Passenger Trains > NJ Transit stored cars?

Does NJ Transit have stored cars from its commuter fleet with the severe drop off in passenger traffic?

If so, maybe they could be short leased to free up SuperLiners in Amtrak short haul services.

Posted from Android

They would not have stored the MLV cars and those cars can't deal with luggage in any case. Most single level cars lack bathrooms.  . 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/23 14:15 by joemvcnj.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does NJ Transit have stored cars from its commuter
> fleet with the severe drop off in passenger
> traffic?
>
> If so, maybe they could be short leased to free up
> SuperLiners in Amtrak short haul services.
>
> Posted from Android

NJT may not be the ideal choice, but there ARE other regional commuter railroads with reported excess capacity. 

NJT did just sender a bunch of single level cars to the scraper this year. Could they have been upgraded to an Amtrak Horizon style coach? I wouldn't rule anything out. Various reports out there that SEPTA and MARC both have excess capacity. Utah DOT has been buying up excess commuter coaches. I've long suggested - for capacity purposes - the Hiawatha service in the Midwest and perhaps some other shorter corridors to free-up regular Amtrak coaches, or Superliner Coaches, and add capacity to the overall Amtrak system. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/23 15:43 by jp1822.

MARC Sumitomo coaches. 

I don't know if NJT would be a good choice. Much of their single level rolling stock is aging. I remember when NJT let Amtrak borrow the Arrow IIIs for the Sunday after Thanksgiving and I don't think there were too many happy Amtrak passengers riding those. The Arrow IIIs are expected to be retired very soon anyway.

As much as i believe taht Amtk is currently run by a bunch of self centered jerks, the excess cars at commuter agencies have very high density commuter seating ....which is just not what i think the public expects for an amtrak intercity ride...even if its a short distance.   The cars would have to be refitted....  and considering that amtk cant even get its own cars that are stored, back in service,  why get more cars that need refurb work.

 

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does NJ Transit have stored cars from its commuter
> fleet with the severe drop off in passenger
> traffic?
>
> If so, maybe they could be short leased to free up
> SuperLiners in Amtrak short haul services.
>
> Posted from Android

They’re not heavy enough, only Superliners meet the requirements. So far the shunt testing seems to be going well in Michigan and Illinois. CDTX 2007 and 3 Horizons have been getting the signals to shunt on several CN subdivisions in Michigan.

What about bilevels/multilevels from any number of agencies? Would they have the weight or be able to be ballasted to the weight required. If the train had say 6 commuter cars not for passenger use and whatever number of Venture/Amfleet/Horizon cars for the passengers, that should free up enough superliners for at least 2 western train car lines.

Posted from Android

Caltrans bought de-electriied NJTcars anddid refit them.  I would believe there would be at least two repair shops who could do the cars for "state" use such as freeing up Superliners froom both the Illinois routes.    Basically thotough cleaning, tineup, adding ADA seating and increasing pitch between seats.  Stainless steel bodies certainly javen't corroded out yet.    I believe a set of ex NJT cars are still running as a San Joaquin.  -

Amtrak used a NJT multilevel set for Thanksgiving one year. Money talks. MARC and NJT have similar multi levels. They would be more ideal from a seating perspective. There's also been West Coast regional commuter agencies with excess cars. Some of these cars are more comfortable than Venture cars!!!!

If Amtrak even had four train sets they could put together of the commuter multi levels to swap in for the shortest of short Midwest corridors (or hold in reserve) - it would have at least allowed some wiggle room with capacity increases in the Midwest Corridor, as opposed to just complete cancellation of train service. Some trains have such few capacity right now they sell out quickly. That's not a positive vibe to grow loyal passengers now or for the future. 

A backup plan for expanded capacity on Midwest Corridor trains - due to the Venture car delays - should have been solved. Yes, I know, WDOT and ODOT wanted their Cascade Corridor service back - so the Horizons got shipped there, or the Horizons got shipped to Beech Grove for storage.  This "no solution plan" that has since emerged would not have been in the 80s or 90s. I just feel Amtrak would have searched out and found some sort of capacity solution.

The Hiawatha route is short and doesn't even offer cafe service. At worst case, if Amtrak had to hold down that route with regional commuter cars, I doubt it would have been the end of the world, knowing it's a "temporary solution." The Superliners are probably one of the (if not THE) heaviest cars out there. Although I thought the former AT&SF former Hi-Levels were. How ironic that they are being the "exclusive" to use. A few regional bilevels come close to weight, but there's still a spread. So add interior test weights to them - only they wouldn't be "test." Bottom line, there should have been a solution that emerged in months, NOT years. It is NOT certain if this solution will even work with the shunts. 

The lack of attention and focus to increase capacity for the Midwest Corridor, cascading into other Amtrak business lines (e.g. LD train line), is beyond maddening. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/23 02:34 by jp1822.