jis
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LSL desperately needs a few more cars.
It obviously wouldn't be easy to implement, but what it really needs is another frequency. The current schedule misses many busy city pairs due to poor hours, and the consist is already very long.LSL desperately needs a few more cars.
While the LSL does need more cars, as I understand it the current consist length is already pushing the limits of what two locos can provide. And the NY section needs to make do with just one unit total ALB-NYP, with 1000 hp less than each P42, while also providing HEP. Its not going to be easy to extend the LSL very much.LSL desperately needs a few more cars.
The full Lake Shore Limited already occupies the entire platform at Albany-Rensselaer with parts of the baggage cars hanging over the edge. However, if the departure time was moved earlier westbound and the arrival time moved later eastbound, all boarding and detraining may be able to occur while the train is in separate sections.I don't know much about upstate NY stations. ALB can accommodate a few more I think but not a lot.
*Auto TrainIt's already amtraks longest long distance train
I don't count the Auto Pain because it's completely separate.*Auto TrainIt's already amtraks longest long distance train
You might not count it but it still exists and is three times the length of the Lake Shore.I don't count the Auto Pain because it's completely separate.*Auto TrainIt's already amtraks longest long distance train
And how many of those cars are pax cars? I don’t think the auto racks need access to platforms. Plus the Auto Train only makes I stop between start and end points.You might not count it but it still exists and is three times the length of the Lake Shore.I don't count the Auto Pain because it's completely separate.*Auto TrainIt's already amtraks longest long distance train
The Auto Train runs 16-18 passenger cars. It is the longest Amtrak passenger train, even ignoring the auto racks.And how many of those cars are pax cars? I don’t think the auto racks need access to platforms. Plus the Auto Train only makes I stop between start and end points.You might not count it but it still exists and is three times the length of the Lake Shore.I don't count the Auto Pain because it's completely separate.*Auto TrainIt's already amtraks longest long distance train
That's only thirteen cars, not really that long. I guess I am showing my age, because I remember the 18 car Broadway/Cap limited (remember when it had 5 baggage cars full of mail?) and the 17/18 car Silver Star and Meteors when they had their Tampa sections.The issue with the Lake Shore is platform length. It's already amtraks longest long distance train.
Think about the consist which I'll list.
P42dc (BOS-CHI)
P42DC (BOS-CHI)
Viewliner II Baggage car (BOS-CHI live bag ALB-CHI)
Viewliner I Sleeper (BOS-CHI)
Amfleet I Business/Cafe (BOS-CHI)
Amfleet II Coach (BOS-CHI)
Amfleet II Coach (BOS-CHI)
Amfleet II Coach (NYP-CHI)
Amfleet II Coach (NYP-CHI)
Amfleet II Coach (NYP-CHI)
Amfleet II Coach (NYP-CHI)
Diner/sleeper lounge (NYP-CHI)
Viewliner I sleeper (NYP-CHI)
Viewliner I Sleeper (NYP-CHI)
Viewliner II baggage (NYP-CHI)
Total length 1,243 feet. That's a monster of a train that really can't be lengthened. So a baggage dorm makes a lot of sense on this train because you can add rooms without adding to the already maxed out train length.
Most of the stations do not have a super long platform. I know Chicago can accommodate more, Toledo has a decent size, Cleveland I think is maxed out. I don't know much about upstate NY stations. ALB can accommodate a few more I think but not a lot. And penn has length restrictions.
In a lot of places (pre mass baggage closings), the three stops were coach, sleeper and baggage.I think Amtrak wants to avoid extra stops if possible at as many stations as possible. At Maricopa in Arizona, we stopped three times for passengers to get off (Sleeper - Coach - Sleeper) which took overt 25 minutes for a planned short stop.
Utica and Buffalo platforms are super-long but also low-level. Rochester and Syracuse are long but not long enough for the LSL; they need two to three more carlengths each, which is possible but expensive.
Hudson and Rhinecliff are actually serious problems, being low-level and short.
If they don't own the real estate things can get quite expensive. ADA does have requirements for platform width as well as the yellow bumpy strips along the edge. Lighting ain't cheap either, and would be considered mandatory in this day & age. Things can add up fast...How expensive can basic platforms be? A decent platform could be something as simple as a double or triple wide sidewalk. I can understand if they haven't enough room/length for a platform (like Miami), but if you just install a concrete platform it can't cost that much. Is it the ADA requirements that require super wide platforms or some other esoteric requirement? It must be a lack of space, not a lack of concrete. There isn't a lot that can be done in that case, obviously.
Utica and Buffalo platforms are super-long but also low-level. Rochester and Syracuse are long but not long enough for the LSL; they need two to three more carlengths each, which is possible but expensive.
Hudson and Rhinecliff are actually serious problems, being low-level and short.
If they don't own the real estate things can get quite expensive. ADA does have requirements for platform width as well as the yellow bumpy strips along the edge. Lighting ain't cheap either, and would be considered mandatory in this day & age. Things can add up fast...How expensive can basic platforms be? A decent platform could be something as simple as a double or triple wide sidewalk. I can understand if they haven't enough room/length for a platform (like Miami), but if you just install a concrete platform it can't cost that much. Is it the ADA requirements that require super wide platforms or some other esoteric requirement? It must be a lack of space, not a lack of concrete. There isn't a lot that can be done in that case, obviously.
Utica and Buffalo platforms are super-long but also low-level. Rochester and Syracuse are long but not long enough for the LSL; they need two to three more carlengths each, which is possible but expensive.
Hudson and Rhinecliff are actually serious problems, being low-level and short.
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