Flynn on Amtrak

[railiner]

Several items.
1. Although forgotten by some and not know by others === The original order from CAF for 130 V-2s was 25 Bag dorms ;; 25 sleepers; 25 diners, and 55 baggage cars. Order of delivery was Baggage, then Bag - Dorms, Diners and then Sleepers. Just before cut off of the 11th Bag dorm start construction the order was changed to 10 Bag - dorms and 70 baggage. That allowed for compete retirement of Heritage baggage that were becoming incapable of addition rehab.
2. Framing of Baggage cars is such that they cannot be converted to coaches, bag - Dorms, or sleepers.
3. CAF appears that it did not secure delivery of parts for construction in a timely manner which is the reason for the very slow deliveries. That stretches out to over 10 years from order to final deliveries late this calendar year. Amtrak is rumored that it also has a shortage of parts for the V-2s
4. It is rumored that the as built plans for the V-2s are the property of Amtrak.
5. Several business pubs are stating that manufacturers are having difficulty in getting parts from vendors of all disciplines. Note the world wide chip shortage especially for auto companies The only way Amtrak can get the needed addition sleepers built quickly IMHO would be for the president invoke the defense production act to move all parts for additional sleepers to the front of the line.
6. In light of reason #5 Amtrak must rebuild every sidelined car still available but the parts problem may hinder that as well ? That is both Amfleets and Superliners.
7. As for rebuilding the P-40 and P-42s the parts shortage is there as well especially those locos traction motor trucks.

It’s time for the US to get back into manufacturing. That is what really “made us great”. Look how it’s transformed China...

 

[MisterUptempo]

I'm surprised at the complete lack of windows in that design, but other than that, it seems OK. I'd be fine in a cocoon with a *view*...

Actually, there is a window for each berth. I should have included this photo as well-

 

[jimdex]

I wasn’t suggesting converting them to all coach. Rather, I suggested they modify them to still carry baggage, like baggage-dorms, but install some coach seating. In the past they were referred to as combines.

Many of the pre Amtrak trains did this as does Amtrak. Modification to include coach seating would be a lot easier than retro fitting as bag-dorms and would gain some much needed revenue with the increased coach capacity.

Where would you put crew members if you eliminated the dorm space? If you're just shifting them to other rooms on the train, that doesn't really expand passenger capacity.

 

[IndyLions]

But what has wide appeal for consumers forking over $5,000 for people traveling to Europe in Business Class is a product like this. Amtrak should install these seats into Amfleets and sell it as a "business class" in between the huge price gap between Sleepers and Coach.

I think I read somewhere that those pods cost a crazy amount of money (like 50-100 grand each?) I don’t think I could see Amtrak forking over that much on an intermediate product…if they do it won’t be at bargain prices.

 

[jis]

I think I read somewhere that those pods cost a crazy amount of money (like 50-100 grand each?) I don’t think I could see Amtrak forking over that much on an intermediate product…if they do it won’t be at bargain prices.

They are also relatively high maintenance items. But they are worthwhile for the airlines because they bring in a lot of money and competitive advantage. I have never been sure if Amtrak could make a plausible business case for them, though personally I'd love them, even though, my favorites are the enclosed pods rather than just lie flat seats.

 

[Mailliw]

Actually, there is a window for each berth. I should have included this photo as well-
View attachment 21190

I'd love these. The NEC would be a great place to try them out. Amtrak would just need to replace the family compartment with an ADA Bedroom.

 

[Ziv]

Since 2011 or 2012 there has been a slight increase every year in manufacturing jobs. 2019 was the best year since 1988. Lower energy costs here in the US has helped quite a bit and the trade war with China didn't hurt.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/m...-at-the-same-level-of-69-years-ago-2019-01-04

It’s time for the US to get back into manufacturing. That is what really “made us great”. Look how it’s transformed China...

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

On a related note on fares, anyone have an idea when Amsnag will be operational again? Someone on here might have said it was down due to the tri weekly schedule? As I wrote on here before I scrapped our summer trip due to high fares. So I thought I’d look at Christmas since were 9 months out and trains are daily again. I wanted to vomit when I saw the fares that week.

One way Galesburg to Fullerton easy trip on the SWC . My wife and I along with our 3 year old and 1 year old (who is still free). 229,000points!!!! or 2100 dollars one way for a family room. Or slightly less for 2 roomettes. We did this exact same trip when we only had one child in 2018 on Dec 23rd for $629 dollars one way booking about 6 months out. Long story short booked United again 12/23-12/30 for 230RT. I know lower fares exist and we’ll bite the bullet look around and pay 1400 one way for a off peak trip this year eventually.

Imagine how many potential first time riders will never check Amtrak again after seeing one of these out of touch with reality fares.

 

[Cal]

On a related note on fares, anyone have an idea when Amsnag will be operational again? Someone on here might have said it was down due to the tri weekly schedule? As I wrote on here before I scrapped our summer trip due to high fares. So I thought I’d look at Christmas since were 9 months out and trains are daily again. I wanted to vomit when I saw the fares that week.

One way Galesburg to Fullerton easy trip on the SWC . My wife and I along with our 3 year old and 1 year old (who is still free). 229,000points!!!! or 2100 dollars one way for a family room. Or slightly less for 2 roomettes. We did this exact same trip when we only had one child in 2018 on Dec 23rd for $629 dollars one way booking about 6 months out. Long story short booked United again 12/23-12/30 for 230RT. I know lower fares exist and we’ll bite the bullet look around and pay 1400 one way for a off peak trip this year eventually.

Imagine how many potential first time riders will never check Amtrak again after seeing one of these out of touch with reality fares.

Did it change when you took your 1 year old out?

