I don't hold any particular brief for equipment manufacturers but I do think that if Amtrak is going to make specific requests for x-thousand mile reliability standards then, in exchange, it should be guarantee the manufacturer that there will funding and management of proper maintenance of the equipment.
If nothing else such an agreement would be slightly useful the next time some Congressman from airplane land is demanding that Amtrak cut its budget.
Fair enough, but my experience with out-sourced maintenance is not particularly good. Incentives are misaligned. If Amtrak really doesn’t want to maintain its equipment I would suggest it reduce itself to being an equipment lessor and let the equipment owner take maintenance (anything beyond day-to-day) responsibility.
I worked in Materials and Purchasing in all types of manufacturing including metal products made to meet automotive quality requirements which is stringent. One sure way to meet the demands of rolling stock is to implement Lean Six Sigma into the product using a DMAIC problem-solving methodology to upgrade existing processes manufacturing the parts and product: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
I would attempt to have the parameters laid out for the manufacture. Just some thoughts. Been a long time since I used my Black Belt knowledge.
We are 4+ years into this RFP process, yet Page 1700 of 2673 of the FOIA PDF shows a scanned copy of a ~2001 standard drawing for the between car passage way that only has a 34.3 in wide walkplate, granted inside a 38.6 in wide overall opening. 36.0" clear is ADA for building hallways and 32.0" for railcar paths - but only from the door to the seating area. What seems to be going on is borrowing from building standards to suggest access through a good portion of the train while still relying on rail standards elsewhere. The lip/slope of the walkplate standard as drawn likely won't work for the standard ADA building regulations when the car is static and my guess is nobody has considered how it will work while moving between coupled cars. During the rulemaking for the alternate multi-car ADA approach I submited detailed comments on the likely difficultly of actually navigating a wheelchair between cars in a moving train.
There needs to be some effort to create a "Plan B" where all accessible features are in one Core Accessible Car (CAC) such as seats/bedrooms/lounge/food service/observtion areas. It is entirely possible to make one car have say (3) accessible bedrooms, lounge, food bar, and observation areas. Even if one wanted a low level dome it is possible using many commuter car structures. Absent this, I would like RPA to ask Amtrak it they have actually tested wheelchair access between cars.
It's a good question, Virgil, and I'll ask it. That said my reading of it suggests that they'll be doing that sort of testing during a mockup phase early in the design process.
Amen to providing a shared common space, ie lounge, where all can gather and enjoy the scenery as well as each other’s company. It’s my favorite part of long distance train travel. Domes would be great, also. Isn’t VIA including them in their new fleet?
It’s pretty sad. What if VIA & Amtrak worked on this together, there both going with the same company with two almost identical factories just over the border from each other, literally. Too bad Canada is our # 1 worst “enemy” that we must destroy. “ Can’t we just get along”
I don't hold any particular brief for equipment manufacturers but I do think that if Amtrak is going to make specific requests for x-thousand mile reliability standards then, in exchange, it should be guarantee the manufacturer that there will funding and management of proper maintenance of the equipment.
If nothing else such an agreement would be slightly useful the next time some Congressman from airplane land is demanding that Amtrak cut its budget.
A good point. I think part of the objective, however, is to build maintenance into the contract terms and offload some of it to the OEMs themselves.
Fair enough, but my experience with out-sourced maintenance is not particularly good. Incentives are misaligned. If Amtrak really doesn’t want to maintain its equipment I would suggest it reduce itself to being an equipment lessor and let the equipment owner take maintenance (anything beyond day-to-day) responsibility.
Jim:
I worked in Materials and Purchasing in all types of manufacturing including metal products made to meet automotive quality requirements which is stringent. One sure way to meet the demands of rolling stock is to implement Lean Six Sigma into the product using a DMAIC problem-solving methodology to upgrade existing processes manufacturing the parts and product: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
I would attempt to have the parameters laid out for the manufacture. Just some thoughts. Been a long time since I used my Black Belt knowledge.
We are 4+ years into this RFP process, yet Page 1700 of 2673 of the FOIA PDF shows a scanned copy of a ~2001 standard drawing for the between car passage way that only has a 34.3 in wide walkplate, granted inside a 38.6 in wide overall opening. 36.0" clear is ADA for building hallways and 32.0" for railcar paths - but only from the door to the seating area. What seems to be going on is borrowing from building standards to suggest access through a good portion of the train while still relying on rail standards elsewhere. The lip/slope of the walkplate standard as drawn likely won't work for the standard ADA building regulations when the car is static and my guess is nobody has considered how it will work while moving between coupled cars. During the rulemaking for the alternate multi-car ADA approach I submited detailed comments on the likely difficultly of actually navigating a wheelchair between cars in a moving train.
There needs to be some effort to create a "Plan B" where all accessible features are in one Core Accessible Car (CAC) such as seats/bedrooms/lounge/food service/observtion areas. It is entirely possible to make one car have say (3) accessible bedrooms, lounge, food bar, and observation areas. Even if one wanted a low level dome it is possible using many commuter car structures. Absent this, I would like RPA to ask Amtrak it they have actually tested wheelchair access between cars.
It's a good question, Virgil, and I'll ask it. That said my reading of it suggests that they'll be doing that sort of testing during a mockup phase early in the design process.
Amen to providing a shared common space, ie lounge, where all can gather and enjoy the scenery as well as each other’s company. It’s my favorite part of long distance train travel. Domes would be great, also. Isn’t VIA including them in their new fleet?
Just look at VIA’s replacement order next to Amtrak’s, really nine different custom cars compared to Amtrak’s, the rendering photos are night & day.
https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/backgrounder-prime-minister-carney-announces-largest-investment-via-rail-s-history-bring-passenger-rail-car-manufacturing-back-canada
It’s pretty sad. What if VIA & Amtrak worked on this together, there both going with the same company with two almost identical factories just over the border from each other, literally. Too bad Canada is our # 1 worst “enemy” that we must destroy. “ Can’t we just get along”