Amtrak's BRAND NEW Venture Coaches! The Future of Amtrak on the Missouri River Runner!

Amtrak's BRAND NEW Venture Coaches! The Future of Amtrak on the Missouri River Runner! | CHI-JOL

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Hello and welcome to Union Station in the heart of downtown Chicago!
Today we are going to be taking a look at Amtrak’s brand new Siemens Venture Coaches onboard the newly rerouted Missouri River Runner!
Check out the Patreon: / lonestartripreports
Check out the previous video where we rode on Amtrak's Acela Express in Business Class: • Business Class on the ...
- Train Information -
Train Number: Amtrak Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner #319
Train Consist: 4 Venture coaches, 1 Amfleet Business/Cafe car, 2 baggage cars.
Locomotive: Siemens SC-44 Charger #4632
Departure Time: 9:30am
Scheduled Arrival Time: 10:20am
Journey Time: 0hr 50min
Top Speed: 80 mph
Ticket Price: $21.50
I also recommend checking out the main channel, where I post more rail and aviation videos.
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed!
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Second Channel: / lonestaryt
- Chapters -
0:00 Introduction and Route Overview
0:37 Chicago Union Station
1:24 Love at First Sight (of Siemens Venture Coaches)
2:35 Boarding Business Class
2:48 Departure from Chicago
3:12 More Venture Coaches plus Business Class
4:06 Amtrak's Brand New Venture Coaches!
4:30 Seating in Venture Coaches
6:29 Venture Coach Interiors
8:25 The Incredible Bathrooms!
10:25 Wifi and Top Speed
11:21 Cafe Car
11:58 Arrival in Joliet
12:11 Venture Coaches' Stunning Exteriors
12:30 Livery Misalignment with SC-44s?
12:54 Doors Close
13:05 Amtrak 319 Departs
13:32 Walking to the Exit and Next Week's Video
13:46 Outro
Equipment:
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro Max
Gimbal: DJI OM5
Camera: GoPro Hero 9 Black
Camera: Sony AX-43
Mic: Rode Videomic Pro+
Tripod: Coman DF06 + Manfrotto 502 Head

Пікірлер: 249

@JuanWayTrips 2 жыл бұрын

7:40 Another great feature about those doors separating the bathroom and seating area: keeps the smells separated! I took the Wolverine a lot when I was in grad school, and sometimes people would not close the bathroom door after they were done. It would stink up the entire cabin, and even once the door was closed the smell would linger. When I took the Wolverine recently on a trip back to Michigan and experienced the new Venture cars, the separation was a welcomed addition.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't even think of that, but it's certainly a welcome addition! In my travels around the northeast and midwest last month, I never had any issues with smell permeating through a car, but all it takes is one bad experience to change that.

@JuanWayTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips Thankfully it only happened on 2-3 of the trips I have done out of many, but even 1 time is too many!

@packr72 2 жыл бұрын

The paint doesn’t match because the Chargers were painted to match a series of bilevel cars. Those cars failed a safety test so Siemens was chosen to build the coaches too. The Chargers and Ventures weren’t ordered by Amtrak though, the Midwest states own them.

@1940limited 2 жыл бұрын

Doesn't' sound like Budd or Pullman quality to me.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited What does the failure of Nippon Sharyo to deliver safe coaches even have to do with the quality of Siemens Venture cars? The Ventures are based on the Viaggio Comfort cars that achieved high acclaim for both their comfort and reliability on Railjet and many other services. The Ventures themselves have already received rave reviews on Brightline and the Amtrak services that already got them. You’re just biased against Amtrak. Your criticism has nothing to do with reality here. Amtrak is perpetually cash strapped due to Congres’s ridiculous demands. But they do a stellar job even with the crappy hand they’ve been dealt. This Venture order is just another one in a string of Amtrak’s latest victories. These coaches are finally world class. For the first time in Amtrak’s entire history they are running proper equipment yet all you can do is complain.

@packr72 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited Budd and Pullman went out of business, Pullman because their build quality dropped.

