Viewliner II Part 4: Sleeping Car production, delivery, deployment

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
500k Euros is not a huge amount of money, even for a start-up company this size. I wonder why they are emphasizing small-scale investors? I don't even know what I don't know about what type of an "investment" this is. Is it like investing in Elio, basically just throwing your money away? My gut is that it is at least a bit better than that...
Or would it be like investing in Texas Central Railroad if it went public?
I wonder what perks the Fans or Ambassadors get? LOL!
 
As to investing, I had proposed in this forum a long time ago that Amtrak have outside investors buy and provide rolling stock with those investors getting some the benefit of the additional availability of seats/rooms. Instead, Amtrak screwed over the private car owners who were trying to do just that by paying Amtrak to transport those private cars in which the car owners would sell "experiential service" rooms.

So, would I trust Amtrak to sell bonds or trust a company that wants to do such a thing? Not a chance. Amtrak is too risky and too expensive. Hey, I am looking into renting a private car for a trip and Amtrak's charges vastly exceed the cost of the car rental itself. That tells me Amtrak doesn't want others involved.

As to the European operation, it sounds like their costs for use of the track (and transportation of the cars?) are likely to give them a chance to be successful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ziv
I think it would be in the interest of states along the LD routes to buy new sleeper cars and deck out the interior with photos and brochures of the best tourist spots in that state. And have the states lease the sleepers back to Amtrak (as long as Amtrak keeps it on the route that goes through that state) on a longterm basis. The states get to promote their tourism chops while investing a relatively small amount. Amtrak gets additional sleeper car inventory with no upfront investment and a modest annual payment to the states that own the cars.
Montana, I am looking at you! LOL!
As to investing, I had proposed in this forum a long time ago that Amtrak have outside investors buy and provide rolling stock with those investors getting some the benefit of the additional availability of seats/rooms. Instead, Amtrak screwed over the private car owners who were trying to do just that by paying Amtrak to transport those private cars in which the car owners would sell "experiential service" rooms.

So, would I trust Amtrak to sell bonds or trust a company that wants to do such a thing? Not a chance. Amtrak is too risky and too expensive. Hey, I am looking into renting a private car for a trip and Amtrak's charges vastly exceed the cost of the car rental itself. That tells me Amtrak doesn't want others involved.

As to the European operation, it sounds like their costs for use of the track (and transportation of the cars?) are likely to give them a chance to be successful.
 
Last edited:
500k Euros is not a huge amount of money, even for a start-up company this size. I wonder why they are emphasizing small-scale investors? I don't even know what I don't know about what type of an "investment" this is. Is it like investing in Elio, basically just throwing your money away? My gut is that it is at least a bit better than that...
Or would it be like investing in Texas Central Railroad if it went public?
I wonder what perks the Fans or Ambassadors get? LOL!

This is been cover in this thread here:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/sleeper-train-revival-in-europe.78237/
The recap is in Europe you can rent equipment, these two guys are running a couchette on the back of a regular schedule train. Open access is why they can do this, the train is a private operator, and can run there train to and from any station. (Space available)

Yes you should plan on losing all your money. Think a Kickstarter funding. You might get something or not, might get a thank you with your name spell wrong or not. Just plan on never seeing a return on funds.
 
We are currently in the new bedroom. So far so good. First impressions. Nice. Coffee is very good. That’s a big plus. Without the closet to hold the ladder, the bathroom is larger. 0245FB21-AE48-4942-BD09-54280CFA13BB.jpegAED5F805-4781-43DF-9C77-57D509A76E27.jpeg7DA17482-28B8-45CC-BCC1-EF4385D3643B.jpegC3417C70-322B-405A-940B-6EB202D000E0.jpeg
 
I don't remember the ladder affecting the bathroom. I thought it was just placed in the upper bunk. I know the cloths closet has been eliminated but that was next to the sofa.

I assume the H room still has the shower in the old toilet alcove?

Are the coffee machines working again in the sleepers?
 
I don't remember the ladder affecting the bathroom. I thought it was just placed in the upper bunk. I know the cloths closet has been eliminated but that was next to the sofa.

I assume the H room still has the shower in the old toilet alcove?

Are the coffee machines working again in the sleepers?
If you look at my pics, you will see the ladder was placed behind the single seat. H Room’s bathroom in open. No alcove, no nothing.
The coffee pot is there, but not in use. 2B1B5F0E-EE03-4967-86C5-B4BA3386F2BE.jpeg
 
The thermostat doesn’t work. Outlets galore. Sink water very user friendly. It you tap gently you’ll get less water. If you actually press it all the way without holding down, you’ll get enough water to wash and rinse your hands. There is a stopper if you want to fill the basin.
Pullout door for trash. No attached tissue box. D391E232-9F26-4488-AAD9-41066D413148.jpeg63688D52-4050-46B6-AD83-731954C490B7.jpeg363A44F2-5DE9-4271-A701-0B15C3C8D2C6.jpegB21A7676-2AA1-4AD4-86A0-FAFD9E512E4F.jpegB9AA8986-222D-424F-A55B-8FF9BBF63D84.jpeg3528FC6D-B338-488B-AA16-7D35744B9B07.jpeg7A73E406-B738-49D6-AD6E-CC62766EC6E9.jpeg7E321DD2-1393-495F-8068-C13BD930241C.jpeg
 
No velcro to attach the curtain to the door frame. Door lock is a little hard to get used to.
 
I felt like I was in the theme song of from Cheers. “Where everybody know your name.”
When we arrived at the station, I went to the ticket counter to ask which side the train was boarding, I was greeted by my name. The SRA greeted me by my name as did the conductor. No one asked to see my ticket. Boy. I must be famous. Lol
 
No velcro to attach the curtain to the door frame. Door lock is a little hard to get used to.
The train braked fast and the door slammed shut, locked, with the curtain caught between the door and the frame.. I had to pull the curtain to be able the unlock and open the door. Door wouldn’t unlock with the curtain stuck, got real nervous.
 
On the Silver service I am usually greeted with "Help me pronounce your name correctly". I always appreciate the personal attention. Of late the SCAs have all been remarkably good. Many of them new that I had never seen before.
The train braked fast and the door slammed shut, locked, with the curtain caught between the door and the frame.. I had to pull the curtain to be able the unlock and open the door. Door wouldn’t unlock with the curtain stuck, got real nervous.
I noticed in my V-II Roomette that I had to push the door towards the frame to be able to unlock even without any curtain stuck.
 
Is there a way to lock the doors in the open position? We experienced the door slamming shut (or open) and finally decided to just close and lock it to avoid that. But there are times when I would like to have the door open get some air circulating.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cal
I felt like I was in the theme song of from Cheers. “Where everybody know your name.”
When we arrived at the station, I went to the ticket counter to ask which side the train was boarding, I was greeted by my name. The SRA greeted me by my name as did the conductor. No one asked to see my ticket. Boy. I must be famous. Lol

That's like cruise ship treatment. I don't recall that being the case in my recent Amtrak travels. A nice touch if a new policy.
 
Is there a way to lock the doors in the open position? We experienced the door slamming shut (or open) and finally decided to just close and lock it to avoid that. But there are times when I would like to have the door open get some air circulating.

If you push it hard til you hear it click, it will will stay open. I must not have opened it properly for it to slam like it did
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top