Midwest Venture introduction

[Mailliw]

Have there been multiple first-hand reports that the seats are uncomfortable, or that the cushions are inadequate? All I've seen in this thread is somebody saying that they look uncomfortable.

I'm finally getting to go on my Chicago trip next month so I'll you know.

 

[MikefromCrete]

Seeing that the new state-owned cars just went into service on Tuesday, there haven't been any reports (that I've seen) on the comfort of the seats. One poster on AU has complained about Brightline seats, but that it.

 

[Ryan]

Around here we don't let facts get in the way of the Internet Outrage Mob.

 

[jiml]

All that does is make the seat cushion slight forward, and not by a whole lot.

That's the way the newest Economy airline seats work.

 

[jis]

That's the way the newest Economy airline seats work.

That is how even the most expensive Sleeper pod seats work too on airliners, as do the Viewliner and Superliner Sleeper seats on Amtrak

The beef in this case is more about the amount of tilt and thickness of cushion more than how it is done I think. Both are still thicker than Y/Y+ seats on airlines and the seats are wider too by several inches.

The front seat not landing in the laps of the person behind is on the whole a good thing I think.

 

[GiantsFan]

The seat sliding forward is a better method of recline, so you don't get a seat back into your face! .... I think the main thing is the amount of recline, and the seat cushion

 

[Arctifox]

I think so too - if one wants to recline their seat it doesn't affect the one behind them.

Does anyone know if the new coaches have been used on the same trains every day (303 and 306 I think it was) and/or if it is planned to keep them on this round trip?

 

[rtabern]

Does anyone know if the new cars have remained on 303 this past week? We are planning to ride on Wednesday from Chicago to Pontiac on 303 and back on 422. Thanks in advance!

 

[jpakala]

I had no discomfort at all riding Brightline coach seating and the new Amtrak Chicago to St. Louis coach seats look fine to me (although I look forward to the comfort of Business Class when those cars are ready). I agree with JP1822 (someone confined to a wheelchair for a lengthy period) about the wider aisles not being necessary.

 

[daybeers]

I think wider aisles are necessary even if the only reason is allowing more space for those to pass while someone is stowing luggage/getting settled when they're boarding or alighting the train. It's also an awkward dance of trying not to bother the conductor who is checking tickets when traversing the aisle. Having to dip into someone's leg space is far from ideal.

 

[jpakala]

Airplane aisles (narrower yet) are impassable, but then again people are to stay in their one-narrow-size-fits-all seats. As to reclining, if one's seatback doesn't recline it's hard to see how that's much different from a wall-like situation where your back is what suffers as your seat and legs slip forward.

 

[Crowbar_k]

New Trains in the Midwest | High Speed Rail Alliance (hsrail.org)

 

[Willbridge]

I like the windows as compared to the Amfleet but I think that even larger windows were offered at one time. Are there structural trade-offs (other than with SSL or dome windows)?

 

[daybeers]

New Trains in the Midwest | High Speed Rail Alliance (hsrail.org)

Thanks for that! Nice pictures in there, though I have to disagree with them saying it's a good paintjob...I think they could've done better. Here's the link without the tracking New Trains in the Midwest

 

[Cal]

Thanks for that! Nice pictures in there, though I have to disagree with them saying it's a good paintjob...I think they could've done better. Here's the link without the tracking New Trains in the Midwest

I agree, Amtrak could've at least had the paint match up correctly between the locomotive and cars. I also think that Brightline did better with the interior. I'm not quite sure how, but their interior just feels more light and modern.

 

[Crowbar_k]

I like the windows as compared to the Amfleet but I think that even larger windows were offered at one time. Are there structural trade-offs (other than with SSL or dome windows)?

View attachment 27027

Those seats look really stiff.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

I also think that Brightline did better with the interior. I'm not quite sure how, but their interior just feels more light and modern.

Florida sun and professional photographers?

 

[neroden]

The wider aisles solve a *lot* of problems. While they may not seem to matter on an all-coach train, they make it *possible* for someone in a wheelchair to go to the cafe car. That's a big deal.

It also makes it more flexible, and perhaps quicker, to board and deboard passengers in wheelchairs at short platforms -- you do not absolutely have to platform every single car where someone in a wheelchair is getting on and off, since it's possible to move between cars.

It also (yep, third benefit!) increases the redundancy of car-mounted wheelchair lifts. If you're depending on car-mounted lifts and one fails, anyone in a wheelchair in that car is screwed -- unless they can roll into the next car.

(Car mounted lifts have become the preferred and default option, over station mounted lifts, due to a combination of more redundancy -- if the only station-mounted lift at a station is broken, nobody can get on or off there -- and requiring fewer lifts to be purchased total. This default is now specified in federal regulation.)

 

[daybeers]

I agree with all your points except

It also (yep, third benefit!) increases the redundancy of car-mounted wheelchair lifts. If you're depending on car-mounted lifts and one fails, anyone in a wheelchair in that car is screwed -- unless they can roll into the next car.

The ventures only have a wheelchair lift in the cafe cars, which are not constructed yet. If that lift fails, a wheelchair user can't roll into the next car and use that car's lift.

 

[jis]

I agree, Amtrak could've at least had the paint match up correctly between the locomotive and cars. I also think that Brightline did better with the interior. I'm not quite sure how, but their interior just feels more light and modern.

Actually, Amtrak couldn't have, since none of it is owned by Amtrak If anyone could have it is IDOT who are the designated managers of the acquisition of the Midwest rolling stock from Siemens.

 

[Trogdor]

Actually, Amtrak couldn't have, since none of it is owned by Amtrak If anyone could have it is IDOT who are the designated managers of the acquisition of the Midwest rolling stock from Siemens.

It has been noted (maybe on here?) that the Siemens Charger paint scheme was designed to match the Nippon Sharyo bilevels that never got built. I’ve seen some mention that the locomotives will be re-striped at some point to match the single-level cars.

 

[jis]

It has been noted (maybe on here?) that the Siemens Charger paint scheme was designed to match the Nippon Sharyo bilevels that never got built. I’ve seen some mention that the locomotives will be re-striped at some point to match the single-level cars.

Yep. The owners can stripe it whichever way they wish.

 

[Steve4031]

My gf and I will ride these in March. I will do a trip report including both our perspectives.

 

[PVD]

I don't think it has sunk in yet for some people that these cars are operated by Amtrak, not spec'd, purchased, or owned by Amtrak. The Midwest Consortium and California, with IDOT in the lead called the shots. Comments have also been made about how people won't like the interior or seats when they go into widespread service for Amtrak, when we don't even know yet what seats they will actually buy.

 

[Mailliw]

Indeed, there's enough lead time for the Amfleet replacements for Amtrak to take advantage of passenger feedback re the CA/IDOT seating arrangements.