Maybe in two or three years there will be some Horizon cars available for this service with the new Midwest cars coming online. Right now, if we ever get back to "normal", equipment could be a problem.
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Amtrak New Gulf Coast Service - New Orleans to Mobile AL
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We'll probably get back to normal but it may be when the vaccine comes out. It will be interesting to see if Horizon cars end up on the New Orleans to Mobile trains or whatever replaces the Amfleets.
It's a two hour drive, so probably three hour train. They could lease spare commuter cars for that, I think NJT and MARC both have some. Not as a long term solution, but for two years it would work fine. Also Via is unloading some cars soon, too, I think. Again only a short-term solution.
The new Acela: It's not Aveliable.
The "used car market" is going to be flooded in about 3 to 5 years...
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Agreed equipment is not going to be a problem for this train at all.
gokeefe
From al dot com:
Amtrak Announces New Gulf Coast Service to Start in 2022
It seems that the host railroads were delaying the studies indefinitely, so Amtrak took the step of declaring it intends to start the New Orleans - Mobile service as soon as January 2022. It's great to see a more aggressive approach and not letting the project continue to be delayed by studies. Another concern is the station in Mobile. There has been a faction wanting to build an entirely new station at the Brookley airport (which could also be a delay tactic from Mobile Port officials), but Amtrak seems to be content with using the existing platform downtown. While a shiny new station would be nice, we can't keep putting off service when a simple platform works just fine.
Amtrak Announces New Gulf Coast Service to Start in 2022
It seems that the host railroads were delaying the studies indefinitely, so Amtrak took the step of declaring it intends to start the New Orleans - Mobile service as soon as January 2022. It's great to see a more aggressive approach and not letting the project continue to be delayed by studies. Another concern is the station in Mobile. There has been a faction wanting to build an entirely new station at the Brookley airport (which could also be a delay tactic from Mobile Port officials), but Amtrak seems to be content with using the existing platform downtown. While a shiny new station would be nice, we can't keep putting off service when a simple platform works just fine.
Yeah this is a surprising development, especially given the last year.
Amtrak and the states are going to have to do a lot of work to advertise this train and keep the equipment in good shape. No one is going to want to ride on a 2 car horizon train with no food service. Put 3-4 amfleets on it, include a cafe with 2-1 biz class seats (label it the "Gulf Club Class") and advertise at the casino's in Blioxi and Gulfport as an easy way to get to/from New Orleans.
Amtrak and the states are going to have to do a lot of work to advertise this train and keep the equipment in good shape. No one is going to want to ride on a 2 car horizon train with no food service. Put 3-4 amfleets on it, include a cafe with 2-1 biz class seats (label it the "Gulf Club Class") and advertise at the casino's in Blioxi and Gulfport as an easy way to get to/from New Orleans.
I tend to agree, but from whence come the Amfleets?
When do the midwest trains get their replacement cars?
When do the midwest trains get their replacement cars?
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Greg Moore wrote: ↑Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:33 pm I tend to agree, but from whence come the Amfleets?<html>
When do the midwest trains get their replacement cars?
<cynicism>
How does never sound to you?
</cynicism>
</html>
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Siemens isn't CAF, the first new cars have already been delivered to Amtrak Midwest.
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Red Wing wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:20 amBut when I hear "Business Class" I really don't know what that will entail. I actually think splitting up the different business class products to different names would be the best way to identify the hodgepodge of products offered.hi55us wrote: ↑Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:16 pm cafe with 2-1 biz class seats (label it the "Gulf Club Class")This I disagree with Amtrak really needs to standardize what they call their different classes both on the train and off the train. Call it Business Class
We have Acela Business, which is nothing, basically coach.
We have Northeast Regional Business, which gets you more perks than Acela Business
We have Business Class on the Cascades which gets you no free drinks, but a $10 voucher for the bistro car
We have Business Class on the corridor trains out of Chicago, that get you lounge access, 2-1 leather seats
We now have a new product on the Gulf Coast, need to help customers identify what experience they are going to get. Until you get the product standardized, you need to have different names for the different products.
I remember booking "business" on the first AM departure out of Hartford on the day after Thanksgiving several years back. The "perks" were a cup of coffee and a copy of the the WSJ.
If it confuses the brand and sets an unrealistic expectation, it's a bad idea.
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