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  • Siemens Venture Single Level Cars for CA/IL/Midwest

  • Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.
Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman

 #1549468  by StLouSteve
 
IDOT reports the cars are being delivered:

>>>>We’re thrilled to see the initial wave of new passenger railcars arrive in Chicago – the first of many more to come from Siemens for #AmtrakMidwest service.

After several weeks of testing, they will be put into Amtrak service, providing the latest in passenger amenities for riders in the Midwest. Stay tuned for more details as the new cars are rolled out...


https://www.facebook.com/100903797200/p ... 454567201/
 #1549484  by electricron
 
The Siemens rail car order comes with two types of configuration, (1) married pairs and (2) individual units. Married pair units have a coach and speciality car married with doors on either end, while individual units are all coaches and have doors on both ends. The speciality cars of a married pair could be business class or food service entirely or in parts. They are not going to need as many doors as an individual coach.
I hope this simple explanation finally answered your question.
 #1549492  by flexliner
 
https://player.slideplayer.com/86/13968 ... ide_11.jpg
actually not quite as you say
mid train coaches have two doors
end coaches have 4
cafe and biz and wheelchair have 4

your idea seems more logical cafe people come from other cars less seats should need 2 doors
full coaches would seem to be more logical to have 4
but not so per the slide
 #1549615  by eolesen
 
That might change. Pretty certain the RFP that Metra issued will consider single level cars, and there are a couple lower density lines where they might make sense.

If there were a couple hundred Horizons or Amfleets put on the used market, I'd guess they'd be snapped up by commuter agencies in a heartbeat. Nobody has the funding for new equipment, and Metra in particular hasn't been shy about picking up used locomotives.
 #1549635  by knope2001
 
Anybody know what the seating capacity is on these? Most of what I find has a vague reference to "increased capacity" on the lines they are planned to serve but nothing specific.
Last edited by knope2001 on Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 #1549641  by mtuandrew
 
eolesen wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:53 am That might change. Pretty certain the RFP that Metra issued will consider single level cars, and there are a couple lower density lines where they might make sense.

If there were a couple hundred Horizons or Amfleets put on the used market, I'd guess they'd be snapped up by commuter agencies in a heartbeat. Nobody has the funding for new equipment, and Metra in particular hasn't been shy about picking up used locomotives.
Metra seemed to be hinting toward bilevel, specifically Bombardier BiLevel cars or equivalent, more than single-level. I don’t think anyone else has fully considered the Siemens Venture (or Viaggio Comfort overseas) for commuter service yet.
 #1549683  by mtuandrew
 
eolesen wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:22 pm Metra is broke and there's no hint of the State having money after all they've squandered with Corona.
Then they’re certainly not buying Siemens cars, or likely anything at all.
 #1549689  by gokeefe
 

eolesen wrote:If there were a couple hundred Horizons or Amfleets put on the used market, I'd guess they'd be snapped up by commuter agencies in a heartbeat.
I think Amtrak wants to scrap all of the Amfleets. I think they have plans for the Horizon cars.



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 #1549755  by bostontrainguy
 
ST Saint wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2020 2:14 pm A little lunch time boredom in PowerPoint. It looks like the liveries will still mismatch some since the graphics flare up on the rear of the Charger. I just don't understand it.. Does anyone think they'll adapt the Chargers by removing the fins on the Cali units and matching the striping?

Regardless, still very excited to see new cars rolling out. Hopefully for Amtrak proper (and maybe Cascades?) they will have a livery that makes sense for existing chargers or whatever the ALC-42 will look like.
Image
If you are still bored, how about trying the same with the Siemens car and the Viewliners? They are the exact same size and their profile looks pretty similar. Maybe Amtrak will finally have a matched set of equipment for once in their life if they do these in Phase III.
 #1549778  by ST Saint
 
bostontrainguy wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:51 pm
ST Saint wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2020 2:14 pm A little lunch time boredom in PowerPoint. It looks like the liveries will still mismatch some since the graphics flare up on the rear of the Charger. I just don't understand it.. Does anyone think they'll adapt the Chargers by removing the fins on the Cali units and matching the striping?

Regardless, still very excited to see new cars rolling out. Hopefully for Amtrak proper (and maybe Cascades?) they will have a livery that makes sense for existing chargers or whatever the ALC-42 will look like.
Image
If you are still bored, how about trying the same with the Siemens car and the Viewliners? They are the exact same size and their profile looks pretty similar. Maybe Amtrak will finally have a matched set of equipment for once in their life if they do these in Phase III.
This photo from a group I'm in does a decent job showing them side by side. They definitely do have similar profiles.

Image
 #1549834  by Tadman
 
I think that's an optical illusion. The 45-degree bevel on the roofs (similar to many Siemens cars like Railjet and the sleepers on Paris-Moscow RZ) would indicate near-flat sides, perhaps a slight negative tumblehome. But nothing like the Viewliner.

From Siemens MObility on Twitter:
Image
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