FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2010
ATK-10-101
Contact: Media Relations
202 906.3860
AMTRAK BUYING 130 NEW PASSENGER RAIL CARS
To support long-distance train service
$298.1 million contract creates 575 jobs in Elmira, N.Y.
WASHINGTON – Amtrak is implementing the first step in a long-term, comprehensive fleet renewal plan with the purchase of 130 new single-level rail cars to support its long-distance train services. The five-year, $298.1 million contract is being awarded to CAF USA which is creating 575 jobs to perform manufacturing and final assembly work at its plant in Elmira, N.Y. The first car is scheduled to roll off the assembly line in October 2012.
“This major equipment purchase demonstrates our strong belief in the future of intercity passenger rail in America and Amtrak’s leading role in meeting this critical national transportation need,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman.
Thomas Carper, chairman of the Amtrak board of directors, added: “We are replacing and renewing our fleet to improve reliability of our operations, to meet passenger expectations for quality service and to be in a better position to handle the growing demand for more passenger rail service. Addressing Amtrak’s equipment need is long overdue.”
Boardman explained that the 130 single-level passenger rail cars are similar to the popular Viewliner model and includes 25 sleeping cars, 25 diners, 55 baggage cars and 25 baggage / dormitory cars for use primarily on long-distance trains. They will replace and supplement the existing fleet, improve financial and on-time performance, and foster a more modern, positive image of Amtrak. In addition, Amtrak can begin to retire some of its oldest cars still in service that date back to the 1940s and 1950s.
This is excellent news! Yea, verily. I can’t wait to make use of the new LD sleeping cars. And, it goes to show (perhaps) that good things can finally come to pass when ridership is increasing, as it is, as are revenue miles.
Yes, it’s good to see some upbeat news…New equipment should contribute to better service. Surely, we’ll start to work out of this recession in the near future.
Perhaps if we’d {many of us}, make some purchases as best we can now…it would help to fuel that recovery.
We’ve contributed to our economy recently…Hope it helps.
Give me a break – 130 long-distance cars and only 19 percent, the 25 sleeping cars, for revenue service?
We’ve gotta have the diners, but better that LD crews sleep in (additional) sleeper space than in new dorms. And 55 baggage cars? C’mon! I’ve seen the business out of those cars, and they could be dropped altogether – along with the TBM or whatever they call him these days – with great savings and inconvenience to very few.
The name of the game in LD rail travel, so far as I have observed, is sleeping cars.
Remember Amtrak is a quasi government operation, what would be prudent for a corporation in the free enterprise system does not apply.
I learned a long time ago, trying to rationalize “business” decisions by anyone in government is futile. What we mere peons, otherwise known as voters(i.e. the elected officials’ bosses, however, in their minds, subjects) believe is rational does not apply.
Usually, Amtrak’s “business” decisions can be understood in this light. Such as, why the LD network is what it is, and not what the originators of Amtrak thought it would become. But, I can’t make sense of 50+ baggage cars no matter what. I don’t see any meaningful advantage of new cars over the current fleet mechanically, economically or politically.
The only logic I can see that might be there is that they intend to get back into the mail handling services again and perhaps running services for UPS, Fed Ex and US Postal Services, etc. Whether or not that will work is a debate unto itself. I would have thought they would be more interested in purchasing more coach cars but with greater leg room such as the Renaissance cars that VIA Rail bought.
Baggage cars are for both Eastern and Western services, the new law requiring Amtrak to transport guns in checked baggage may be a factor. All the rest of the cars are for Eastern services to replace the worn out Heritage fleet.
I don’t understand the need for new electric locomotives either. The AEM-7 could rund another 20 years if well maintained. Amtrak does not speak of additional engines.
Quick math says that the 55 baggage cars represent just under $100 million dollars of the order, if one figures they will be a little less expensive than the cars with nicer interiors. Amtrak will need to haul a lot of gun toting passengers for that investment to pay off. Maybe a lock box in the loco or reuse of some of the express box cars they eliminated a few years back would serve that purpose at a much lower cost.
The AEM7DC is worn out, and parts are no longer available, even NJT is replacing its ALP-44’s, upgrading to AC propulsion is almost as much as new locomotive, yet your still stuck with a 26 year old chassis and trucks.
And I like to hear your expertise on how you determine that these engines are good for another 20 years, please elaborate.
There’s been quite a bit of new technology in propulsion control since the AEM7s were built. The real choices are to rebuilt them as ACs or go after something new. The age of the carbody, frame and trucks isn’t a show stopper - you can always repair and reset the fatigue life. But, the platform may limit the end results of an AC rebuild. It’s not unreasonable to think that new could be a better value, particularly if it allows longer trains and/or higher speeds.
The new viewliner type cars Amtrak has ordered has produced many misconceptions and mis- understandings. For want of an official name I’ll call them Viewline
They need baggage cars because the current fleet is like 60 years old and can’t go higher than 90 MPH, and thus cannot be used on most trains on the NEC. I sure would like to check baggage to from WAS to NYP and also to BOS, but I can’t.
Speaking of diners, would these be Viewliner diners including the prototype, or something entirely new?
1. **Boardman telling his press conference that the Heritage fleet is now limited to 90MPH may be valid as I stated above. A source of mine indicated that some Baggage cars were unstable above 90MPH. It would be very helpful if someone with a NEC Amtrak ETT could verify this one way or the other.**2. **A completely on time operation in the east requires 22 Bag-Dorms if dorms required on all routes including a daily Cardinal (3 days requires 1 less)**3.
Are you including the Superliner combines in your calculation? I saw them on the Portland section of the Empire Builder and on the combined Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited this past spring.