by njtmnrrbuff
The days of a lot of the passenger equipment that Amtrak uses of both it's own equipment as well as state owned equipment are up there in age. The Amfleets are over 40 years old and the Horizons are up there too. The heritage cars owned by NCDOT are way up there in age. They probably still work ok, I'm sure. I rode them a few times in May of 2014 and appreciated them. If NCDOT has the money, then this is definately the time to seriously consider buying brand new equipment, especially to accommodate service growth. Here in the Northeast, the fact that Amtrak is short on its own equipment, has had negative effects. The New Haven to Springfield 400 series shuttle trains generally operate with two cars with one three car set out there as well. Since Amtrak is short on their own equipment, that has caused them to run two car trains on many of the New Haven to Springfield shuttles. That has resulted in overcrowding and people having to be turned away from the Amtrak shuttle trains. The State of Connecticut tells Amtrak what to do out there. If the State of Connecticut could have managed its money better just like NCDOT, then there would be longer Amtrak shuttle trains operating on the Springfield Line and probably Connecticut and MA would provide their own rolling stock with Amtrak markings on them to cover the shuttles. In a few weeks, select shuttle trains will be extended to Greenfield.