@truedarklander 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited Siemens and Alstom are far better than what Budd every was

@scenicdepictionsofchicagolife 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited sorry but American rail technology lags tremendously behind European and Asian ones. it's not 1880 anymore. Budd is (of even still around) a shell of it's former self, and Pullman... well do you see any new Pullman Coaches anywhere? There's a reason Metra has had to turn to Nippon Sharyo (who themselves failed to innovate and have lost market share) and Bombardier (now part of Alstom). America is fantastic at making profits and freight trains to do that with. Just admit that. Siemens is dominating the American passenger rail market for a reason. It's sad, but it's our own fault. We chose car addiction, we chose suburbia, we chose single family zoning, planes, privatizing rail, and perpetually disfunding Amtrak. Yeah.

@favroitetiger2351 2 жыл бұрын

The paint scheme was supposed on the chargers where supposed to match with the cancelled order of bi-level coaches. I heard eventually the chargers will get repainted to match the venture coaches.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Ah, that makes sense. I had read something to that effect somewhere, but I wasn’t sure if that was the case.

@williamscheller5029 2 жыл бұрын

I remember my first reaction seeing the new Venture cars in the Amtrak yard in Chicago. It was, “OMG they bought cars from Deutsche Bahn!” While the Venture cars have their own specs, I was not too far off. The design is basically that of the ÖBB RailJet coaches.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Right?! The coaches are so wildly different from anything we have in the US that you have to assume they're from abroad.

@1940limited 2 жыл бұрын

Nothing made in the USA any more, I assume.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited These are made in Florin, California in the Sacramento area. They are fully American made, with American Cummins engines and most of the parts are domestic. In fact, Siemens makes an immense amount of all kinds of passenger rail equipment including all the US Chargers and a few different types of light rail vehicles. Given our exotic rail standards, almost all passenger rail equipment we use in this country is actually domestically manufactured. Siemens is also hoping to manufacture US-spec high speed rail ICE trains at the same factory for Brightline West and California High Speed Rail. They already have the Brightline order and it looks like they’re in the lead for the CAHSR one too.

@BuwchBachCreative 2 жыл бұрын

@@TohaBgood2 there is actually alot of stuff that still comes from Germany, alot of the switchgear and such is very much European in Origin. However, Seeing European technology in the US is a welcome change. Having been on Amtrak from Seattle or Vancouver, CA - Was in very much need of updating. You can still see alot of the US influence on the redesign of Siemens rolling stock, such as the way the seats are styled, the locomotive themselves. The toilet/Restroom/WaterCloset, very much European in design.

@stephanied.k.3589 2 жыл бұрын

I really wish the U.S would follow the public/private business model of Deutche Bahn to expand and improve train travel in the US. A new automobile is increasingly out of reach for many Americans. More areas of the country need access to quality rail travel and quickly.

@jonesyokc 2 жыл бұрын

Will Amtrak ever modernize their platforms to allow walk in boarding instead of requiring you to go up steps into the train? Amtrak stations are probably 40-50 years behind the times. You have to look at the Brightline stations to see what a proper modern station looks like. Night and day difference.

@timothyspruill5414 2 жыл бұрын

I like greeting a conductor.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

Brightline takes in a looot of subsidies for those stations. If Amtrak were anywhere near that subsidized they'd have level boarding everywhere too! Since we choose to subsidize a private company instead of our publicly-owned operator, we get what we get.

@scottwendt9575 2 жыл бұрын

That would require dedicated passenger tracks at every station as raised platforms would interfere with the loading gauge of the freight railroads that built, own and pay taxes on the right of way. These routes owned by the freight railroads have far greater value to the country with their Plate K and Plate H loads then they would with hi level platforms for the 1 or 2 passenger trains on these routes each day. The current low platforms allow Doublestack Intermodal trains, each of which removes an average of 300 trucks from our highways while using just 10% of the fuel! And even in areas where only passenger trains operate, high platforms for Amtrak means that any higher efficiency bilevel or long distance Superliner equipment wouldn’t be able to stop at the platforms. Sacrificing Superliners, bilevel commuters, high capacity auto carriers, and intermodal service for just a single level passenger train isn’t worth the trade.

