I’m On the Night Train

[TinCan782]

Interesting read from the California HSR blog regarding an overnight SoCal to NoCal train. Not unlike all the discussions about a Coast "Daylight" between LA and SFO.

http://www.cahsrblog.com/2015/10/im-on-the-night-train/

Interesting comments too.

 

[Eric S]

Seems like the Coast Daylight is always just a few years away. The most recent plan I saw (posted somewhere online, perhaps I can dig it up later) did actually suggest adding a second train, on an overnight schedule, some years after the day train starts operating.

EDIT: Here it is. The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments' Coast Rail Coordinating Council page has a few studies - the most recent one mentions the overnight train.

 

[Anderson]

They also threw something like that in the (sprawling) rail plan. It was alongside numerous other interesting, but not necessarily feasible in the short term, proposals (additional service to Redding, etc.). It wouldn't be hard to envision this working out well as a medium-term measure, and depending on travel times and improvements I could see it serving a role not unlike that of the old Tokyo-Osaka overnight train (since presumably the first CAHSR train(s) won't arrive at the "other end" before...either 0800 or 0900, depending on when service starts...and won't depart after 2000/2100, depending on when the plan would be to wrap service).

On the Spirit of California, the biggest issue IIRC is that the train ran with too much coach space and not enough sleeper space for its mission (as a quasi-dedicated overnight train).

 

[cirdan]

Does Amtrak have anough sleeping cars to add a further night service?

 

[Ryan]

No. Maybe a few after all of the new sleepers are delivered. But even then not many.

 

[cirdan]

No. Maybe a few after all of the new sleepers are delivered. But even then not many.

And even then, you would have to ask if using single-level cars in California makes sense with all the other sleeper trains coming there being double level.

 

[TinCan782]

Does Amtrak have anough sleeping cars to add a further night service?

Just something more that Amtrak California/CalTrans will have to provide funding for.

 

[Seaboard92]

Well if the Capitol Limited was switched from Superliners to Viewliners it would free up Superliners and help with the PGH connection. But would there be ridership out west for those cars. It makes no sense to have one Viewliner train in California seeing the maintenance facility is in the east.