I believe Stadler, in their plant in Europe, built eight cars for the Rocky Mountaineer. I am not sure of the configuration of these cars, but this could be a potential Superliner replacement? They do have a plant here in the US.
Here's a simple idea that is inexpensive to apply and cheap to maintain: Pullman Green. After all, beauty is as beauty does. He says with tounge in cheek
My concern with electric vehicles is that, once the use of them is widespread, when many people plug in to recharge at one time, would the power grid be able to handle the load without constant brownouts?
I believe that, in addition to state funded improvements to the ex SAL route to central Florida, CSX would part with the A line through Orlando on the condition that passenger service would be focused there and not on the S line, which will become freight only.
Gulfwind1: from the list you provided it looks like the two trains that come the closest to breaking even, Auto Train and the Palmetto, would be eliminated. With all due respect, does this make sense? As I mentioned on another thread, A logical starting point would be to look at the fare box...
I don't suppose it has been mentioned, but the glut of crude oil has made driving cheaper and probably will stay that way for the near term. This is a double edge sword for Amtrak and the freight railroads. The downside is obvious, but the cost of diesel will fall. This is the time to lock in...
Regarding infrastructure, I wonder how many station and terminal facilities need to be expanded or built from scratch. One prime example is Atlanta so as to handle the desired corridor services for that city. In many cases like this Amtrak must be proactive. If government officials cannot make...
So if I read this right, the two trains that come the closest to breaking even of all the LD trains, Auto Train and the Palmetto, would be ended or spun off somehow. Does this sound like something that makes sense? As a starting point I would look at the farebox recovery percentages. Any of...
According to, I believe, Railway Age, Mr. Flynn's father was a Conrail engineer and his uncle was one for Amtrak. He also has a brother who is a conductor with Amtrak active in his union local. So Amtrak is not an unknown quantity to him.
If Amtrak acquires the Hulsey yard site, how feasible would it be to route the Crescent and any other corridor trains from Charlotte to a station built there? It would be interesting to see if corridor service could be routed over the old Georgia to Augusta then the C&WC/SAL route to Savannah.
It would seem that there is a movement afoot in some states to provide Amtrak with its own trackage. Michigan has already done this for the Wolverine service. VA and NC are in the process of doing this as well. Even in states not receptive in supporting corridor trains Amtrak is taking the steps...
I recall from earlier plans that there would be a third track built parallel to the A line from Petersburg to Centralia where it would connect to the S Line to stop at RVM and continue on to Staples Mill Rd. Except for Auto Train, all other Amtrak trains would use this hybrid alignment.
As far as the former C&O line through WV I could see CSX doing to that line what NS did to the ex N&W through to Columbus OH and make it more of an intermodal route, that is invest in higher clearance and easing curves with longer sidings.
Some have suggested that export coal traffic to the Hampton Roads ports be consolidated to either Newport News or Lamberts Point in Norfolk. If the latter, this could open up more possibilities on the Peninsula sub.