New Rehabilitated Superliners unveiled

[DSS&A]

Amtrak unveiled its first rehabilitated Superliners at Chicago Union Station on June 15th.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicag...nce-trains-union-station-dining-cars-sleepers

 

[Cal]

I wonder what the sleeper ones will look like.

 

[west point]

is this why the superliner trains are so short ? Why oh why weren't' they refurbished in 2020 ?

 

[Cal]

is this why the superliner trains are so short ? Why oh why weren't' they refurbished in 2020 ?

They didn't have much extra cash.

 

[MARC Rider]

From the article:

Now, the dated orange-and-brown color scheme many Superliner coaches sported is being replaced. They will have new seat cushions covered in a durable gray fabric that will still look new even after two years of service, Roger Harris, Amtrak’s chief marketing and revenue officer, told reporters at Union Station.

"Orange and brown color scheme?"

Here's a picture of a Superliner coach in service on June 9, 2021:



That doesn't look like "orange and brown" to me. Also, the "durable gray fabric" isn't fabric, but rather fake leather.

 

[jis]

From the article:


"Orange and brown color scheme?"

Here's a picture of a Superliner coach in service on June 9, 2021:

View attachment 22968

That doesn't look like "orange and brown" to me. Also, the "durable gray fabric" isn't fabric, but rather fake leather.

That is not the refurbished version.

 

[joelkfla]

From the article:


"Orange and brown color scheme?"

Here's a picture of a Superliner coach in service on June 9, 2021:

View attachment 22968

That doesn't look like "orange and brown" to me.

They said "many" had the orange & brown. That could be anywhere from 5% to 95%.

Also, the "durable gray fabric" isn't fabric, but rather fake leather.

Ugh. Doesn't sound shorts friendly. And what happens after the 2 years during which it looks new; does it start cracking with sharp edges?

 

[Steve4031]

I’m curious to see what will be done to the sleepers. Not expecting anything new on my trip which starts a week from Sunday on the starlight. Then the zephyr on 7/2.

I believe those new seats are on horizon and amfleet cars. I rode in them on a trip to Stl. The seats were an improvement from the older seats imho.

 

[MARC Rider]

That is not the refurbished version.

That's correct. The article said that the non-refurbished version was "orange and brown." But every non-refurbished Superliner I've been on over the past 20 years, at least, including the one I rode last week, has had blue fabric upholstery.

 

[MARC Rider]

Ugh. Doesn't sound shorts friendly. And what happens after the 2 years during which it looks new; does it start cracking with sharp edges?

The refreshed Amfleet 1s for the Northeast Regional have been in service over 2 years, and they're still in pretty good shape. I'm not a real fan of the feel of the "leather" coverings, but I do think that the seats have better cushioning than the previous versions. I once rode overnight in an Amfleet 2 with the blue fabric, and after a while it felt like I was sitting on concrete. And I appreciate the fresh carpeting on all the cars and new curtains on the Amfleet 2 coaches and Amfleet 1 business class cars.

 

[jis]

That's correct. The article said that the non-refurbished version was "orange and brown." But every non-refurbished Superliner I've been on over the past 20 years, at least, including the one I rode last week, has had blue fabric upholstery.

Yeah they are confused, or have been stuck 40 years back or something

 

[Cal]

That's correct. The article said that the non-refurbished version was "orange and brown." But every non-refurbished Superliner I've been on over the past 20 years, at least, including the one I rode last week, has had blue fabric upholstery.

I too, have never seen a superliner coach without the blue fabric.

 

[OBS]

Yeah they are confused, or have been stuck 40 years back or something

At least they didn't refer to the purple (1970's) pattern.....

 

[Dakota 400]

Very encouraging report and pictures, particularly the dining car. Real cloth napkins; flowers; real dinnerware and flatware; an improved menu: Christmas is coming early this year!

 

[Trogdor]

IIRC, in the early 2000s the Superliner I coaches had something of an orange-and-brown seat color scheme (I actually can’t remember what they looked like), and Superliners IIs had something of a pinkish-beige color scheme. At some point, maybe late 2000s, they standardized all coaches throughout the fleet (Superliner, Amfleet, Horizon) on the blue colors that were in use until now.

 

[Mailliw]

How long will this be set up at Union Station? I'll be in Chicago next month.

 

[MikefromCrete]

How long will this be set up at Union Station? I'll be in Chicago next month.

I think it was just a press opportunity. The loco and cars are probably already gone back into service.

 

[Dustyroad]

They said "many" had the orange & brown. That could be anywhere from 5% to 95%.

Ugh. Doesn't sound shorts friendly. And what happens after the 2 years during which it looks new; does it start cracking with sharp edges?

I'm a sweater. Those seats don't look comfortable to me. They could have left the all fabric seat in my opinion as above poster pointed out. I hope they are not in the sleepers.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

From the article:


"Orange and brown color scheme?"

Here's a picture of a Superliner coach in service on June 9, 2021:

View attachment 22968

That doesn't look like "orange and brown" to me. Also, the "durable gray fabric" isn't fabric, but rather fake leather.

Yeah orange and brown is long gone! I remember it as a kid.

I prefer cloth vs. fake leather for long distance riding.

 

[Cal]

I'm a sweater. Those seats don't look comfortable to me. They could have left the all fabric seat in my opinion as above poster pointed out. I hope they are not in the sleepers.

https://media.amtrak.com/media-images/amtrak-customer-experience-investments-display/
They are.

I think the Superliners look a bit weird now, with brand new carpeting and seats and then everything else looking just as old. Couldn't they have at least put in the new tray tables in the rooms? They put them in the accessible coach seats...

 

[user 13416]

I'm a sweater. Those seats don't look comfortable to me. They could have left the all fabric seat in my opinion as above poster pointed out. I hope they are not in the sleepers.

Sweater here too. The updated Northeast Regional Amfleet I seats are cosmetically a little different but essentially the same as the new Superliner seats. I found the new seats on those trains rather comfortable. YMMV of course but I had no issues with the new seats.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I think it was just a press opportunity. The loco and cars are probably already gone back into service.

A refurbished coach is on today’s #5

 

[jis]

As for how much change is possible in these refreshes, remember, one of the requirements of the Amfleet refresh was that it had to be achievable at many terminal station which had any maintenance facility at all, and the cars did not have to be sent to Bear or Wilmington for the refresh. I suppose the Superliner refreshes are also being done under similar constraints.

 

[Palmland]

Good for Amtrak for switching to the pseudo leather. It’s so much easier to keep clean which is so important in our COVID world not too much passengers that are less than fastidious. We’re shopping for a new couch that has to be leather thanks to our beloved dog that sits where she pleases. But for comfort, yes I prefer the upholstered fabric seat coverings.

 

[lrh442]

As for how much change is possible in these refreshes, remember, one of the requirements of the Amfleet refresh was that it had to be achievable at many terminal station which had any maintenance facility at all, and the cars did not have to be sent to Bear or Wilmington for the refresh. I suppose the Superliner refreshes are also being done under similar constraints.

Fancy math shows that $28 million for 450 cars works out to $62K per car. I'm surprised they are able to do even this modest facelift for that little.