you listed out the consists of the stub trains PDX-WFH, CHI-MSP and (IIRC) EMY-DEN and determined that there is extra equipment, and, if so, can we see this calculation? Would this permit an acceptable number of spares kept around so that a bad order wouldn't reduce the only remaining CHI-west coast train in the country to standing-room-only in moments? How do you know this?
If you can honestly show that adding capacity on the Chief doesn't conform to the limitations posted by Alan and jis, please share it with the rest of us-- and, for that matter, with Amtrak. I'm certain nobody would mind being proven wrong.
The EB hasn't run in weeks. It has assigned to it at least 5 sets of three sleepers, fours coaches, diner and lounge. With spares that is about 50 cars most of which are available. The CZ has a similar number. So now there are perhaps 100 superliners sitting around at either end doing nothing. So they run a couple of coach only stub trains. That in no way soaks up all that surplus. Count them yourself. To put an extra coach and sleeper on the SWC would be a no brainer. I don't care what they do as I am not in Chicago trying to go west. I have no ideology here. Just some common sense. You experts that live in the Chicago area and count cars all the time can figure it all out.
No, not at all.
First, the CZ is still running EMY to DEN. I believe that only leaves one trainset out of service in Chicago, all the rest are still in daily use.
Turning to the EB, while all the sleepers are sitting, not all the coaches and cafes are. Several are being used for the daily runs between CHI & Minneapolis, while others are being used for the runs between Spokane and Seattle/Portland.
So already the claim that there are 100 cars sitting around doing nothing is outragous and it might not even be 50 cars.
Then half of the builders cars that are sitting, are sitting on the west coast. That means deadheading them down to LA in order to run on the Chief. With Amtrak hoping to get the green light to restart service, they're not sending those cars any place, otherwise they can't restart service.
Next, most people other than railfans aren't going to want a 2 day detour from Seattle/Portland down to LA, just to get to Chicago. And you'd also need to beef up the Coast Starlight to handle that passenger load. For the CZ, yes that might make more sense, but again the CZ is still running more than 1/2 of its route so the bulk of its equipment remains in daily use.
Finally, if Amtrak were to put some of those spares into use, when they do get the green light to restart the EB now they have to cancel everything for 3 more days while they wait to recollect all that equipment off the Chief and get it back to where it belongs, before they can restart service.