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[New Armchair Urbanist] The Big Problem with Amtrak's Superliners (Patreon)

Published:
2025-12-13 23:35:38
Imported:
2026-10

Content

Apologies for posting this slightly late compared to when it went public. This week/weekend has been insane with my schedule.

Anyway, this video gives me a time to vent about one of the biggest problems that Amtrak is currently facing, and how many people internally seem to not be taking it that seriously. Hopefully we can change their minds about the future of the fleet.

Sidenote, I was abit burnt out for part of this year from the videos because of various things, drama, dealing with the algorithm, and lastly I was applying to some jobs curiously to see what the market was like in the transit world. Either way starting with this video I think I've got the wind back in my sails, so lets try to crank out some videos, especially on topics that I've been needing to talk about (The UPNS video is coming soonish).

Happy Holidays to everyone!Alan

Files

Amtrak’s Big Compatibility Issue

Free ZWILLING Four Star Chef's Knife on your 3rd box ($144.99 value) + 10 Free Meals and your first box ship free with code ALANFHF at https://hellofresh.yt.link/vf1MXdK! Thanks for watching, and apologies for this coming out slightly later than I intended. Amtrak’s future and its wellbeing are always important topics to discuss, especially if they are or were making dumb decisions. Support me on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/alanthefisher Merch Found Here: https://alan-fisher-shop.fourthwall.com/ My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanthefisher/ The Chelten Hills Model Railway Club: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gTWw1zTvJCsKSjaB7 The Armchair Urbanist Discord: https://discord.com/invite/urbanist —------------- Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:03 Sponsor Spot 1:57 The 3 Parts of Amtrak 3:42 What Makes a Railroad 6:00 The Superliner 10:12 Amtrak Tried 11:18 The Obvious Solution 13:14 Outro

Comments

Jeremy C

Happy holidays Alan! The models really helped to illustrate how tall the superliners are.

Michael Imbesi

For the UP-NS merger, what do you think they’ll call it? Just UP, UPNS, the Transcontinental, or will norfolk Southern and union Pacific do the funni and call themselves Southern Pacific, or something else?

Joshua S Horvath

Good video. Something I would have like expanded on though was just a little more information on what dome cars are and why they solve the problem.

Dr. G4

I always do love your content, but I'll make a small disagreement with you here. For one, the RFP said that the double-deck cars would be an ADA-accessible core trainset, with married cars making the minimum train configuration (extras on either end), and with ADA-accessible diaphragms, so, in that case, it would be two elevators per train, not one per car, significantly simplifying things (furthermore, I'll note elevators have been successfully implemented in trains before). Secondly, I'll push back on transition sleepers being "bespoke", as they're effectively crew quarters on every single LD, usually the leading car next to the baggage car. They're about as bespoke as diners, so definitely not uncommon, making it maybe only a bit inconvenient when creating consists. Finally, I really don't like the discussions (not yours, in general) on platform heights, as almost all of Europe has made a continent's worth of step-free level boarding with platforms at 550mm, or 21.7". Superliners are very close to that at 15", whereas, in comparison, the 48" of the east coast is practically putting train cars on stilts. The thing is, when you could reasonably easily put a step-free level-floor train at a significantly lower altitude for much the same cost, but you're still raising them anyway and using much more materials for platform construction than necessary, why stop at 48"? Why not make platform heights of 96"? Or 216"? I can understand the need for a national standard, but I'd much rather see the amfleets go down just as much as the superliners go up, and it also makes at least as much sense to eliminate the tunnel height constraints of the east, to be able to run doublestacks and doubledeckers out there, as well.

Alan Fisher

Well I disagree about Europe being a good example of platform heights. Throw a stone in any direction and you'll find some weird mishmash of wrong platform heights for different rolling stock. Yes some of the main stations are better, but I'd use Japan or China to really make the accessable platform height argument.

Alan Fisher

And about the "core" concept. Having a Semi-Permanently coupled trainset on lines that go multiple thousands of miles per trip is beyond stupid when it comes to a maintenance and ops standpoint. I don't care about the elevators, but the second one car in that consist has an issue the entire thing is out of service at least for a few days. So that would require having multiple extra back up "cores" just in case at every terminus.

Alan Fisher

Btw some inside knowledge, the person that came up with the "core" design is not working at Amtrak anymore. So take that also as suggestion of what others internally thought about that idea...