@sccrdude22 Жыл бұрын

Brightline is the only passenger service that operates at the all of the stations it stops at, which means they can standardize the platform height. Outside of the Northeast Corridor, where just about every rail service uses high level platforms, there are different cars with different heights. A lot of the commuter railroads outside of the NEC use cars with low level doors and Amtrak’s superliners also have low level doors. It makes it a lot harder to standardize platform height when you have cars with different height doors

@mirzaahmed6589 Жыл бұрын

@@TohaBgood2 what subsidies?

@commodoresbank 2 жыл бұрын

I could imagine a completed set already when the (emerging) higher speed line debuts on the Lincoln Service line. Its going to be exciting when the speed gets raised next year.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! I can't wait to see these reach over 100mph through Illinois.

@stephanieh68 2 жыл бұрын

Great review of these coaches. My company is a contractor for Siemens so I've seen both these and the Brightline coaches as they are being built. The business class cars are coming and they will definitely be an upgrade to the current.

@ericcriteser4001 2 жыл бұрын

Can't wait to see the cafe cars.

@respectbossmon 2 жыл бұрын

Nice. We're getting Ventures for the Northeast Corridor, too...eventually....maybe... The dual-powered locomotives would have been a great time-saver before the conversion to electric north of Stamford. No more half-hour stops while they swapped to diesel (although I do miss going outside to watch). Then again the utility....if there's some interruption of the electric supply for more than a minimum length of time, they can drop the pantograph crank up the diesel and keep going.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful new coaches! Amtrak scored a winner here. With the new Charger locomotives and these new coaches Amtrak is turning in to a world class railway! Great to see!

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! These new coaches look amazing, and with more of them going out, Amtrak is making more and more progress towards an entirely new fleet.

@OllieRamone 2 жыл бұрын

This was another awesome video and seeing these new cars made it even more exciting. And I can see the difference with the faucets in the bathrooms of Amtrak’s version and Brightline’s version. I think these coaches are a home run in comfort and modernity. I pray that the rest of the Amtrak fleet gets new sleeper cars, etc.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. These coaches are certainly a step in the right direction, but we're still miles away from getting the full fleet replaced. As much as I like superliners and amfleets, it's time for something new.

@HotShotDesigns3D 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the detailed review, I needed this for making this equipment in a train simulator.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear I could be of assistance. Let me know when you finish that project, I'd love to see it!

@mikewrasman5103 Жыл бұрын

Union Station is beyond amazing, awesome, beautiful and HUGE!

@owenwexler7214 2 жыл бұрын

These coaches look really good and solve a lot of the problems with older Amtrak cars from a business traveler's perspective (outlets being inaccessible to aisle seats, inadequate table space for laptops, having to worry about some ahole slamming their seat back into your computer screen). As long as we still have adequate legroom and adequate luggage space I'm here for it.

@jones203 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for a very detailed report. Others have just skimmed over the features and quickly moved on. One thing I haven't seen addressed is the number of toilets per coach. I've seen several videos of these new coaches, and it looks like there's just one toilet per car. All the older cars have at least two per car, and with families and sold out trains, believe me, it comes in handy!

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed! Unfortunately, there is only one toilet per coach, and from what I can find in Siemens's publications, it doesn't look like that will change with the inclusion of the Business class and Cafe cars. I agree that having multiple bathrooms per car is extremely helpful, and I wouldn't be surprised if lines start forming in the vestibules to wait for the toilet.

@newjerseybill3521 2 жыл бұрын

I can see those folding exterior steps really working well in the winter slush and ice.

@EmeraldCrimsonShadowPeach2K5 2 жыл бұрын

I have seen these new Venture Coaches in another video, and they look absolutely amazing. I hope I get to ride in one of them one day.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I bet you will! As Amtrak rolls out more and more coaches, it’ll become even easier to take a ride on them.