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

1 year old was free and 3 was listed as 1/2 fare, hence why I think it’s insane. It‘s not only Christmas week but most of summer at this point. I’ve played around with it a lot. For now it is what it is. We’ve beaten the price of sleepers to death and I apologize I’ve been a big part of it. On a interesting side note coach for us on those dates is $1700 or 185,000 points for a round trip... even more of a head shaker to me..

 

[MARC Rider]

I completely agree. To me, the Viewliner II sleepers are perfect, it's using the same design but with a much-needed facelift. I wish we could just renovate the Superliners to match the Viewliner II's, maybe without the sink.

I happen to like the presence of the sink in the room. If they re-do or replace the Superliners, I'd like to see them include a sink.

 

[MARC Rider]

This avoids occupying the few bathrooms for simple tasks like hand-washing or shaving.

or brushing your teeth.

 

[MARC Rider]

but who wouldn't spring for an extra $300 or $400 for a roomette.

I did a dummy booking a few weeks ago. Baltimore to Chicago was about $350 in a roomette; coach fare was about $150. Thus, the upcharge for the roomette was about $200.

 

[Cal]

I happen to like the presence of the sink in the room. If they re-do or replace the Superliners, I'd like to see them include a sink.

It is convenient, however again, that would require a change in the plumbing for the superliners.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I did a dummy booking a few weeks ago. Baltimore to Chicago was about $350 in a roomette; coach fare was about $150. Thus, the upcharge for the roomette was about $200.

I’m not seeing a roomette on the Lake Shore nyp-chi for less than $300 over the cheapest coach fare and I’ve tried multiple dates.

Nyp to Atlanta I found one for $276
And NYP to Orlando is $358.

 

[fdaley]

I did a dummy booking a few weeks ago. Baltimore to Chicago was about $350 in a roomette; coach fare was about $150. Thus, the upcharge for the roomette was about $200.

The sleeper charges on the Capitol are much more reasonable at the low buckets than what I'm used to on the Lake Shore. I think there is a mid-level roomette bucket on the LSL that Amtrak almost never goes below, even if no rooms have sold.

On my last solo trip to Chicago (pre-pandemic), I went via Pittsburgh and took a bedroom on the Capitol for less than what a roomette would have cost on the Lake Shore. (The schedule also allowed me to skip the nasty flex meals altogether; unfortunately, there is no route that makes this possible going east.)

 

[Mailliw]

I'm going to Chicago this summer on the Capitol Limited and by taking a layover in Pittsburgh I got a bedroom for just $6 more than a roomette on the same train. Of course I jumped on that.

 

[zephyr17]

It is convenient, however again, that would require a change in the plumbing for the superliners.

Yes, Superliners have a "wet" end and "dry" end. 1/2 of the car has no plumbing at all, the dry end. So you could not have sinks in the Superliner roomettes without almost completely rebuilding the car.

 

[Cal]

Yes, Superliners have a "wet" end and "dry" end. 1/2 of the car has no plumbing at all, the dry end. So you could not have sinks in the Superliner roomettes without almost completely rebuilding the car.

And the roomettes, in this aspect, are doing fine as they are. I don't think having in-room sinks is anything we should worry about.

 

[Bigpaw]

I did a dummy booking a few weeks ago. Baltimore to Chicago was about $350 in a roomette; coach fare was about $150. Thus, the upcharge for the roomette was about $200.

I did a dummy booking a few weeks ago. Baltimore to Chicago was about $350 in a roomette; coach fare was about $150. Thus, the upcharge for the roomette was about $200.

A year ago I booked a roomette r/t Chicago to Denver trip with my points. I couldn’t pick the date I needed to return because they had changed their schedule to fewer days running. I saw last week that the schedules have changed and I called to change my return trip to the very next day and they told me it would cost me an extra 2000 points. That’s ridiculous, I feel they should just do it without charging me extra since it was their fault in the first place that I had to pick the date that I did. Very aggravating.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

A year ago I booked a roomette r/t Chicago to Denver trip with my points. I couldn’t pick the date I needed to return because they had changed their schedule to fewer days running. I saw last week that the schedules have changed and I called to change my return trip to the very next day and they told me it would cost me an extra 2000 points. That’s ridiculous, I feel they should just do it without charging me extra since it was their fault in the first place that I had to pick the date that I did. Very aggravating.

You can always ask to speak to a supervisor who can modify point rules. Once Amtrak cancelled my train because of weather and when I asked to rebook the next available date they said that was a blackout day for points. I pressed them on this and was able to use my points the next day no problem.

 

[zephyr17]

You can always ask to speak to a supervisor who can modify point rules. Once Amtrak cancelled my train because of weather and when I asked to rebook the next available date they said that was a blackout day for points. I pressed them on this and was able to use my points the next day no problem.an

Slightly off topic, but I think that the Guest Rewards agents are the most competent and helpful customer facing employees Amtrak has. They actually know and do their jobs, which is unfortunately very inconsistent across the rest of the organization.

 

[Cal]

Bit off topic, but a heads up!

Tomorrow Simply_Railway is posting the Silver Meteor review with the VII, should be up tomorrow morning. Just if anyone wants to check it out, I am definitely looking forward to it.

 

[neroden]

I’m not seeing a roomette on the Lake Shore nyp-chi for less than $300 over the cheapest coach fare and I’ve tried multiple dates.

That's correct. Demand on the LSL is much higher than on the Capitol Limited, so prices on the LSL are much higher than on the CL.

We need a second frequency on the LSL route.

Nyp to Atlanta I found one for $276
And NYP to Orlando is $358.

 

[Anthony V]

That's correct. Demand on the LSL is much higher than on the Capitol Limited, so prices on the LSL are much higher than on the CL.

We need a second frequency on the LSL route.

Yes, especially a second frequency serving Ohio in daylight.