New train (40-41 Floridian) between Miami and Chicago via Washington DC (2025)

[west point]

Another question is why do these Siemens "Chargers" go "balls up" so often?

Some might suspect that the chargers have too many very minor glitches that are causing the locos to shut down. There should not be but just most items that just give a master caution that can be taken care of at next maintenance location. It is time to reign in IT control over these locos.

 

[Septa9739]

By this point, all the major mechanical delays have worked out of the system, at this point all trains are within an hour and a half of schedule. Hopefully this remains the case going forward and those delays were just teething problems with the Chargers that will improve over time.

 

[Septa9739]

Spoke too soon. 40(26) has suffered a massive mechanical failure requiring equipment be set out. Current delay 6:30. This will result in another origination delay of 41(28). These delays while noticed on the Floridian because people are watching the new service are cropping up all over the system. The RPA should at this point, be pressing Amtrak for specific answers.

 

[Qapla]

Finally, a day with some on time Floridians

Of course, there are also a couple of late ones, too

 

[jiml]

Another question is why do these Siemens "Chargers" go "balls up" so often?

Although not well-publicized, this has been a problem for VIA as well. It has been buried by the stories of speed restrictions at level crossings and decaying coach fleet. There does seem to be a consensus that the locomotives were a little "over-thought" and are too reliant on automation.

 

[Anderson]

Although not well-publicized, this has been a problem for VIA as well. It has been buried by the stories of speed restrictions at level crossings and decaying coach fleet. There does seem to be a consensus that the locomotives were a little "over-thought" and are too reliant on automation.

There was a YouTube video I watched on this point. Okay, yeah, it's YouTube...but the points were essentially:
(1) Newer locos are not suited to Amtrak's traditional maintenance habits (compare with how Brightline handles their equipment); and
(2) A lot of the "gee whiz" stuff was due to needing to meet the Tier 4 standards.

Whether this the tradeoff in (2) is worthwhile in the context of everything else out there (versus if, say, Amtrak had just been able to order another couple hundred Genesis locomotives as-is) is debatable.

 

[Septa9739]

The fact, I think, is fairly well established at this point. The question needs to be what’s to be done about it. The status quo should not be acceptable, with serval trains a day delayed for mechanical failure. Something will need to be worked out, whether certain technology be deactivated/bypassed and a waiver granted for TEIR IV (I think this administration would be receptive.) or Amtrak finds a way to properly maintain the things (I have my doubts; Chicago maintenance has been notorious since about the Kennedy Administration.). They need to be able to run schedules like the Floridian’s.

It also seems though a large number of these delays are concentrated on the Floridian. I have a feeling [which I know is useless in this context] that a large portion of the trouble happens between Cary and Savannah. It’s also had many delays on origination. Is there any idea why the Floridian seems to catch the worst?

 

[Eric in East County]

The status quo should not be acceptable, with serval trains a day delayed for mechanical failure.

If the status quo was flights from the major airlines being delayed due to mechanical failure, what do you think the public would demand be done to those responsible?

 

[Septa9739]

If, say, some Boeing equipment had some en-route mechanical issues, I think the media, the public, regulatory bodies, and Congress could possibly become slightly upset. Just a hypothetical.

I say as now four of the five sets are operating within an hour.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

https://asm.transitdocs.com/train/2025/2/9/A/41
This evening's departing Floridian operates without a cafe/lounge car! Would the diner handle all food service somehow?

 

[trimetbusfan]

https://asm.transitdocs.com/train/2025/2/9/A/41
This evening's departing Floridian operates without a cafe/lounge car! Would the diner handle all food service somehow?

Probably will have catered meals for coach passengers every few hours. That’s what happened when I rode the CZ and had no cafe LSA between Chicago and Denver.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Probably will have catered meals for coach passengers every few hours. That’s what happened when I rode the CZ and had no cafe LSA between Chicago and Denver.

Sounds difficult to arrange. Coordinating any food to be loaded onto the train from a 3rd party at intermediate stops sounds tricky, though I've heard about it.