@SamSitar 2 жыл бұрын

i want to ride them.

@redcomusic 2 жыл бұрын

I actually took this train northbound on the full St Louis-Chicago route in early July, and was pleasantly surprised at the brand new car coach I was in! I mean, I wasn't aware of any fleet upgrades going on at Amtrak Midwest because I mostly ride the Zephyr from my base in Omaha to/from Chicago or Denver. - Red

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear you got to experience one of these awesome coaches! I have yet to ride on the Cali Zephyr, but it's on my list of things to do in the future!

@Wealivingitup 2 жыл бұрын

Great review. I took my first train ride last month and truly enjoyed it. It will be apart of my traveling options for shorter trips.

@ebob1967 2 жыл бұрын

I am a bit surprised that you were able to buy an Amtrak ticket from Chicago to Joliet. Normally, Amtrak won't sell tickets between destinations that are also served by Metra.

@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars 2 жыл бұрын

Spectacular Railroad operations. Greeting from my Railroad rails to your Railroad rails CHEERS from New Jersey USA ♐️👍

@gregbrown6430 2 жыл бұрын

FWIW, the Talgo cars in the Northwest have had passenger information screens since they were put in service.

@gatorjay7972 2 жыл бұрын

I like the slider doors to exit the train. It makes for bit more room to exit. Any Idea how many of the new coaches are in service right now? Also status of business class coaches?

@mgk920 2 жыл бұрын

I can't wait for service to be restored in the I-41 corridor between Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay here in wisconsin, with this equipment! Mike, Appleton, WI

@himbourbanist Жыл бұрын

Venture coaches are really handsome. Looking forward to seeing the Northeast variants in a few years. Although I do have a soft spot in my heart for the Amfleet coaches, those tin cans have seen years of excellent service

@allanegleston4931 2 жыл бұрын

used to board trains coming and going from the east and west coast. lovely wagons .

@garyturner5204 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Thank you!

@SuperWorldRailFanProductions Жыл бұрын

This tells me Siemens equipment would take over Amtrak's existing equipment eventually

@johnhawks5035 Жыл бұрын

I think you are more than generous in your praise of this product.

@tincanboat 2 жыл бұрын

nice to see the new venture cars

@stephanied.k.3589 2 жыл бұрын

Just looking to book Chicago thru Boston trip and can't imagine trying to sleep overnight in these beautiful new seats😂 The old outdated Amtrak coaches have the most comfortable coach seats.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

These coaches won't be used on routes through to the east, as the new coaches are for use in the midwest only. I agree, though, that if they do start using them on longer distance trains, they'll be incredibly unwelcome.

@samuelitooooo Жыл бұрын

There is not yet a replacement order for Amfleet IIs (the 2-door ones typically used on long distance trains). So let's hope they don't mess this one up.

@jonathanbaird8109 3 ай бұрын

All the reviews I've seen have said the seats are awful, to the point that some people will no longer be using Amtrak if they have to use these seats.

@MegaLivingIt Жыл бұрын

Thanks for a good tour. One tip we like those metal push and pull thingies you can get for your keyring. There's a lot of push buttons and door pulls in public areas and we like not having to touch them with hands.

@yyyhoodat 2 жыл бұрын

LOVE the look of the new cars, inward and outward, but they look a bit shorter. I know original Amfleets are 85 feet long (89 ft. for the auto-train carriers, I digress). Wonder if I'll see any on the East Coast. Anyways, overall good video & info!

@ExploreAmerica 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I’ll be using Amtrak in many of my videos. Safe travels

@pokethepanda8817 2 жыл бұрын

Hello America I Love ❤️ your adventures.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it! And safe travels to you too!

@johnburke1317 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video 📹

@samtrak1204 2 жыл бұрын

Amtrak's Business/Cafe cars usually ride rough as hell. Amfleet is running way past expiration date.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

That was one thing that didn't make the final cut was a note about how much nicer and quieter the ride is in the new coaches. Sitting back in business class was pretty rough compared to the smooth ride in the Venture coaches.

