by STrRedWolf
Greg Moore wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 11:44 pm People keep bringing this up and it's been debunked a number of times.I would dispute that. Take the maximum PIIRA rail car dimension spec. I can give you a rough plan that only takes out two Roomettes out of a Superliner style car.
There's no requirement that 100% of every car needs to be wheelchair accessible. It's simply not practical For example, regardless if you are single-level or bilevel, in sleeper cars, you will never have practical wheelchair access along the length of the car without basically eliminating 1/2 the bedrooms.
The law has allowed and will continue to allow limited wheelchair access to sleepers, single-level or bilevel.The ADA asks for reasonable and feasible accommodation. Currently on the Superliners, this is "keep them at low level and serve them food in room."
I will note even in coach cars, only fairly narrow wheelchairs will work.
Remember, the ADA was enacted in 1990. The Superliner I's were build early in the 1970's and the II's in the 1980's before entering service, and likely needed retrofitting to get to their current state.
Likely, the new single/Bi level will be a completely new design. Remember, maximum wheelchair size allowed by Amtrak is 2.5 feet wide!