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‘Capitol Limited’ contraction hits bumps
If the scenery sells, then why doesn’t regular schedule accomdate the best scenery? Why is this train still on a 1950s business man’s schedule?
Hopefully the new CAF cars will alleviate the shortage of equipment. Why did Amtrak order baggage cars first? it’s coaches, sleepers, and sight seeing cars that are sorely needed. It’s got to be Joe Boardman’s decision and I think Mr. Boardman is doing what GWB intended him to do and that is to sabotage Amtrak.
Amtrak ordered new baggage cars because the Heritage baggage cars are almost, if not already, on their last wheels.
Don, what schedule do you suggest to replace the “business man’s schedule”?
Amtrak has to consider a lot of factors when scheduling trains, including connecting trains and arrival/departure times at major stations, as well as scenery. A later eastbound would provide better scenery, more reliable connections from western trains, and a more convenient connection with the Pennsylvanian. An earlier westbound would do the same. It would also increase turn around time in Chicago to hopefully avoid shortening the trains.
In addition, Amtrak desperately needs more Superliners. Since they used to have a Pioneer, Desert Wind, and Superliner Cardinal, I would guess Amtrak has a lot of Superliners at Beach Grove that need repaired. This would be a good start, but they need to order some too.
Additional cars would allow some trains that are having trouble with same day turns to have an extra set of equipment for improved reliability. It would also allow expansion into new markets. Some of these markets would have minimal additional cost, such as Phoenix and Las Vegas sections of the Southwest Chief.
Amtrak needs Brand New order of Superlines cars say 500 new cars. Now not 30 years from now .
Bottom Line----- Amtrak desperately needs more/new Superliner cars. A minimal order for new viewliners, “motors” for N EC, Acela replacements BUT not a “peep” about long distance equipment. From my rider experience, the demand is sure strong for long distance trains! And with the new construction of “western high level cars” the manufacturing infracture is in place. Come on Amtrak/Mr. Boardman DUUHH
Mr. Kulinna: Viewliners are long distance equipment.
Mr. Miller: The new Viewliners from CAF will help overall, but the Capitol Limited is a Superliner train, so they won’t help it. (Well, maybe with the new cars they can put together one train set of single level cars to supplement the Superliners. That would play hell with scheduling and marketing, though.)
I believe Amtrak is working on an RFP for new Superliners, but they’re not ready to announce it yet.
sad amtrak troubles continue- go north 1st class if you can get space
In FY13 the long distance trains lost $627.1 million before depreciation, interest, and miscellaneous charges. According to DOT numbers, they carried less than one per cent of intercity travelers.
Amtrak does not need to buy new Superliner cars or any other long distance equipment. It needs to be relieved of the long distance trains and concentrate its resources where passenger trains make sense, which is relatively short, high density corridors where the cost of expanding the highways and airways systems is prohibitive.
If there is a market for passenger rail between Washington and Pittsburgh, which is the scenic portion of the Capitol Limited’s route, the train should be scheduled to cover the territory during daylight hours.
As I have said before, we get what the people we elect to Congress think we should have; congested multi-lane interstates and airports and didly squat funding for Amtrak. If every person who rides Amtrak would just take the time to sound off to their Representative and Senators we would start to see some changes. Although I happen to disagree with President Obama about a great many things he has been a strong supporter of passenger rail.
I would hate to see the Sightseer Lounge car taken off the Capitol. I took Amtrak from Cleveland to Kansas City, from Cleveland to Chicago on the Capitol Limited, and Chicago to KC on the Southwest Chef. Granted I boarded the Capitol while it was dark, once it was light, I stayed in the Sightseer car until Chicago. Same on the Chief. And coming home on the Chief, I was in that car after it pulled out of Kansas, until we got to the Chicago Suburbs. Personally, the Superliners and the Sightseer car are why I opted to take the Capitol Limited over the Lake Shore Limited. What Amtrak should do is add those large Wrap around windows to their Dining cars.