@bostonrailfan2427 2 жыл бұрын

well they’ve lasted as long as their predecessors if not longer, they’re 45 years old!

@hifijohn 2 жыл бұрын

Even all the trucks they will be running into at the crossing have been redesigned, its a whole new look.

@IGuessIDoThings Жыл бұрын

I am a fan of everything on the venture cars!

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

Me too! And now they're gonna be all over Amtrak's network with the new Airo sets!

@IGuessIDoThings Жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips I know and I’m so excited!

@railfantrainsofsandiegopro1557 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, some people have said the venture coaches are "terrible". Nice Video! The critics are so wrong

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

Beware! The same reviewers usually have a review of the identical Ventures on Brightline. And they always love those! This is finally a clear as day proof that most of these people are just biased against Amtrak for no real reason. At least no objective reason. Unfortunately, this is just a weird quirk of train culture in the US. You absolutely _must_ hate Amtrak or you’re not allowed to be part of the tribe! Very odd.

@SergeantTeabag Жыл бұрын

The venture coach was great when I rode in it! I found the seats more comfortable than the ones on horizon cars. The horizon seats are too squishy for my liking and I have to keep moving around in my seat the whole ride. The first time I even rode in an Amtrak train was in a venture car on the Wolverine route. The windows are really big on the venture, which I prefer.

@randybutler4772 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing. Such a huge improvement which has been needed for years.

@johnalder6028 Жыл бұрын

Very nice! Greetings from Port Saint Lucie, Florida! I also watch train videos from Wisconsin by Roman's Milwaukee Roads , he films the Wisconsin and Southern railroad and the scenery is great. You gave a very good report !

@johnburke1317 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice video

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed!

@estellagutierrez795 Жыл бұрын

Sorry..I just got home from my train ride ..I found the rest room s very .very bad... They need a extra cleaning please....

@samtrak1204 2 жыл бұрын

With the exception of the Acela train sets, Amtrak trains are usually a hodgepodge of mismatched coaches and stripes and there has never been an effort to align oversized diesels (or electric motors on NEC) with trailing cars to present a unified streamlined look like the classic streamliners of yesteryear.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Once the Business class and cafe cars come into play, we'll finally get that unified trainset back. Then all Amtrak has to do is fix that damn SC-44 livery...

@ron9686 2 жыл бұрын

Ironic that some of Amtrak's most attractive trains are in the NEC, made up of 50 year old Amfleet cars. Except when they tack a 61000-series baggage car on the end. Those boxy things destroy the aesthetics of any train they are attached to.

@bostonrailfan2427 2 жыл бұрын

designed in the 2010s/2020s so of course they’re going to have better lighting, bathrooms, and wifi…they’re not retrofitted, which the Amfleets are. the wifi might be “abysmal” but they’re using tech that’s at least 15 years old and not built for streaming. the Acelas have to be top speed, these benefit from better and faster routers and switches and it’s running no different than cellular connections so of course it’s going to be slower! it’s extremely hard to keep a signal going while traveling along at 50-125 MPH… one thing I’m surprised that you didn’t mention are the lights along the storage racks allowing it to be brighter

@treywest268 Жыл бұрын

I am curious. Are those sanding bins in the compartments by the wheels? I know some trains have them for foul weather in order to increase traction between steel on steel. I am just wondering if that is what those are?

@johnnyjames7139 2 жыл бұрын

I would like information about the trucks. It looks like air bags which the original superliners and amfleet used but were eliminated due to high maintenance.

@francisjaniewski5990 Жыл бұрын

Can't tell if the new coaches are more or less aerodynamic.

@daviddoes6174 2 жыл бұрын

Missing the blue seats from the past. they felt like comfy couches.

@NerdX151 2 жыл бұрын

4:47 I am baffled that no one in the design department thought this was a bad idea.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Right?! I think Brightline's coaches have the same problem!

