by charlesriverbranch
Why does Amtrak want to reduce the number of seats on the trains? That strikes me as extremely counterproductive. These trains are popular and often sell out.
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MEC407 wrote:Here's what I don't understand: if the Amfleets are that problematic, why would Amtrak want them for the Northeast Corridor? Or to put it another way: if the Horizons are so much more reliable than the Amfleets, wouldn't it make more sense to send the Horizons to the Northeast Corridor?Well there are already hundreds of Amfleets in use on the NEC - so there’s fleet and parts commonality- and they *have* to be used until the Airo trainsets arrive in 2026-2027 so any issues with the NEC cars would have to be addressed head-on anyway. So if the Downeaster cars were to be transferred to the NEC they would have to be repaired at some point. I suspect these particular cars (or enough of them) perhaps have not been able to make the trip to Southampton Yard yet (?).
My source says that Amfleet problems are increasingly responsible for Downeaster delays. If that's the case, why in the world would Amtrak want to use those same cars on a high-intensity corridor where delays are much less tolerable?
Gilbert B Norman wrote:Mr. Maine Central, how many hands qualified on Horizons has Amtrak at their Boston maintenance facility?I would think any transfer of a significant number of Horizon cars would involved training the shop crews in South Boston and transferring the needed parts from the Chicago shops. The same would likely need to be done at the New Orleans facility for the upcoming “Gulf Coast corridor” train service to Mobile if Horizons are going to be used on those trains.
How much inventory of parts for Horizons have they there? Flying in qualified Electricians and Machinists hand carrying the needed parts from I'd dare say Chicago gets rather costly - and fast!
NH2060 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 5:03 pm I would think any transfer of a significant number of Horizon cars would involved training the shop crews in South Boston and transferring the needed parts from the Chicago shops. The same would likely need to be done at the New Orleans facility for the upcoming “Gulf Coast corridor” train service to Mobile if Horizons are going to be used on those trains.You do have a point, Mr. 2060. If Horizons were to be permanently assigned to Boston for use on the Downeaster, there would need be training for the existing shop forces there and parts inventoried. The training of course would be a one time expense.
west point wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 12:12 am Please excuse my ignorance. Are not the Downeaster trains mainly maintained at Brunswick instead of south Boston? Thought that locos are rotated thru to Albany for 90 day inspections. Amfleet cars sent to Wilmington or Bear for major work? Horizons major work to Beech? Longer in time, costs, & distance for Beech. If Horizons regular maintained at Brunswick then parts necessary will go there? Spreading out Horizons for maintenance does not make sense.I believe Brunswick can do SOME things (ISTR they had a wheel-truing machine), and the nightly recovery ops are performed there, but I think larger servicing is still performed at Southamption St. It's a layover facility, not a maintenance yard.
markhb wrote: ↑Thu Sep 14, 2023 9:22 am I believe Brunswick can do SOME things (ISTR they had a wheel-truing machine), and the nightly recovery ops are performed there, but I think larger servicing is still performed at Southamption St. It's a layover facility, not a maintenance yard.I believe and I think does not mean you know for sure.
Maine's passenger rail authority is proposing to increase Downeaster fares for the first time since 2019. Executive Director Patricia Quinn says the increases are necessary to keep up with inflation which, she says, "has gone gangbusters" in the last 4 years.https://www.mainepublic.org/business-an ... ual-ticket
Under the proposal, individual tickets might go up as much as $6, while multiride passes will increase by $10, but the proposal would also bring the concept of "dynamic pricing," to Downeaster tickets. Quinn says the most popular trains might see fares increase by $6, but less popular runs might even see fares go down.
...the proposal would also bring the concept of "dynamic pricing," to Downeaster tickets.I thought "dynamic pricing" had already been introduced to the Downeaster a few years ago. I remember that the prices for the most popular trains went up, and the prices for the least popular trains went down. However, I just checked the Amtrak web site and looked up Downeaster prices for a few random dates, and the prices are the same at all times of day. Does this mean that they stopped using dynamic pricing at some point, but are planning to bring it back? And if so, why did they stop using it?