Amtrak has 50 Viewliners. It only requires 38 Viewliners in regular operation. Even with the two that were "damaged" in the Silver Star wreck - frankly I only thought there was one that had major damage, but OK - Amtrak has enough spares that it COULD if it wanted to run two extra Viewliners in the summer season. It has upped the required 38 to 40 for the summer before. If two Viewliners were pressed into to service with even two out of service, you'd have EIGHT Viewliners around as spares or rotation for maintenance etc.
50 TOTAL - 2 Silver Star Wreck - 38 Regular - 2 additional for Cardinal = 8 Spares
It's still adequate. Amtrak only keeps spare Viewliners in NY and Florida.
I can't figure out why Amtrak didn't run Superliners while the Cardinal is terminating in Washington DC, but again - whatever! Superliner Sightseer car on this route with a Cross Country Cafe would be the BEST! Superliner sleepers are available, and they only would likely need two coaches.
Each consist as a Superliner set (minimum):
Engine
Baggage
Superliner Sleeper (Crew and Revenue)
Cross Country Cafe
Sightseer Lounge (Yes, enough of these too)
Superliner Coach
Superliner Coach
x 2
=
2 Baggage
2 Superliner Sleeper (Crew and Revenue)
2 Cross Country Cafe (Plenty of these cars)
2 Sightseer Lounge (Yes, enough of these too)
4 Superliner Coach
A Trans-Dorm sleeper would only enhance the consist, and make it a stronger train. Sleeper space is ALWAYS booked up!!! Crew space is not that much on this train.
I agree with Mr. Norman that Amtrak should just try to operate a Viewliner Diner on this train in exchange for the Amfleet II Lounge (Diner Lite) car.
Originally David Gunn suggested that this route operate with a combined Diner/Cafe styled car that was Viewliner based......