OOB NightJet New Sleepers

A story about OOB NightJet Sleepers

https://www.railwaygazette.com/trac...capsules-for-private-travellers/55208.article

Since these train only travel one night, these capsules would work for them. I guess, sitting up in bed is a thing, just not my thing.

 

Nice idea, but I think still too expensive. What Amtrak should do is put in a bunch of airline-style lie-flat seats in first class. They could comfortably fit many more of these into a coach than roomettes. It would make overnight trips from LA to SF or DC to Boston not only feasible but desirable for business and other travelers.

 

ÖBB bought some really nice double decker stock off the defunct City Night Line of Deutsche Bahn. The hallway is at the standard level but the rooms you either step down or up into. And the uppers have a sky light like a dome. Great cars and they can sleep a decent amount.

 

A lot of the older railcars are getting replace due to fire code issues.

Evacuation of the individual pods seem to be problematic.

The double decker railcars are sweet, but the railway gauge is limited in places and routes. Inter-mode Trains have limits on the size of the boxes, or trailers they can haul for certain routes.

 

Time to invent the "Automatic Ejection Pod" I suppose

 

VIA Rail used to have something very similar - inherited from CN. They were called Day-niters. Essentially large seats with great recline and footrests for overnight travel. IIRC (paging NS VIA Fan) they also supplied blankets and pillows. Of course Amtrak had slumbercoaches as well, which would have been useful in a short-distance overnight application, such as that currently being discussed between LA and SF.

 

I always used Slumbercoach between New York and Chicago when they were available on Amtrak's Broadway and Lake Shore Limiteds.

 

As I did many times on the Crescent between Atlanta and Washington both in Southern and Amtrak Days!