Are we talking about 110-125 MPH cars running at 79 MPH until retirement in 2050 or thereabouts?The Department of Transportation is proposing spending 500 million
for new double decker (Superliner) cars for Amtrak.
Isn't that for bi-level corridor cars, like the California Cars? Not Superliners.The Department of Transportation is proposing spending 500 million
for new double decker (Superliner) cars for Amtrak.
Do not trust what you see on TV. They merely run a quick search on internet and pick up the first photo/video that looks good to their eyes. Last week while reporting the Boeing 737 crash in Pakistan, CNN or Fox News (I forgot which one I was seeing) showed a photo of Boeing 747, and as you may know, in spite of close resemblance in numbers, the two planes are as different as chalk and cheese.The pictures I saw on TV were Superliners.
The newscaster referred to them as bilevel cars,
so you may be correct that they are for Corrider service.
A TV new report? Well, that explains it. :giggle:The pictures I saw on TV were Superliners.
The newscaster referred to them as bilevel cars,
so you may be correct that they are for Corrider service.
Now it's clear.A TV new report? Well, that explains it. :giggle:The pictures I saw on TV were Superliners. The newscaster referred to them as bilevel cars, so you may be correct that they are for Corrider service.
The news is about the release of the RFP for an order of 130 bi-level corridor cars for use in the Midwest and Calfornia. The order is fully funded for $551 million available. Now the states and the FRA wait to receive official bids from the manufacturers on prices and their capability to build the cars. The US DOT press release on the RFP can be found here. These bi-level corridor cars will be owned by the states, not Amtrak. These are not Superliner replacements. Amtrak will have to get funding and/or take out a very large loan when it comes time to order the Superliner I replacements.
For all those autos to travel in comfort? Yes. And then NE can arrange massages for each of the auto on board and the rack too.out of curiosity. would it be cheaper to buy some auto racks and convert them into 3 level superliners?
The plan would be to retire the Superliner Is at a lower rate than the annual rate the new Superliners are delivered (if that is what the replacements are called). That way they expand the fleet capacity. The V2 Fleet Strategy for single and bi-level car orders is not for one-time large orders for 200-500 cars to be delivered in a 2-3 year period, as was done in the past. But, instead strive for a more steady rate order of so many cars per year over many years. That way they can maintain production lines and increase the annual production rate if they need additional capacity.When Amtrak orders Superliners, they should keep the Superliner Is in service because of the railcar shortage.
May be efficient, but not too comfortable I think. Hitler's minions tried this with disastrous results years ago.out of curiosity. would it be cheaper to buy some auto racks and convert them into 3 level superliners?
Part of the problem is that in order to do this, Amtrak would need either a committed source of capital funding or a fairly large one-time loan that could be used to fund such an order. It is easier to appropriate, say, $2 billion at one time than it is to appropriate $250 million/year in each of 8 years.The plan would be to retire the Superliner Is at a lower rate than the annual rate the new Superliners are delivered (if that is what the replacements are called). That way they expand the fleet capacity. The V2 Fleet Strategy for single and bi-level car orders is not for one-time large orders for 200-500 cars to be delivered in a 2-3 year period, as was done in the past. But, instead strive for a more steady rate order of so many cars per year over many years. That way they can maintain production lines and increase the annual production rate if they need additional capacity.When Amtrak orders Superliners, they should keep the Superliner Is in service because of the railcar shortage.
I would argue that it is probably easier for Amtrak to get $250 or $300 million a year for rolling stock purchases than a single big $2 billion grant. Or get those funds in stages through HSIPR applications to the FRA under the umbrella of an ongoing federally funded passenger rail program. What will be rather difficult is to get the $5.4 billion over the next 5 years called for in the five year financial plan.Part of the problem is that in order to do this, Amtrak would need either a committed source of capital funding or a fairly large one-time loan that could be used to fund such an order. It is easier to appropriate, say, $2 billion at one time than it is to appropriate $250 million/year in each of 8 years.
What's been gnawing about the Superliner situation is that we are probably at about the last time it will make any sort of sense for Amtrak to grab RRIF loans to pay for new trains. Per Amtrak's desire to retire equipment after 40 years or so, I wish Amtrak would just bite the bullet, get new cars, and then if major cuts happen they would look to retire Superliner I sleepers and to convert the coaches for corridor-ish use and "sell" them to the states setting up/expanding those routes.
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