Silver Star/Silver Meteor combined train (Jan - Oct 2022)

[user 14106]

According to today’s RPA hotline, RPA CEO Jim Matthews had a conversation with Larry Chestler Amtrak’s VP of Long Distance services. October 3 will indeed be the return to service for the Meteor.

 

[bibty]

My prediction...Silver Meteor is history. 5 coaches and 5 sleepers, along with a cafe car, "dining" car, and baggage car, once a day each way, has been working just fine with Amtrak's bottom line.

I wonder if it's delayed because they are short on equipment with latest issues.

 

[Cal]

I wonder if it's delayed because they are short on equipment with latest issues.

What latest issues

 

[bibty]

The last two accidents

 

[Cal]

The last two accidents

If you’re referring to the southwest Chief and empire builder incidents, those routes use superliners and have had 0 effect on the staff or car capacity on the silver meteor.

 

[jpakala]

Speaking of 2 waiting rooms Lander, Wyoming station had 2, men & ladies. It was the wild west in the Victorian age. In 1959 we visited the station, which was not small and was the line's terminus. Passenger service had ended by then and today the line no longer extends that far. It was the farthest west for the C&NW and apparently intended to go to the West Coast I've read.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Speaking of 2 waiting rooms Lander, Wyoming station had 2, men & ladies. It was the wild west in the Victorian age. In 1959 we visited the station, which was not small and was the line's terminus. Passenger service had ended by then and today the line no longer extends that far. It was the farthest west for the C&NW and apparently intended to go to the West Coast I've read.

Newark, DE’s old station, which is now the Newark History Museum, had separate waiting rooms for men & women. As did Wilmington, DE. Was not uncommon in the old days. As I recall it was to protect the single women from the men and all women from the men’s cigar smoking.

http://www.newarkdehistoricalsociety.org/

 

[pennyk]

MODERATOR NOTE: Please keep your comments on the topic of the Silver Star/Silver Meteor combined train. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

 

[Joe from PA]

Hah! That's what people said about June/July.

In my case, it was March.

 

[jis]

I wonder if it's delayed because they are short on equipment with latest issues.

No. Superliner derailments have nothing to do with single level equipment, especially as it applies to Atlantic Coast Service (Super Star). The delay is most likely because they have not been able to fill the T&E boards to the level necessary for reliable and service, and possibly because they have placed one Diner too many in mothballs that they need to now unwind, or be unable to provide Diners in all the single level overnight LD trains.

 

[jis]

Same here!
I waited awhile, but it was pretty seamless once I got someone on the line.
I am originating from KIN, so I technically still have the option to do same day and transfer to 91 in WAS...but with only a 37 minute layover I don't want to chance it. Also switching at NYP instead saves me 4 hours on the NER and gets me on 91 sooner.
I'll do the first segment the day before and crash at the New Yorker, which is an easy walk from Moynihan Train Hall. (Side note if you book through Amtrak Hotels and Cars site there's a nice points bonus for that hotel!)

I also switched to KIS, just to check it out-I always do ORL so I'm curious!

There are 2 small waiting rooms that are lined with historic railroad photos, so be sure to step into them for a few minutes.

Not to scare any of you, but for the first time AFAIK there was a shooting death around 10pm at night at the Kissimmee SunRail station last week. It is under investigation and it is believed that it was not random, but was targeted where the victim and the perpetrators knew each other.

In any case, it was at a time of the day which is far removed from when any of the Silvers call at KIS.

 

[west point]

What has not been discussed AFAIK is what has happened to the poossible surplus T&E crews that worked the Star & Meteor south of Richmond? Were they all reassigned to the Super Star ? Actually all the conductors might be needed as extra Star conductors. iWere the Meteor and some Star engineers sent elsewhere for temporary duty? Maybe also some conductors? Some Meteor only engineers would have had to been possibility qalified Selma - Savannah. That would still have Surplus engineers south of SAV? It may be that not enough T&E personnel will be available to operate both Star and Meteor until October?.

Have not noticed any vacancies for conductors except JAX. No engineers positions. Amtrak keeps everything a secrete so that we cannot find out what is actually reason of Meteor's continued moving to laterextending days of restarting.

 

[west point]

No. Superliner derailments have nothing to do with single level equipment. The delay is most likely because they have not been able to fill the T&E boards to the level necessary for reliable and service, and possibly because they have placed one Diner too many in mothballs that they need to now unwind, or be unable to provide Diners in all the single level overnight LD trains.

That might not be the case. What if the shortage of Superliner cars is causing some SLs that are on midwest trains to go to Western trains?. Then single level cars are being assigned to midwest trains to fill out SLs instead of going to east coast trains.

 

[jis]

That might not be the case. What if the shortage of Superliner cars is causing some SLs that are on midwest trains to go to Western trains?. Then single level cars are being assigned to midwest trains to fill out SLs instead of going to east coast trains.

The Super Star (which is what this discussion is about) carries the equipment that would normally run in the Star and the Meteor combined, except for one Diner, one Lounge and one Baggage car per consist, that is four of each of those. None of these could be used on midwest regionals. But as I noted, they might be a little tight on the Diners given the mothballing situation.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

What has not been discussed AFAIK is what has happened to the poossible surplus T&E crews that worked the Star & Meteor south of Richmond? Were they all reassigned to the Super Star ? Actually all the conductors might be needed as extra Star conductors. iWere the Meteor and some Star engineers sent elsewhere for temporary duty? Maybe also some conductors? Some Meteor only engineers would have had to been possibility qalified Selma - Savannah. That would still have Surplus engineers south of SAV? It may be that not enough T&E personnel will be available to operate both Star and Meteor until October?.

