Greenbrier Limited vs Iowa Pacific

[train2]

Question for the group, I read on Trainorders that the Greenbrier Limited is on hold due to "government regulations that have but a undue burden on the project." As I understand the project, they are refurbishing older railcars. So my question to the group, it seems Iowa Pacific is doing the same thing to their cars and (so far) are not running into the same problems. Anyone have any insight, as opposed to guesses, as to the difference of these two projects. And why one is working and the the other not?

T2

[JayBee]

Yes, the FRA ruled that the service that Greenbrier Ltd. intended to offer amounted to scheduled passenger service, and so their equipment had to meet higher standards, like Amtrak.

[train2]

So are you saying Iowa Pacific, who is intending to run scheduled trains, did NOT have to meet the same standards? That is the real question I am wanting to know. How one project and be dead in the water while another seaming link the same is moving forward?

T2

[Albany Rider]

The difference may lie in the fact that Iowa Pacific has several operating railroads and may have more experience in complying with Federal regulations. IIRC, over the years the IP has been refurbishing passenger cars and has the largest pool of FRA certified passenger equipment outside of Amtrak.

Tony

[JayBee]

The key is that the people who intended to operate the Greenbrier Limited said that their project would not be viable if they had to meet the FRA specifications, not that they couldn't meet them. The Greenbrier Limited was to be a luxury train with a lower passenger count, one of the problems was that tables and chairs would not be fixed to the floor or walls. That was a big no-no as far as the FRA was concerned.

[CarterB]

Tables and chairs in dining cars IIRC, worked quite well...and safely....for over 100 years. Same with easy chairs and sofas in observation cars..........and....virtually all railroads had tables and moveable chairs in their business cars.

What's the FRA beef now? How did the Orient Express operate?

[goodnightjohnwayne]

Tables and chairs in dining cars IIRC, worked quite well...and safely....for over 100 years. Same with easy chairs and sofas in observation cars..........and....virtually all railroads had tables and moveable chairs in their business cars.

What's the FRA beef now? How did the Orient Express operate?

Experience shows that objects that aren't bolted down become potential sources of injury in the event of an accident, such as a derailment in which cars overturn. That's why Amtrak bolts down the microwave ovens in the cafe car and you see booth style seating in all food service cars, not moveable chairs. The NTSB investigates past accidents and puts forward recommendations. They actually do a very thorough and good job when it comes to research and their safety recommendations are invariably sound.

So it makes sense that if it isn't bolted down, it doesn't belong on a passenger train.