Passenger Trains > NPCU 90215 and 3 California cars on the rear of Starlight #11 (9)

Looking at the Santa Clara Railcam, today's southbound Amtrak Coast Starlight #11 had 3 Amtrak California (CDTX), plus NPCU 90215 'Bakersfield' (facing out) - tacked on the rear of the train.

Train was almost 2 hours late, passing at 11:53am, and led by Phase VII P42 #196.  Some of that delay was probably the addition of the cars in Oakland.  Perhaps heading to LA for additional trainsets?

Here's a few screen grabs from the railcam.

Rich

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The first two "California Cars" are two Superliner Coaches that California has on long term lease after paying to repair them.

I wonder if they are being transferred more permanently to the Pacific Surfliner pool to add capacity as new Venture cars roll out in the central California corridors? These cars would add nicely as a second business class car to the Pacific Surfliners!

jp1822 Wrote:
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> I wonder if they are being transferred more
> permanently to the Pacific Surfliner pool to add
> capacity as new Venture cars roll out in the
> central California corridors? These cars would add
> nicely as a second business class car to the
> Pacific Surfliners!

I don't think they're configured to be Business Class cars.

If I recall, the leased Superliner Cars had a little more capacity.
When the normal superliner cars. And were configured for normal coach.
In the consist of the routes they were assigned too..

I wonder why they use the leased cars for business class cars now.
Maybe if Amtrak has a few more Superliner Coaches available. 
They might put the Leased coaches as the sixth car in the consist.
On the trains with the higher ridership loads.



PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wonder if they are being transferred more
> > permanently to the Pacific Surfliner pool to
> add
> > capacity as new Venture cars roll out in the
> > central California corridors? These cars would
> add
> > nicely as a second business class car to the
> > Pacific Surfliners!
>
> I don't think they're configured to be Business
> Class cars.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wonder if they are being transferred more
> > permanently to the Pacific Surfliner pool to
> add
> > capacity as new Venture cars roll out in the
> > central California corridors? These cars would
> add
> > nicely as a second business class car to the
> > Pacific Surfliners!
>
> I don't think they're configured to be Business
> Class cars.

They are not "officially," but Amtrak has often billed them as a second business class coach, but not all the time.......