Have not noticed any vacancies for conductors except JAX. No engineers positions. Amtrak keeps everything a secrete so that we cannot find out what is actually reason of Meteor's continued moving to laterextending days of restarting.

Just because we don't know things doesn't mean that they're keeping secrets. Sheesh. Do you know everything that's going on at McD's, Apple, etc or are they all keeping secrets?

 

[west point]

The Super Star (which is what this discussion is about) carries the equipment that would normally run in the Star and the Meteor combined, except for one Diner, one Lounge and one Baggage car per consist, that is four of each of those. None of these could be used on midwest regionals. But as I noted, they might be a little tight on the Diners given the mothballing situation.

Are you sure about coaches and maybe sleepers?. How many more persons would want to ride if Meteor was operating as wll? The connection problems WASH and north are evident. With out the Meteor's previous schedule the potential passengers are how many? When both silver trains were operating ocassionally eah train would have 3 - 4 sleepers and 4 - 5 coaches. Yes saw them more than once at Orlando during holiday times.

With 75V-1 and V-2 sleepers in inventory there is no reason Star and Meteor could both have 4 each. That is 32. Crescent just has 2 each now and LSL what 3 total for end points. total 9. If the AM-2s were not operating on midwest trains then maybe 1 -2 more coaches on Super Star?

 

[jis]

Are you sure about coaches and maybe sleepers?. How many more persons would want to ride if Meteor was operating as wll? The connection problems WASH and north are evident. With out the Meteor's previous schedule the potential passengers are how many? When both silver trains were operating ocassionally eah train would have 3 - 4 sleepers and 4 - 5 coaches. Yes saw them more than once at Orlando during holiday times.

With 75V-1 and V-2 sleepers in inventory there is no reason Star and Meteor could both have 4 each. That is 32. Crescent just has 2 each now and LSL what 3 total for end points. total 9. If the AM-2s were not operating on midwest trains then maybe 1 -2 more coaches on Super Star?

I am sure about what the Meteor and Star were running with in general just before COVID set in. This is not a theoretical discussion about what the trains could be, but a real one about what they are.

As I have mentioned there are a number of Sleepers and Diners in mothballs today and they are not scheduled to come out before next year, so the consists won't change on 3rd October. The train will just be split into two trains with the exact same number of revenue cars, whether anyone likes it or not. Things might improve the year after next when a few more Sleepers are scheduled to be deployed in the Atlantic Coast service, but nothing will change much before that. There may be a Coach or two added during heavy season.

 

[BBoy]

My brother and I were planning on traveling out on AMTK # 97 on September 17th also from NYP - MIA My brother showed me only AMTK #91 is operating. Back to the drawing board for us drawing for us too.
When 97 and 98 begins operating, I''m wondering will 91, 92, 97, 98 will have the same consists.

And once traditional dining is reinstated, will it be extended to passengers traveling in coach class?

 

[jis]

My brother and I were planning on traveling out on AMTK # 97 on September 17th also from NYP - MIA My brother showed me only AMTK #91 is operating. Back to the drawing board for us drawing for us too.
When 97 and 98 begins operating, I''m wondering will 91, 92, 97, 98 will have the same consists.

Normally 91/92 should have one less Sleeper and Coach than 97/98.

And once traditional dining is reinstated, will it be extended to passengers traveling in coach class?

Eventually perhaps, but most likely not at the same time as when traditional dining is restored.

 

[joelkfla]

My brother and I were planning on traveling out on AMTK # 97 on September 17th also from NYP - MIA My brother showed me only AMTK #91 is operating. Back to the drawing board for us drawing for us too.
When 97 and 98 begins operating, I''m wondering will 91, 92, 97, 98 will have the same consists.

And once traditional dining is reinstated, will it be extended to passengers traveling in coach class?

Similar but probably not identical. All should have sleepers, coaches, a cafe car, and a diner.

Immediately prior to the suspension,

• 91 & 92 had 2 sleepers, with car 11 being the VL II;
• 97 & 98 had 3 sleepers, with cars 10 & 12 being VL II's.

I'm not sure about the coaches, but each train had at least 2 of them.

 

[Laurajeantx]

So why no traditional dining offered on Silver Star since it was combined with Meteor? We are going Orl to DC and were told only Flex is available to sleeper passengers.

 

[jis]

So why no traditional dining offered on Silver Star since it was combined with Meteor? We are going Orl to DC and were told only Flex is available to sleeper passengers.

No single level train has traditional dining at this time. I am not sure anyone outside Amtrak knows the answer to the "why" question. It is just what it is.

 

[Laurajeantx]

Considering the prices they are charging they need to reconsider that asap. Microwave dinners is not what people paying the premium prices for sleeper accommodations will tolerate for very long. As a kid that was one of the high points of our family train trips from NY to Florida. This is our first trip by train in many years. Marie Calendar doesn't cut it. And they wonder why ridership is down.

 

[Oreius]

I’m going on Silver Star #91 in early December and also in May 2023. Both times, I will be in the same car I have always been in—Car 9110. Any chance-after the end of the “Super Star--I will finally get to ride in the elusive Viewliner 2??

On a side note, my parents are coming along for the May trip. They’ll be in the H Room in Car 9111…

 

[joelkfla]

I’m going on Silver Star #91 in early December and also in May 2023. Both times, I will be in the same car I have always been in—Car 9110. Any chance-after the end of the “Super Star--I will FINALLY get to ride in the elusive Viewliner 2??

On a side note, my parents are coming along for the May trip. They’ll be in the H Room in Car 9111…

As I said above, prior to the Meteor suspension, only 9111/9211 was a VL II. Nobody knows for sure whether that will be true after Meteor resumption.