Superliner (2 level LD) replacement
 

Hadn't seen anything here on the FOIA for the RFP for the next 2 level long distance trains, but this free substack goes into some detail: https://open.substack.com/pub/bureau...eration-trains

Highlights:

* Family bedroom replaced with "premium bedroom" which sleeps 2 in a queen bed
* Regular bedrooms replaced with "club bedrooms" which can accommodate 4
* New "solosuite" with a staggered/angled (alternating front/rear facing) as a 1 person sleeper accomodation (substantial reduction in roomettes, but this would take the solo roomette bookings)
* Lounge car becomes sleeper exclusive and will be a return of sorts to the classic lounge car with a bartender
* Cafe becomes its own car with tables
* Updated diner with ability to cook for at-seat dining (cart service)
* Coach pitch is cut to 43” with a "premium coach" product added with a 48" pitch and a 2-1 layout

​​​​​​There's more than a little VIA Canadian here in terms of being EAS in coach and "Princess of the Rails" in sleeper.

Looks cool and love the idea of the "solosuite"!
Although I agree with the author...the amount of detail & customization is too high. If there is even a bidder, after design, build, testing, etc., these cars will take 15-20 years to hit the rails if the new Acela cars are any indication.

Interesting, thanks for sharing! But the "solo" units with their staggered seating and footwells is not great. Those tiny footwells are like the tiny footwells on the business class lie-flats on United and Delta. No room to spread your feet while sleeping. Not comfortable for anyone over 5-10" Also, I think Amtrak is overestimating the # of solo travelers and underestimating the # of couples and families willing to spring for first class.

I totally agree with Lrdpenn that the overly detailed specs will result in a 15-20 year build time! How long have we been waiting for Avelia on the Acela routes?!

At least 10 years. The original RFP was in 2014 and the contract was awarded to Alstom in 2016. And the Avelia is somewhat based on existing TGV design - this one seems like it is 100% custom. By the time this train hits the rails in 20 years, maybe cars will be 100% automated and you can sleep in them

Advocates have been clamoring for this option for many years, a lay-flat seat that's more economical than roomettes. Railroads including Amtrak used to have spacious slumbercoaches back in the day. This will be a modernized homage to that concept. While it seems logical that the seating modules might originate in a commercial airline design, it's a leap to assume that the footwells will be tiny. The RFP calls for a 34" seat width, which is more in the league of international first class (or perhaps NH's "The Room" business class). The rendering doesn't look too restrictive to me (especially without reference scale), simply that the adjoining SoloSuite footwells will horizontally offset each other at a diminished width compared to the rest of the very spacious seat. Regardless, I think it's important to reserve judgment. This entire product reimagining is a huge and overdue evolution.

I also assume these units would be used on the Auto Train, which I use every Spring and Fall to relocate a car to and from Florida. I just can't see the Auto Train ever using single-level coaches again. The train would be even longer than it is now, perhaps too long for that space at LOR. Amtrak is eventually, maybe already started, to reconfigure the Viewliner I sleepers to the Viewliner II configuration. I would be very interested to try out that Premium Bedroom on these new cars if they are delivered with these features.

Just read the Amtrak's current 5 year plan. The Superliner replacements are going to the Auto Train. If there is one train that needs Superliners more than others, its the Auto Train. Wish the Cardinal was truncated back to WAS in order to re-introduce bilevel cars and making the route daily. Not sure about the future of the Capitol Limited though as there were indications that Amtrak was looking at combining it with the Silver Star, thus limiting the Silver Meteor as the sole NYC-Florida train, using Viewliner equipment over the entire route.

If the Capitol-Star plan happens, it would definitely be single-level equipment too, freeing up precious Superliners to beef up western consists.

Or more Superliners for the Auto Train at peak times. The past two FY broke records for ridership and, given my experience on it twice in the past FY is any indication, we are looking at another record ridership year for the Auto Train.