2 coaches [CHI-IND] (2 total)
- Crescent: 4 sets | 1 baggage (4 total) | 2 sleepers (8) | 1 diner (4) | 1 lounge (4) | 4 coaches (16)
- Lake Shore Limited: 3 sets | 2 baggage (6 total) | 3 sleepers (9) | 1 diner (3) | 1 lounge (3) | 6 coaches (12)
- Palmetto: 2 sets | 1 baggage (2 total) | 1 lounge (2) | 4 coaches (8)
- Silver Meteor: 4 sets | 1 baggage (4 total) | 3 sleepers (12) | 1 diner (4) | 1 lounge (4) | 4 coaches (16)
- Silver Star: 4 sets | 1 baggage (4 total) | 2 sleepers (8) | 1 diner (4) | 1 lounge (4) | 4 coaches (16)