Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

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Just booked NB 9811 ( is this VL 1--probably?) and SB 9712 ( is this VL 2? probably?) Not a fan of VL 2..will change if the option exists.
 
jis said:
My understanding is that 5 Diners are coming out of mothballs this FY and Crescent is getting a Diner in the Summer. My understanding is that they already have the equipment needed to make the changes planned for this FY.

Haven't heard anything about what happens in the next FY, but my expectation is that substantial number of Viewliner I Sleepers are slated to come out of mothballs. Also the Viewliner I refurbishment program will get into full swing later this CY and that will cause the shop count to increase by one probably for the duration of the program.

As for the Star, irrespective of what happens to its route its consist is unlikely to change except for perhaps an additional Coach, before Summer of '25 at the earliest. The Meteor will get additional Sleeper and Coach this summer I would think. LSL will likely get additional Coach, but not so sure about additional Sleeper this summer.
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Meteor rider here. VLI is preferred.
 
I saw 98 in Deland today with same consist as described above. Good to see a healthier train size.

I’m sure this isn’t news to many but I didn’t realize Amtrak was renaming VL1 sleepers and this began in 2015 to match the VL2 cars being built. When I first saw this car I thought it was a VL2 since it had a name on it.

Croton River was built in 1996 and named Imperial View. I presume it was just a number, 62014, after Amtrak did away with naming. Good to see names are back!

All VL2 sleepers are in the ‘River’ series. Historically that name for a sleeper series was used by many railroads including, appropriately, the Atlantic Coast Line. Ironically, the ACL got those cars in 1962 from the NYC where they had been in the ‘Imperial’ series as 4DBR-4CPT-2DR cars. More sleeper trivia, thanks to Larry Goolsby’s excellent book- Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service, the postwar years.

The Sunrail platform is essentially finished and remaining work appears to be finish paving the entrance, light poles, and landscaping. I’m guessing it’ll be open for Sunrail by July.

1716407092322.jpeg
 
Palmland said:
I saw 98 in Deland today with same consist as described above. Good to see a healthier train size.

I’m sure this isn’t news to many but I didn’t realize Amtrak was renaming VL1 sleepers and this began in 2015 to match the VL2 cars being built. When I first saw this car I thought it was a VL2 since it had a name on it.

Croton River was built in 1996 and named Imperial View. I presume it was just a number, 62014, after Amtrak did away with naming. Good to see names are back!

All VL2 sleepers are in the ‘River’ series. Historically that name for a sleeper series was used by many railroads including, appropriately, the Atlantic Coast Line. Ironically, the ACL got those cars in 1962 from the NYC where they had been in the ‘Imperial’ series as 4DBR-4CPT-2DR cars. More sleeper trivia, thanks to Larry Goolsby’s excellent book- Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service, the postwar years.
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Here are the Viewliner I Sleeper Names:

http://on-track-on-line.com/amtkrinf-viewname.shtml
 
Palmland said:
I saw 98 in Deland today with same consist as described above. Good to see a healthier train size.

I’m sure this isn’t news to many but I didn’t realize Amtrak was renaming VL1 sleepers and this began in 2015 to match the VL2 cars being built. When I first saw this car I thought it was a VL2 since it had a name on it.

Croton River was built in 1996 and named Imperial View. I presume it was just a number, 62014, after Amtrak did away with naming. Good to see names are back!

All VL2 sleepers are in the ‘River’ series. Historically that name for a sleeper series was used by many railroads including, appropriately, the Atlantic Coast Line. Ironically, the ACL got those cars in 1962 from the NYC where they had been in the ‘Imperial’ series as 4DBR-4CPT-2DR cars. More sleeper trivia, thanks to Larry Goolsby’s excellent book- Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service, the postwar years.

The Sunrail platform is essentially finished and remaining work appears to be finish paving the entrance, light poles, and landscaping. I’m guessing it’ll be open for Sunrail by July.

View attachment 36740
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Went to DeLand station today to check on my 6/5 NB accomodations. Agent seemed to say that there will be 3 sleepers and that 9810 and 9812 will be VL II. 9811 will be VLI. He says he has been staff on LD and that when cars are added, the old VL is in the middle because staff uses those rooms and needs in room facilities at all hours. I'll be on board in early June --hoping for VLi.

PS The SunRail station looks very good Surrounding parking is still unfinished but I can imagine getting off a SB Amtrak and changing to a SunRail to whisk through Orlando and farther south to Poinciana where Amtrak does not go.
 
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Jdub said:
Went to DeLand station today to check on my 6/5 NB accomodations. Agent seemed to say that there will be 3 sleepers and that 9810 and 9812 will be VL II. 9811 will be VLI. He says he has been staff on LD and that when cars are added, the old VL is in the middle because staff uses those rooms and needs in room facilities at all hours. I'll be on board in early June --hoping for VLi.
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That was true in past years, but so far this year, 9810 has been VL1; 9811 & 9812 have been VL2.
 
91 came through DeLand today at about 11 AM, v. late but I read that there were electrical outages around NYC that delayed all trains.

joelkfla said:
You could call and ask if anything's available in 9810, but be careful that they don't increase the fare. Try asking for a supervisor if the agent wants to rebook higher.

ETA: You beat me to it! :D
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That's why I went to the station. I've always gotten faster and better responses with the local agent. I''ll just hang tight and check when I board.
 
I rode the Carolinian last weekend. 80 up from Charlotte to DC was on time down to the minute. However, the 79 back from DC to Charlotte was an hour late. I was more than 30 minutes late 4 out of the 5 days with 3 of the days over 1 hour. One of the instances was due to the downed lines coming out of NYC. I am just seeing the increasing un reliability of CSX out of DC.
 
CSX out of DC is really doing a number on the Carolinian, but as you said, specifically Train 79. I was on the over 3 hours (that's a western long distance train type-delay!) late Carolinian last Tuesday. We were initially delayed due to issues in NYC, but what pushed things to unacceptably late was having to sit behind a CSX freight for at least 1.5 hours, going probably ~15-40 mph the whole time. Awful experience. Things are worst near and south of Richmond, and to Rocky Mount. The S Line restoration needs to happen yesterday! Thank goodness they are at least moving the project forward.
 
OmahaRoad said:
We were initially delayed due to issues in NYC, but what pushed things to unacceptably late was having to sit behind a CSX freight for at least 1.5 hours, going probably ~15-40 mph the whole time. Awful experience.
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I agree this is frustrating but I always say to myself, better to be moving than not at all. The worst is just sitting for 30-45-60 minutes or longer.
 
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