by WhartonAndNorthern
bostontrainguy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 11:30 am We all know that there are expected delays with any rail car delivery. Amtrak seems OVERLY patient when it comes to CAF and the Viewliner IIs.Has there been any discussion of Amtrak exercising any of it's options under the contract? I don't see any need for more diners given current management's utilization and food service plans. It got all the baggage cars it needed. The bag-dorms, however, are a different story. Amtrak only ordered ten (after a renegotiation mid-contract changing the mix of cars). These don't seem to be enough to really have a critical mass to do anything.
Put them on the Florida service? 4 train sets for Meteor + 4 for the Star + 2 protects (1 ea. NY and MIA) = 10 which gives no room for bad order cars and inspection/overhaul cycles. Assign them to one set only and you have 4 cars sitting idle as spares (6 if you include the protects), which may be too much. Add them to the Boston section of the LSL as well (2 trains plus two protects) and you again eat up your spares. Is two trainsets even enough to cover 448/449?
Cardinal and NY segment LSL might make more sense given the frequencies involved. Maybe put the full bag on Boston (doesn't really make sense but...) and keep the protect equipment only in NY and Chicago (which keeps them away from Viewliner home base in Hialeah)