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  1. M

    Container Ship strikes and collapses Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge

    The problem isn't in the "labor, material, and know-how," it's in the political will to spend the money for the replacement and the seemingly endless legal wrangling that seems to accompany such projects.
  2. M

    Empire Service discussion

    I rode the Ethan Allen NYP to Albany and then the Maple Leaf Albany to Toronto the next day. It was open seating in both cases. At Moynihan I had to slip down to the West End Concourse to get ahead of the cattle line and snag a decent seat. At Albany, the BC section was already pretty full...
  3. M

    Dreamstar overnight train between San Francisco and Los Angeles?

    It's such a niche market that even if it could run in the black, I suspect it wouldn't make enough money to meet the expectations of today's investors. Remember unlike the Night Owl on the NEC, this route is heavily populated only at the end points. The Night Owl had a lot of business besides...
  4. M

    Chicago Metra Electric District (MED) speed increases?

    Metra Electric doesn't serve Union Station, it serves Millenium Station, which in many ways reminds me of Suburban Station in Phildelphia. They seem to be able to handle 12 kv AC perfectly well in Suburban Station.
  5. M

    Fares that don't make sense

    Fares are pretty eye-watering high, especially after May. But in addition to $800+ CHI-EMY roommates and $3000 bedrooms, I did see a few days where the bedrooms were "SOLD OUT." I guess the can fill ten $3000 bedrooms and get $30,000, why should they want to add another sleeper and sell 15...
  6. M

    SEPTA plans to scrap Key Card fare collection to smartphone system

    Me too. But they let me keep my Senior Metrocard, too. I guess I can use it to use up the cash stored in the account. One difference is that the SEPTA Senior fare is essentially free, so it would seem sort of silly to tap a credit card for a $0.00 fare. My current card is good until 2027, so...
  7. M

    Chicago Union Station discussion

    That's pretty amazing that a super major city like Cicago closes its main train station by 11. Baltimore Penn Station closes at 2 AM and reopens at 3. And back in 2007 or so, I was in Chicago and took a Metra train that left CUS at midnight. CUS was certainly open at midnight back then.
  8. M

    Brightline Trains Florida discussion 2024 Q1

    First, I think that customer service (or the lack thereof) is more a function of staffing levels than some conspiratorial executives trying to drive away passengers. Second, Brightline is more properly compared to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, not Amtrak's Long-Distance service. In both cases...
  9. M

    Northeast Regional discussion

    No one should have to stand. The Northest Regional trains are all reserved. "Reserved" in this case means there's a seat available, if not a specific seat. It might be good to try the north/east end of the train, or the rear of a Washington bound train, as most passengers in New York board...
  10. M

    Northeast Regional discussion

    And, of course. there should be lots of seats opening up in Washington.
  11. M

    Chicago Union Station track rearrangement plans

    They already have a through running track. Last fall I came in on a very late Empire Builder, and they ran us on the through tracks to the south side of the station. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, 'cause my hotel was on Adams St, which is closer to the exit on the north side of the station.
  12. M

    Long Distance (LD) fleet replacement RFP discussion

    Google "Glacier Express" or "Bernina Express" and check out the "Panorama cars." No overhead luggage racks, I think there's storage at one end of the car for bags. These are both day trains, so no sleeping cars, and I think meals are served at the seats. so I'm not sure if they have a lounge...
  13. M

    Original railroads of current routes

    The days of long-distance trains serving every city in the country are long gone and are not going to be coming back unless there's some sort of apocalypse that somehow eliminates mass automobile ownership and affordable air travel without destroying the railroad network. And in that case, I...
  14. M

    Handling in service disabled locomotives

    "After treatment fluid?" Do you mean DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid")? Also known as AUS32 (32% Aqueous Urea Solution), needed for the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) Emissions reduction aftertreatment devices installed on all ne diesel engines. Yeah, I guess you wouldn't want to put diesel...
  15. M

    Original railroads of current routes

    Also travel agents (remember them?), but you're right.
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