I'm looking at my reservation for January on the 21 and 22 and I'm in 31 on both of them and have been since I made the reservation in July. Should I call them? I'm kinda freaking out now.
Superliner trains' removal and restoration of cars (2022-2023)
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Well, I know 421/422's through sleeper is the 30 car line and it runs a 30 car line on the days it is just 21/22. Maybe someone closer that physically observes the Eaglette's operation can chime in. Perhaps they added a 31 car line because 2 and 22 so often misconnect now.
In lieu of more information I have to go with my advice to stick to the "base" sleeper if at all possible.
I would NOT Wait to call Amtrak and see if you can get into the 30 Car since there is only 1 Sleeper on 21/22 between SAS and CHI even on the 421/422 Days !
Just this past week the connection in SAS was missed Twice ( I was on the #2/#422 on 10/11) and Bustitutions were done between SAS and DAL with the 422 Passengers going North of Longview Bused to Longview chasing the #22.
The protect Sleeper and Coach that is kept in San Antonio is hooked to the #22, with the 422 Sleeper and Coach cut out before #2 goes on to NOL when Missed connections occur, and cut out in SAS upon #21s return from CHI.
There is no Transdorm on 21/22 so the Crew takes 4 of the Rooms(sometimes its #11-#14 Downstairs), and the Train is mostly SOLD OUT on the 3 days a Week 421/422!
NOTE: The #2/#422 of Sun 10/16 was in a Service Disruption in Western Arizona as of 11:45AM CDT with No Information as to why??
Update: Now 6+ Hours Late out of Maricopa but on the move!
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kangforpres
Train Attendant
This happen to me too, had the Family bedroom on Train 6. I called and was able to get 2 roomettes instead of coach and a little refund for price difference
Is this happening because they are finally refurbishing the Viewliner fleet and are pulling cars out of service?
Is this happening because they are finally refurbishing the Viewliner fleet and are pulling cars out of service?
It's happening because they mothballed a good part of the fleet when COVID struck and they dropped to triweekly, and they laid off too many people for COVID, both in maintenance and OBS forces, and a lot of them did not come back when recalled.
They can't staff the cars, and don't have the maintenance personnel to do the routine maintenance and inspections to get all the mothballed cars back into service. Their genius equipment management people only discovered the shortage when they went from triweekly back to daily and discovered they did not have enough operational cars to run the same consists as pre-COVID. Or staff to do so. So they started cutting cars, but only after they already released the inventory in them to the reservation system and had sold space to people in cars that would not run. Hence downgrades and cancellations. In Amtrak's long and storied history of colossal screw ups, this mess is the clear winner. Until now they could at least deliver what they sold, with the exception of a cars that very occasionally were unexpectedly bad ordered just before a departure. What is happening now is a systematic and spectacular FUBAR.
The Superliner refurbishments have nothing to do with it. There is only one of the cosmetically refurbished sleepers (at a budget of about $62K/car, the refurbishment can only be cosmetic) apparently in service. They can't get the cars inspected or maintained, let alone refurbish them.
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But of course the refurbishment of the sleeping cars offers a convenient and rational-sounding excuse to make it appear like these cancellations are part of Amtrak's plan to provide enhanced service.
west point
Engineer
Woud like to have a same day count of apparent operative super liners at WAS, CHI, NOL, LAX. EMY, and SEA. probably not feasible ? + SAS
Thanks - it stands for Quick Response.
For your evaluation... I too am booked in car 2131 next month (DAL>SAS).
Here is a view of my previous 2 bookings on Train 21. I was also placed in car 2131 even though they were only running one sleeper. All went well on those trips.
Well, it looks like the they've changed the "base" sleeper on 21/22 to the 31 car line, like the CZ. Which is funny considering it looks like it is still 30 for 421/422.
Mea culpa, current reports from the field always trump older reports and inferences.
I wonder if this means they are laying groundwork to run both SAS and LAX sleepers on the 421/422 days. I notice that the last trip slated for November 2022 in the 30 car line is in 422 despite only being between SAS and DAL.
Hi n3rdg1rl,
With regard to “Sleeper Removal” discussion concerning Amtrak Car 2131… for further evaluation...
Amtrak 21 stop filmed at Mineola Texas captured 2 months ago and appears to still be running only 1 sleeper.
It was numbered 2131. (see video at 0:41 or 1:09 for validation).
Reference: YouTube video "2022-08-30a Amtrak #21 Texas Eagle Westbound"
With regard to “Sleeper Removal” discussion concerning Amtrak Car 2131… for further evaluation...
