Cars and locomotives that Amtrak should have, but doesn't

[SouthernRailway]

I thought that this might be interesting:

What are some cars and locomotives that Amtrak should have, but doesn't? (Realistically: things that Amtrak could feasibly obtain. A 200 mph Acela Express trainset for use across New Mexico doesn't count.)

I'd like Amtrak to have:

1. An improved lounge for sleeping car passengers, with comfortable chairs in it, and perhaps more windows. An updated Seaboard Sun Lounge (used, I think, on the SIlver Meteor starting in the 1950s, with wraparound windows even in the ceiling, but single-level) or the like would be great. I'd be fine with some tables for dining to be included.

2. A dual-mode locomotive that could be used both on the Northeast Corridor and in non-electrified routes south of Washington, to save dwell times in Washington.

[njtmnrrbuff]

For the Northeast Regional Trains that head to Virginia, the Palmetto, the Carolinian, the Pennsylvanian, and the Vermonter, dual powered trainsets with locomotives that can run on both catenary and diesel power would be great! There would be cab control cars that enable coach seating as well as cafe cars. This would certainly help reduce the dwell times at DC, Philly, and New Haven during engine changes. This also applies to the Northeast Regional trains that begin in Springfield, MA. These new coaches could also be interchangeable with operating behind Sprinters in revenue service.

For services like the New Haven-Springfield Shuttles, and the Piedmont, running DMUs would be great.

[Greg Moore]

A decent single level "lounge" car with overhead windows much like Superliner Lounge car.

For routes along the Hudson and other areas, this would be quite nice. Perhaps do it as the cafe car, but definitely larger windows.

[mtuandrew]

A cab car that would provide adequate crash protection on- and off-Corridor, probably cab-baggage-business or similar.

Tilting equipment for Regional use, behind diesel or electric (if it isn’t self-powered.)

Bi-level NYP-capable coaches for long-distance in particular. Slower boarding wouldn’t be as much of an issue, and Amtrak has precedent for ADA accommodations with the Superliners.

The elusive dual-mode electrodiesel capable of 125 mph.

A more modern HEP-equipped road switcher than the P32-8BWH, something capable of 79 mph at minimum. My vote is for an EMD ECO repower unit, but there are a good number of options.

[MattW]

An all-Viewliner fleet for the eastern LDs, and regional routes.
BiLevel "California cars" for almost [see below] everything else that doesn't touch the NEC.
A tilting DMU trainset for regional routes with excessive curvature.

[ziggyzack1234]

A decent single level "lounge" car with overhead windows much like Superliner Lounge car.

If memory serves Colorado Railcar made something just like that. The Rocky Mountaineer runs a few cars. Doubtful they are good for over 90 let alone 125mph though, but who knows.

A cab car that would provide adequate crash protection on- and off-Corridor, probably cab-baggage-business or similar.

Isn't Siemens making this very thing? Cab+bag+seats I remember being in the Caltrans and IDOT order for new intercity railcars (to be used by Amtrak).

[Arborwayfan]

Cars with a certain number of reserveable table seats (for families, people doing paper/computer work, etc.). Larger windows in all cars.

A car containing plenty of stroller parking and a playground, complete with climbing tunnels, as found on some trains in Norway.

[mtuandrew]

Cars with a certain number of reserveable table seats (for families, people doing paper/computer work, etc.). Larger windows in all cars.

Wouldn’t all of those be nice! Amtrak has needed picture windows for years, though I understand why the Metroliners, Amfleets, Horizons, and similar cars of their generation were built with narrow ones.

A car containing plenty of stroller parking and a playground, complete with climbing tunnels, as found on some trains in Norway.

Wasn’t there a kiddie car a while back on some Superliner trains? It certainly wasn’t so elaborate though, I think it was more a few games and some space for them to run around, maybe some cartoons playing on TV. Either way, it would be more than welcome as the lower level of a coffee shop car.

[rcthompson04]

I think a value add for the NEC services would be something like the Bombardier MultiLevel EMU powered/unpowered cars that New Jersey Transit is ordering. If you could get someone to do a DMU version of the power car it would be even better.

[DutchRailnut]

long distance travel like on NEC could not use the multi levels due to ADA requirements. after all Grandma might want to head for bar or dining car.

[TheOneKEA]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800

I’d like to see North American variants of the above train, nine carriages long and built to the North American passenger gauge, on the entire NEC.

[Alphaboi]

long distance travel like on NEC could not use the multi levels due to ADA requirements. after all Grandma might want to head for bar or dining car.

Why would the ADA requirements be different for the Northeast Corridor vs everything west of the Mississippi? Also wouldn't it be possible to design bilevel cars where the connecting doors where on the lower level?

[Ken W2KB]

long distance travel like on NEC could not use the multi levels due to ADA requirements. after all Grandma might want to head for bar or dining car.

The ADA does not require identical facilities for disabled. The ADA does require that the business make "reasonable modifications" to accommodate the disabled. Reasonable depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the business, and for Amtrak having a crew member available to bring bar or dining car orders in multilevel cars to the disabled person would very likely satisfy the ADA.

[mtuandrew]

long distance travel like on NEC could not use the multi levels due to ADA requirements. after all Grandma might want to head for bar or dining car.

The ADA does not require identical facilities for disabled. The ADA does require that the business make "reasonable modifications" to accommodate the disabled. Reasonable depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the business, and for Amtrak having a crew member available to bring bar or dining car orders in multilevel cars to the disabled person would very likely satisfy the ADA.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/38.125

Here’s some reading on accommodations required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is covered more generally by 49 CFR Part 38.

[MattW]

long distance travel like on NEC could not use the multi levels due to ADA requirements. after all Grandma might want to head for bar or dining car.

Wheelchair-bound passengers already can't move more than one car on the eastern LDs (H-bedroom to diner) and between any cars on the western LDs. Though I don't think the multilevel EMU is good for Amtrak for other reasons, this isn't one.