Ordering catering for lunch/dinner sounds somewhat doable. For breakfast my best guess is something non-perishable is loaded on in Chicago & DC for breakfast the subsequent mornings. Can't imagine anyone will be up early at just the right stop on short notice making breakfast for 100+ people.

 

[paytonc]

I'm on board; they've wedged a tiny display of snacks into the middle of the (newly built) diner. Doesn't seem to be anything in the way of actual meals on offer, or a menu. The diner may be open for coach passengers, but so far it's 4:40 and there hasn't been any announcement.

 

[Stevenz]

I’m scheduled Chicago to Pittsburgh on Wednesday the 12th. Amtrak has canceled the EB that day and some northeast trains. How do they decide which trains to cancel? The forecast for Wednesday here - Milwaukee and Chicago - is 6-8” of snow “from Wednesday morning through late Wednesday night.”I have to take the Hiawatha to Chicago, of course.

Based on experience, what does anyone think my chances are? And if it’s canceled, chances of getting on the train the next day.

 

[zephyr17]

On the Builder, extreme cold seems to be a major factor in deciding to cancel, more so than snow.

Also, on the western LD trains, if a train gets extremely late they will cancel a trip to stop accumulated delays from continuing to snowball.

Cancelling any train is usually an independent decision for each one. There is little to no linkage.

The reasons for cancellation:
1. Weather related, such as extreme cold, extremely high winds, very heavy snow. Hurricanes.
2. Line blocked/unusable. Freight derailment, avalanche, landslide, flooding, bridge burned, etc.
3. Equipment availability/very late inbound equipment. There is a limited time available to turn consists at terminals. If a train is very late, the turn might depart late. Such as the Builder recently arriving like 16 hours after it was set to depart. They'll cancel trips to stop it from snowballing and get the equipment rotation back on schedule.

I think your chances of your train going are as good as any other midwinter day. Your chances of being on the next day's train in case of cancellation are excellent, now is not a season of high load factors. Of course, if you have a sleeper there is always a chance of losing your accommodation if they're all booked.

The reason why 7(12) is cancelled may be because 8(9) appears to be cancelled. There is no inbound consist to turn. Of course, right now the EB is screwed up enough that there may be a consist sitting in Chicago, so weather (cold) may be a factor.

 

[IndyLions]

Just called to move from the 10 sleeper to the 11 sleeper on a couple of Floridian itineraries in March - hoping to switch to a VLII roomette.

On March 7-9, the CSR said they were sold out. On March 13th, the CSR said the 10 & 11 cars were full but the 12 car was available. So it sounds like they are adding the 12 car sometime between March 9th and March 13th.

My memory says that when they had 3 sleepers in the past on FL trains, the 10 and 12 cars were VLIIs and the 11 car was a VLI. But who knows what they will do this time.

But that is just speculation based on one CSR call.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Just called to move from the 10 sleeper to the 11 sleeper on a couple of itineraries in March - hoping to switch to a VLII roomette.

On March 7-9, the CSR said they were sold out. On March 13th, the CSR said the 10 & 11 cars were full but the 12 car was available. So it sounds like they are adding the 12 car sometime between March 9th and March 13th.

My memory says that when they had 3 sleepers in the past on FL trains, the 10 and 12 cars were VLIIs and the 11 car was a VLI. But who knows what they will do this time.

But that is just speculation based on one CSR call.

They are adding a 3rd sleeper soon. Don't know the exact date in March nor whether it will be a VLI or VLII.

 

[glensfallsse]

Don’t know if this helps but I’m on the Silver Meteor now in 9710 and it’s an old Viewliner. Not sure if by FL trains you meant both of them.

 

[IndyLions]

Don’t know if this helps but I’m on the Silver Meteor now in 9710 and it’s an old Viewliner. Not sure if by FL trains you meant both of them.

Thanks for the info. I'll be on the Floridian for my trips - since I live in the Midwest and now take that train instead of transferring trains in the east coast to the Meteor or (now-dormant) Star.

 

[Tom C]

Yes the Floridian is getting a third sleeper in March.