Amtrak 21 stop filmed at Mineola Texas captured 2 months ago and appears to still be running only 1 sleeper.
It was numbered 2131. (see video at 0:41 or 1:09 for validation).
Reference: YouTube video "2022-08-30a Amtrak #21 Texas Eagle Westbound"
Thank you so much for the visual confirmation. I appreciate it!
I just booked 1431 for 12/26. Room 12 lax to Seattle. Is 1431 the base sleeper on this train or is 1430. I am hopefully thinking I am safe.
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trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
1430 is the base. But the starlight has been running with a 1431 car many months. I woudln’t be too worried..
The 30 car line is the base sleeper on the Starlight.
The Starlight is the only western Superliner train that had multiple sleepers assigned that has not so far gotten hit with the sleeper removals through this, starting in late spring. First, the Builder, then the SW Chief, then the CZ, all got hit in turn. You can interpret this as the Starlight being safe and immune, or that it is due for it. Personally, until this definitively blows over, I would treat any non-base sleeper as potentially endangered.
The only train that had not been physically running for months with its second sleeper before was pulled was the Builder. It never started running when it was scheduled to. Both the SW Chief and the Builder had been running theirs before they got yanked.
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trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
Actually there was some reports of it in 2021, but not this year. A few on Facebook were in the 32 car and then Amtrak decided to pull that car from the consist.
The starlight is a popular train, I can’t see it running with just one sleeper. Maybe one sleeper + a transdorm, but nothing less than that.
So is the CZ. I do not think that makes it in any way immune. I still wouldn't trust any but the base sleepers anywhere until I see definitive signs this is over. None of this makes sense seen from a purely capacity and demand viewpoint.
Better safe than sorry is my motto.
trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
for sure. But the starlight also runs with more OBS. The starlight has a dedicated Business class attendant, and their dining car seems to be staffed better than the zephyr. Therefore they would have less roomettes they can sell.
Honestly, I am a little concerned that the 31 car might get pulled at some point, just because I went into my local Amtrak station recently and was going to book a trip on #14 for January. Specifically asked the attendant to go on the manifest and place me in a room of my choice. He said he could only find a 1430 car. Seemed very confused that there wasn’t a 1431 or 1432 car. (I didn’t ask him if there was a transdorm car, which would have been 1440). I’m not sure if that was just a glitch in his computer or if they are actually planning on running the consist like that. I guess we’ll see.
(To make things more confusing, I just tried to book a dummy reservation on the app, and it says there are still 7 bedrooms on this train. That means they have to be running more than 1 full sleeper). Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Well, I can only hope. I appreciate the answers.
Hopefully, if they pull cars, they'll do it before they release inventory for sale
.Maybe Amtrak has finally begun to restrict sales inventory until they are certain they are going to run enough equipment to support it, as they should have from the start. Maybe they pulled cars out of reservation inventory early enough so bookings were still low enough that any affected passengers could be moved to the base sleeper without downgrading.
In other words, perhaps they started to actually plan.
It is possible they are intending to still run a 31 and maybe a 32, but withdrew them from inventory until they are sure.
Even before COVID the 32 car line really only ran in peak periods, summer and holidays. It usually wasn't there in the winter.
Jack Davis
Train Attendant
Working up to Thanksgiving Eve, travel business is usually brisk. Then working up to Christmas and New Years, the same. Then in January the travel business drops way off. THAT'S when the cars should be pulled for refurbishment.
Common sense just hasn't been common at Amtrak for several years now.
jis
Permanent Way Inspector
Staff member
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That is how it is done in normal times, but at present there is a shortage of staff to do even regular regulation required inspections on otherwise roadworthy cars, before they can be used in service. That is what is causing a lot of discruptions of this sort.
I doubt sleepers are getting pulled off for refurbishment.
They are having enough problems just keeping the currently operational fleet inspected and maintained and maybe, just maybe, getting some of the cars they stupidly mothballed at the beginning of COVID serviced, inspected, and back on the road.
The issues have nothing to do with refurbishment, but just keeping enough of the fleet in service to maintain at least minimum sleepers on every train that is supposed to have them. The problem is much more thoroughgoing and severe than wanting to refurbish some cars and having bad timing. Amtrak's fleet management is gigantic and systemic Charlie Foxtrot.
Hi n3rdg1rl,
With regard to “Sleeper Removal” discussion concerning Amtrak Car #2131…
I can confirm Eagle 21 ran one sleeper car #2131 last Friday. (DAL > SAS).
(Door sign said #2230 ;-)
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