Passenger Trains > Capitol Ltd. consist restored for Thanksgiving

Spotted today by "waamp236" at Cumberland:

Train 30(22)

Two engines
Baggage
Transition Sleeper
3 Sleeping Cars
Diner-Lounge
Sightseer Lounge
3 Coaches
Two private cars (Puget Sound, Sierra Hotel)


For some reason the Sand Patch camera missed it. But yesterday it showed
Train 30(21) with:

Two engines
Baggage
Transition Sleeper
2 Sleeping Cars
Diner
Sightseer Lounge
Coach-Baggage
2 Coaches

I saw it on the cam either Thursday or Friday with a normal consist and 4 cars after the lounge.

Sharon Evans
Glen Allen, VA

Previously reported:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3582015

The full consist has been in place for several days.

The live spotter says that 30(22) has a DINER-LOUNGE. It is possible
to do a full diner service in a Cross Country Cafe, but with less
seating capacity, and less comfort at about half the tables.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/14 13:42 by GenePoon.

Consist cut was a rather short-lived and foolish economy.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Consist cut was a rather short-lived and foolish
> economy.

November before Thanksgiving week is historically a slow travel period. Can't speak specifically about the demand for the Cap, but traveling on the Sunset and Starlight last week I found plenty of unsold space in both sleeper and coach, despite very low fares (ex: Tucson - LA rail fare - $40.50).

Dave

I think the consist cut was done to create another train set due to the NS delays - in order to not have to wait to turn the equipment in Chicago. Seems the NS delays have subsided somewhat...

dispr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think the consist cut was done to create another
> train set due to the NS delays - in order to not
> have to wait to turn the equipment in Chicago.
> Seems the NS delays have subsided somewhat...


I am not sure if it will ever be understood as to "what" was done. OTP was increasing when Amtrak made the consist cut - so the train was not arriving at say 3 pm and then needed to be quickly turned for a 6:40 departure on a regular basis. It wasn't like Amtrak was in the situation that it was with the Empire Builder when it finally created a sixth train set for layover on the West Coast.

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Consist cut was a rather short-lived and
> foolish
> > economy.
>
> November before Thanksgiving week is historically
> a slow travel period. Can't speak specifically
> about the demand for the Cap, but traveling on the
> Sunset and Starlight last week I found plenty of
> unsold space in both sleeper and coach, despite
> very low fares (ex: Tucson - LA rail fare -
> $40.50).
>
> Dave

I own a 32 room hotel in New England and I can tell you that there are very few travelers in the week before Thanksgiving. Our bookings are always very low the week before the holiday. Neither business nor pleasure travelers are getting out much. I think cutting the consist makes sense and if it saves money and still meets demand, then fine. Expand it when the business returns. I am sure Amtrak has good data from its computer reservation system. They know the patterns.

With many of the long hauls running hours late, with misconnects, and unexpected events, they left themselves no wiggle room with such a small consist.