KCRag Forum

I talked to an Amtrak Engineer who said they all hate the new engine. He also said that they can only sell 2 cars worth of tickets yet have to carry a couple extra cars bc Union Pacific rules.

Those look great!

I don't think they are every going to get the two level trains certified with the new safety regulations.

ldai_phs wrote:I talked to an Amtrak Engineer who said they all hate the new engine. He also said that they can only sell 2 cars worth of tickets yet have to carry a couple extra cars bc Union Pacific rules.

Brakes and Power can not be used at the same time (unlike P42) and the engineers are concerned that they are not nearly as safe as the P42

http://blog.amtrak.com/2017/08/amfleet-refresh/

Beginning this month, Amtrak coach cars will begin to undergo a series of major improvements including:
- Brand-new seat cushions
- New carpeting
- New LED reading lights
- New bathroom flooring
- Upgraded wainscoting and bulkhead
- New curtains in Business Class cars
- Redesigned galleys in the café cars

Expect to see the new interiors roll out on the following services: Northeast Regional (including trains to Springfield), Vermonter, Downeaster, Empire Service, Maple Leaf, Adirondack, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone, Springfield Shuttles, Pennsylvanian and Carolinian. In the Midwest, customers will see upgrades on the Illinois Service, Hiawatha, Missouri River Runner and Michigan Services.

FINALLY! http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.c ... /?ID=33602

in addition to the above-mentioned interior refresh for existing midwest coaches, the brand new ones have been saved from a disastrous deal and will now be built (as single-level) by siemens in california. the 88 for illinois will be shared with midwest states.

this deal had to happen because the coaches (and locomotives, in a separate order) were funded by the recovery act. the funding was due to expire this year.

you should start seeing these in service on the river runner now:

at least greitens won't cut amtrak service: http://www.kfvs12.com/story/37315107/go ... mendations

Sneak preview of the new Siemens-built coaches coming to the Midwest:



These will replace the long-delayed bi-level equipment order funded by the Recovery Act. Production starts this summer. The design is based on what's now in service on Florida's Brightline.

Effective last Wednesday, December 19, the Missouri River Runners starting operating with Positive Train Control (PTC)

T_Wero wrote: ↑Sun Dec 23, 2018 7:01 pm Effective last Wednesday, December 19, the Missouri River Runners starting operating with Positive Train Control (PTC)

Just in time for my trip this weekend! #safetyfirst

Spring flooding affecting Missouri Amtrak service.


More evacuations in Midwest as floodwaters head downstream

...
Flooding was causing problems for passenger train service between Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Louis. Amtrak said Sunday that its Missouri River Runner service between the state's two largest cities was experiencing delays up to five hours because of flooding and rail congestion. All Missouri River Runner trains will be canceled Monday. The service typically travels twice daily between the two metropolitan areas.
...

https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 55949.html

Amtrak between KC and St. Louis is shut down until at least next Wednesday.

FangKC wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2019 6:02 pm Amtrak between KC and St. Louis is shut down until at least next Wednesday.

No trains. They're running replacement bus service.

https://twitter.com/MoRiverRunner/statu ... 9307500544

Southwest Chief and River Runner are parked at Union Station. Due to floods?

What does "rail congestion" mean?

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Sat Jun 01, 2019 8:01 am What does "rail congestion" mean?

Rail traffic from the many flooded rail lines is being condensed onto what’s left open.

Took the Chicago to KC train tonight and I really wish they had more frequencies. A morning train to/from Chicago, afternoon and a night train would be so awesome and the cost of taking a train is about the same or even cheaper than driving when u figure tolls, gas and parking in downtown chicago. They really need to stop daily service to Los Angeles from Chicago and cut it to twice a week or something. I bet that route loses a ton of money but having more frequencies between KC and Chicago could be profitable since 80% of the people get off in KC. All of the Amtrak long distance routes need to cut frequencies to twice weekly and they need to focus of frequencies between larger metros.

Nay. Keep the Southwest Chief as is, but add a new KC-CHI only train. That would give you a guaranteed on time departure out of KC.

That route does loose a lot of money. It's the second worst. There's a chart in this article.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/amtrak-has ... 1562385660

I love the Southwest Chief and it provides a valuable service to rural communities, but Amtrak has always been saddled with conflicting goals (profitability and maintaining a national network) with lots of wiggle room for defining those two things.

A twice-daily Chicago-KC train would likely do much better and cost a lot less to run. Cutting frequency doesn't reduce much cost and would decimate ridership/revenue. The new CEO gets this and that's why he's proposed slicing up the route.

The alternative is Congress appropriates more (and continued) operational support.

Shorter regional routes that could be pieced together would be the best option. I still don’t know why there isn’t a KC to Denver route. It would do great in the summer and winter with people going skiing.