@silent_jeb 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips I don't think they are for storing personal items. They may there for storing safety information pamphlets which is what airlines do.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@silent_jeb I think that you're right, as Brightline did the same thing with just the safety info card in the "pocket." That being said, I think that there will be a vast majority that "misuse" the pockets, assuming that they're the same as the ones seen on the rest of Amtrak's fleet, only to have their belongings fall straight through.

@jenniferbastian8151 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips Brightline has added clips at the bottom of the netting. Siemens has been asked to do the same for the Venture cars.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@jenniferbastian8151 Finally! Glad to hear they’re making a change.

@broyofroyo1207 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, great video I love this kind of content(Amtrak & nyc-area) Those coaches look really nice I’d love to ride them:)=)

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed! I'm especially glad to hear you like the northeast and Amtrak content, because I have a lot more coming!

@broyofroyo1207 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I love Amtrak & would love to learn more about the train interiors and I like northeast content as well

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@broyofroyo1207 What more about the train interiors would you like to see? I can't guarantee anything, but if you let me know what you enjoy seeing, I can do my best to include it in future videos.

@broyofroyo1207 2 жыл бұрын

To look around the whole train, like full tour Keep up the good work:)=)

@jonathankleinow2073 2 жыл бұрын

Is the Missouri River Runner upgraded to all Venture cars at this point, or is there a date when it's expected to be?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I think it's supposed to be all Venture coaches except business class and the cafe car from here on out. That being said consists are still fluctuating as cars go in and out of service, so no guarantees.

@aycc-nbh7289 Жыл бұрын

Could we perhaps see the Metroliner/Amfleet coaches disappear completely in favor of these new ones? Could we also see new high-speed lines, especially if the old Acela Express fleet is slated for retirement?

@MrNurserob 2 жыл бұрын

New coaches are great, but they need to get on the sleeper car attendants to be attentive, courteous and keep the cars and bathrooms clean the whole trip. Fantastic experience otherwise. It’s all about the customer service to make repeat customers.

@estellagutierrez795 Жыл бұрын

Clean..clean clean.please..next time I'll take pinsole for sanitizing

@zephyrboy2012 Жыл бұрын

Another mystery is how the new Acela power car contour doesn’t match the passenger cars.

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

I had the same thought. I think it has something to do with the tilting of the cars, although I’m not certain.

@denniscurless904 2 жыл бұрын

Do you have to ride backwards on the new cars?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Nope! The cars are half and half, so there's always a section facing forward. That unfortunately means there's also a section that's always facing backwards.

@ron9686 2 жыл бұрын

Pardon me if I sound obsessive, but what's a rail car without a number? I think I spotted a number in one of your exterior shots, but the digits are about one inch high. Who made that decision?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Are you saying that the numbers help with recognizability and distinguish different versions of similar coaches?

@bostonrailfan2427 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips they don’t do anything for anyone except the crew and maintenance shops, the only ones obsessing over the numbers are people obsessed with tracking the numbers on equipment

@elliebean368 2 жыл бұрын

12:50 I know Siemens has a thing regarding paintwork on the Chargers, specifically they can't do overly complex designs over the large vents on the side. That's why NCTD Coaster's Chargers, for example, feature a highly simplified paint job compared to the older Coaster livery, and it was for this same reason why the original three livery ideas had to be scrapped before the Chargers made their debut last year. As for why the cheatlines don't match up, I'm not exactly sure... Perhaps they prefer having a more symmetrical swoop at the front of the locomotive as opposed to one line straight and the other line swooping down?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Well with the current design, the livery doesn't go over those vents, as the dots start beyond them. It's really that the livery is too high, and needs to be lowered 6 or so inches to align with the new coaches.

@HNMusic13 2 жыл бұрын

It would appear that the locomotives were painted with the intent for the lines to match up to bi-level cars, though I haven't heard anything new on when Amtrak plans on getting those.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@HNMusic13 From what I now understand, they were painted to match the in-development Nippon Shayro bi-level coaches, which ended up failing FRA crashworthiness standards, and thus were scrapped. Siemens took the contract from there, which leads us to the venture coaches. I would hope Amtrak plans to repaint the SC-44s when the rest of the Venture coaches enter service.

