STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:52 pm
SouthernRailway wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:58 am
The Crescent has been running with one sleeper and one baggage-dorm. There have been maybe 2 or 3 occupied rooms in the sleeper. Why not just go ahead and take the sleeper offline so that it can be refurbished (it’s looking pretty ragged inside) and sell rooms in the baggage-diem? They look pretty nice.
I would not be surprised if there's FRA regulations against using crew dorms as passenger sleepers...
...or that the dorms are already full with crew.
There is definitely a federal regulation prohibiting using the bag dorms in revenue service.
SouthernRailway wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2020 5:11 pm
nomis wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2020 2:31 pm
So you want to remove the ADA sleeping availability of a bedroom, just because?
Because nobody needing a bedroom is buying a ticket--that seems like a valid basis, right?
The fact that no one is using the ADA room is irrelevant. There is a federal regulation that states if you sell room space, the car must have an ADA accessible room...with a bathroom that is directly accessible. The crew dorms are not ADA compliant since they were not intended for passenger use.
Subpart F, Intercity (Amtrak) Rail Cars and Systems
I'll Cliff Note the relevant parts but the entire regulation is worthy of reading. Part E is worthwhile too.
<snip>
1192.111 General
(a) New, used and remanufactured intercity rail cars, to be considered accessible by regulations issued by the Department of Transportation in 49 CFR Part 37, shall comply with this subpart to the extent required for each type of car as specified below.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires new or used rail cars that are purchased or leased after August 25, 1990, to be accessible. A public entity may purchase or lease a used intercity rail car for use on its system that is not readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if after making demonstrated good faith efforts to obtain an accessible car, it is unable to do so. See 49 CFR §37.87(c) for a description of what constitutes good faith efforts.
<snip>
(6) Sleeper cars shall comply with §§1192.113(b) through (d), 1192.115 through 1192.121, and 1192.125, and have at least one compartment which can be entered and used by a person using a wheelchair or mobility aid and complying with §1192.127.
Sleeper cars are fully subject to all sections except portions of those pertaining to doorways (1192.113) and wheelchair seating and storage spaces (1192.125(d). Although the section on restrooms is not referenced by this provision, the section on sleeping compartments (1192.127) requires that accessible compartments contain a restroom complying with 1192.123 which can be entered from the compartment.
<snip>
§1192.127 Sleeping compartments
(a) Sleeping compartments required to be accessible shall be designed so as to allow a person using a wheelchair or mobility aid to enter, maneuver within and approach and use each element within such compartment. (See Fig. 5)
(b) Each accessible compartment shall contain a restroom complying with §1192.123(a) which can be entered directly from such compartment.
FWIW, changing the designation from Sleeping Car to Day Room car or something of that nature does not nullify the regulation.
SouthernRailway wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2020 6:56 am
Given very light loads on trains, if a reserved train doesn’t have anyone getting on or off at a station, does Amtrak even have the train stop at the station now? Seems like a waste of effort to do so especially if the train is late.
If the train is scheduled to stop, it must come to a complete stop...then depart unless relieved of the requirement by a written or verbal directive.
SouthernRailway wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2020 6:56 am
For example, if nobody boards a northbound long-distance train at Washington, why wouldn’t it leave as soon as the locomotive change is done?
It can as long as it is not a scheduled stop to receive passengers. LD trains may leave as soon as it is done. A regional would not be able to leave.