70 replies to this topic

[Texan Eagle]

Can you pack 74 people into a hypothetical Superliner Sectional?

On a hypothetical Superliner Sectional Sleeper keeping exact same car design, you can have 20 berths in the space occupied by 5 bedrooms on upper levels (2 long seats on opposite sides, remove the shower), another 20 berths in the space taken by 10 roomettes. Add 8 berths in the space occupied by lower level roomettes, 4 berths in the space occupied by Family Bedroom and 4 berths in the space occupied by Accessible Bedroom and you have a traincar with 56 sleeping berths. Not bad at all. Considering the fact that a sectional sleeper ticket can be sold at a higher fare than a coach seat, though not as high as conventional sleeper, 56 v/s 74 would not be a loss-making change as far as revenues are concerned.

[Ispolkom]

Why are there coach seats on the Autotrain? Because they are cheaper than sleeping accommodations. They are also cheaper than a section sleeper would be. They also can be traded out for use on other Amtrak trains, which a section sleeper couldn't be. Does Amtrak need another set of cars dedicated to one train?

In any case why would sections be a success on the Autotrain, when the whole last eighty years of American train experience has been a rejection of them?

Given the Autotrain's clientele, I doubt that there are many single travelers who are trapped in window seats by a stranger, and in such cases I've found that a polite word does wonders for liberation.

[Swadian Hardcore]

Here's another idea:

1. Take coaches off from the AT.
2. Convert into sleepers.
3. Redistribute to any trains that need them.

Where did the High-Levels go? Can they be brought back into service to relieve shortages?

[Trogdor]

Here's another idea:

Leave the Auto Train alone, because it's working fine.

[AlanB]

On a hypothetical Superliner Sectional Sleeper keeping exact same car design, you can have 20 berths in the space occupied by 5 bedrooms on upper levels (2 long seats on opposite sides, remove the shower), another 20 berths in the space taken by 10 roomettes. Add 8 berths in the space occupied by lower level roomettes, 4 berths in the space occupied by Family Bedroom and 4 berths in the space occupied by Accessible Bedroom and you have a traincar with 56 sleeping berths. Not bad at all. Considering the fact that a sectional sleeper ticket can be sold at a higher fare than a coach seat, though not as high as conventional sleeper, 56 v/s 74 would not be a loss-making change as far as revenues are concerned.

You're not going to get 4 berths in the space of the Family room. That is unless you want kid sized berths, but you're not going to fit adult sized berths in that area there isn't room.

[dlagrua]

Let me understand this correctly. The poster suggests that Amtrak cut the Autotrain (Amtrak's most profitable route) to put the Superliner cars on other routes that lose money? You'd have to be an azzhat to suggest that move. Yes Amtrak badly needs more rolling stock but the shortage is partly their own fault. The occasional times that congress allows Amtrak gets more equipment they tend to scrap the old. I suggest keeping all of the old passenger cars and continue to refurbish them. Thats's what our Canadian neighbors do with Via Rail and there is no shortage of equipment.

[PRR 60]

Here's another idea:

1. Take coaches off from the AT.
2. Convert into sleepers.
3. Redistribute to any trains that need them.

Where did the High-Levels go? Can they be brought back into service to relieve shortages?

I rest my case.

[Amtrak839]

This may actually be the single worst idea I've ever seen on AU. Keep in mind, I take this a bit personally, since the Auto Train has been my train since 1994 and I've logged way more miles on it than any other route. But, leaving my many happy childhood memories out of it: why would you even consider killing Amtrak's best long distance route?

[Donctor]

This is the funniest thread I've ever seen on AU. Thanks for the laughs!

[jis]

Here's another idea:

1. Take coaches off from the AT.
2. Convert into sleepers.
3. Redistribute to any trains that need them.

Where did the High-Levels go? Can they be brought back into service to relieve shortages?

Has it occurred to you that if they could be brought back cost effectively, they would not be gone in the first place?

The fare paying profile of AT passengers clearly justifies providing coach service. So why would you want to take that service at that price point away from the thousands that prefer to use that service, just to satisfy some fanciful unfounded in reality theory of yours?

I strongly recommend that you consider ceasing to dig yourself in deeper while there still is a chance

[Donctor]

Here's another idea:

Leave the Auto Train alone, because it's working fine.

But that involves so few fun hypotheticals.

[Ryan]

[THE CJ]

This idea is so bad that it took me until today just to respond to this. All I can say is even thinking of this idea you will be ticking off a lot of people.

[pennyk]

This idea is so bad that it took me until today just to respond to this. All I can say is even thinking of this idea you will be ticking off a lot of people.

I totally agree with you. The idea is so bad that it left me speechless (which is a difficult thing to do).

[Swadian Hardcore]

Argh, stop besieging me! Peace treaty? Didn't mean to transgress!

[THE CJ]

Argh, stop besieging me! Peace treaty? Didn't mean to transgress!

Sorry if my post sounded rude, but why would you think of an idea like this? Suggest this to Amtrak and they would laugh at you.

[johnny.menhennet]

Is it possible that this user is the actual member of Guest_USrail21_* after we criticized him for posting crap as a guest? This is not the only thread that has made me think so. If I actually take this seriously for a minute, the answer to everything is still NO!

[afigg]

Come on, everybody, let not get too harsh here. Yes, the AT proposal is not a good idea, but USrail21 posted a lot of even crazier ideas. This thread is now up to 58+ posts long, so it at least got people talking!

[Trogdor]

Is it possible that this user is the actual member of Guest_USrail21_* after we criticized him for posting crap as a guest?

Since the OP doesn't suggest using the Auto Train cars to run a high-speed transcontinental maglev through the PATH subway to Grand Central, I'm going to say no on that one.

[johnny.menhennet]

Is it possible that this user is the actual member of Guest_USrail21_* after we criticized him for posting crap as a guest?

Since the OP doesn't suggest using the Auto Train cars to run a high-speed transcontinental maglev through the PATH subway to Grand Central, I'm going to say no on that one.

I suppose it's on already scale, since we didn't here anything like "let's go over the Sierras at 150 before going down to Vegas and then Phoenix on a bridge over the Grand Canyon. I still find the resemblances uncanny in many ways though.