Bi-level Long Distance (LD) fleet replacement RFP discussion H2 2024 - 2025

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.
I'm not opposed to a sleeping-lounge car as long as coach passengers have access to a cafe-lounge car, but it probably would onlt end up on the 2 night routes and Coast Starlight.
 
They also have to deadhead Autotrain equipment to/from Beech Grove. I don't know how they do it, but if it involves sticking them on the Cardinal or even a Crescent (via NOL) both through Washington, forget it.
To be fair, they could avoid going through WAS if they were willing/able to do an equipment move from Lorton to Alexandria. However, that would involve messing up a bottleneck on CSX and Amtrak/VRE. The Cardinal probably has some tunnel clearance issues as well, however.

Looking the other way, you could run stuff around via the Virginia Avenue tunnel (which was re-done to be double-stack compatible) if you needed to skip the First Avenue tunnel.
 
However, that would involve messing up a bottleneck on CSX and Amtrak/VRE. The Cardinal probably has some tunnel clearance issues as well, however.

Looking the other way, you could run stuff around via the Virginia Avenue tunnel

You have made dead heading SLs overly complicated. 1st street tunnel is SL compatible. Once the Auto train SLs get to Wash they can be either D/H on the cardinal to IND or now the Floridian to CHI and Cardinal back to IND. Have noticed if next Cardinal does not go for 2 or 3 days or they missed the Cardinal they went on Capitol and back on Cardinal. Got the SLs to IND sooner.
 
You have made dead heading SLs overly complicated. 1st street tunnel is SL compatible. Once the Auto train SLs get to Wash they can be either D/H on the cardinal to IND or now the Floridian to CHI and Cardinal back to IND. Have noticed if next Cardinal does not go for 2 or 3 days or they missed the Cardinal they went on Capitol and back on Cardinal. Got the SLs to IND sooner.

We were responding to someone's proposal to produce a bi-level car even taller than a Superliner.
 
We were responding to someone's proposal to produce a bi-level car even taller than a Superliner.
OK I will buy that. 1st street tunnel clearances are rather undetermined. I read that at one time PRR had the 1st street tunnel wired for CAT but was removed when electric service to POT yard was ended. Now what was the top of rail to wire was not stated.
 
Last edited:
After the problems with Siemens, I'd go with Stadler who has experience building Gold Leaf cars for the "Rocky Mountaineer".
Interesting! Why not Alstom or Hitachi?

(Also, I wouldn't think Amtrak would only use Siemens for their bi-level coaches after ordering Venture equipment).
 
Interesting! Why not Alstom or Hitachi?

(Also, I wouldn't think Amtrak would only use Siemens for their bi-level coaches after ordering Venture equipment).
Pretty sure Amtrak strongly dislikes Alstom right now. Hitachi hasn't built mainline rated cars for NA, Hyundai Rotem has but it seems unlikely they are interested.

I also think Stadler is the kind of manufacture Amtrak needs, they'll push back on dumb ideas while also working deeply with them.
 
Back
Top