Nice pictures of the Horizon coaches interior, but these are the recently refurbished Horizon coaches, and it doesn't sound like this is what is being run on the Empire Corridor. Rather what is running on the Empire Corridor seems be the totally unrefurbished cars witheither red or green coach seats. However, the Horizons with the green seats were lightly refurbished a couple of years ago for long and short haul services - during the Warrington era.
Correct me if I am wrong, but currently there are several types of Horizon interiors out in the Amtrak system, most of which can be distinuished by the color of the seats:
1. Totally unrefurbished coaches with red/brown seats
2. Horizon coaches with green seats that went through a minor refurbishment a few years ago (during Warrington era).
3. Recently refurbished Horizons with the blue seats as pictured above in the posting.
Then there are Horizone dinettes (all table seating) or cafe cars (half table and the other half club/business seats). These too have varied refurbishments - some with no refurbishment and in extremely poor shape. The newer refurbished cafe cars with half table seating and half club seating are supposed to have leather seats in the business/club section - I believe. Have not rode or seen one in person, but I believe I saw a picture of one. It is supposed to be similiar to the newly refurbished Amfleet cafe/business car that is half tables and half seating, the seating being leather for customers paying a premium.
My Experiences with the Horizons:
Don't like them......remind me of my daily commute on NJT to NYC.
1. On one of my last rides on the Three Rivers we had a really old Horizon dinette with the brown interior and red cushioned seats -all table seating. The walls and interior were disgusting. The attendant serving meals did do her best in sprucing up the tables with linens and flowers. Kudos for that!
2. One of my worst experiences on the Lake Shore Limited - a Horizon dinette was subbing for the diner on the Lake Shore Limited and it had some sort of overhaul done - mostly green cushions and green decor noticeable with some new Amtrak advertisements posted overhead the tables. The food they gave us was terrible. I was expecting something similiar to the Three Rivers, Cardinal or Acela Express (First Class) meals. Instead we got either turkey or ham sandwiches, which were just gross.
3. Rode the Pennsylvanian with a Horizon coach and it had green seats. I just remember the ride being very poor, lack of leg room (although some Horizons have been reconfigured for additional legroom and used on long distance routes in a crunch), the plug sticking me ever time I raised my arm near the window, and lack of ambience. Similiar to what one member described above - and yes the lighting also bothered me. At least on the Amfleets, you have the central lighting system, but somewhat dim, and then you can turn on overhead reading lights as needed. Horizon coaches don't have this.