@HNMusic13 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips yeah, after I posted this, I read up on that, blown away I managed to miss that news by so many years. I'd imagine the paint jobs will be adjusted, though I'm not sure how long it'll be before that happens, as the owning states likely have to okay it as well.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@HNMusic13 I wouldn't be surprised if the states decide not to repaint them, even if they look awful in their current liveries.

@keithmayhew2161 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing .Very cool video..I,like trains.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed! I too, like trains :)

@thickernell 2 жыл бұрын

After riding the new Venture cars myself, I was disappointed to learn that they are much more difficult to board if you have any physical disabilities. The handles do not extend out or down as far as Amfleet or Horizon cars. People with physical disabilities beware; you may need assistance boarding Venture cars. Also, what is up with the combining of Lincoln Service with River Runner into a single consist? They now have to carry two empty baggage cars the entire distance, due to track crossing sensor conditions on the Missouri side, requiring extra axles, a requirement that does not exist in Illinois. The combined consist also now means Illinois-only passenger heading to Chicago inherit the frequent delays incurred on the Missouri side. My train was almost 3 hours late entirely due to delays incurred on the notorious Missouri tracks. It's like the almost half-billion dollar taxpayer funded track upgrades between Chicago and St. Louis were for nothing, now that the Lincoln Service no longer originates in St. Louis.

@carolemerckel3461 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! As I've have had to deal with the late trains as a volunteer on the Missouri side. Also, part of the problem is that Union Pacific owns the Missouri tracks which Amtrak leases to use. The freights have the priority over Amtrak in this area. Also, the majority of the time that Amtrak might be late is due to a broken down freight train on the tracks. It happened again last Friday when volunteered at my local station.

@1940limited 2 жыл бұрын

Apparently they took care of you in the bathrooms, but dropped the ball elsewhere. Enjoy the new bathrooms after you figure out how to get on board.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited The cafe cars will have lifts. It’s already been addressed.

@truedarklander 2 жыл бұрын

This is probably due to the fact that they were designed for level/higher level boarding and the stairs are a hard retrofit

@truedarklander 2 жыл бұрын

@@1940limited consider that these coaches were originally designed for level boarding.

@scenicdepictionsofchicagolife 2 жыл бұрын

Bro you have the same exact shoes as me

@jasonwyland5198 Жыл бұрын

😊

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

☺

@carolemerckel3461 2 жыл бұрын

I volunteer along the River Runner part of the route. I noticed at 6:20 the passenger was seated backwards from the direction that the train was traveling. Unfortunately this and other changes that were made are not popular with some of the passengers and crew alike that I've spoken with.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

It is annoying that half of each car faces the wrong direction, but without the ability to turn full trainsets around at the end of the line, it's either this or no one faces the right way.

@thomasstambaugh5181 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips What if each set of seats could swivel, with a pedal release to lock them in either direction? :)

@samuelitooooo Жыл бұрын

According to the comments, the Chargers were supposed to match a cancelled order of bilevel cars. I didn't know bilevel cars were in the plans at all for the Midwest. 😆 I've only heard of this for California.

@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 5 ай бұрын

Well the Midwest apparently was going with the bilevels too, so if the order wasn't as stressed out as it was, and the cars were actually delivered to the Midwest along with California, that'd definitely been something to see

@mattking1724 Жыл бұрын

Hand built in Sacramento, California !

@mattking1724 Жыл бұрын

The livery for the chargers was designed long before the coach cars and the livery for the venture cars went through four revisions before approval. easier to change the liver on the locomotives in the future. and. yes I work at Amtrak - soon to be 15 years, halfway there. Thanks for the video.

@Imperialarmytrooper 2 жыл бұрын

Can't say I'm too crazy about the push buttons for the restroom.

@truedarklander 2 жыл бұрын

They're basically the same as the door buttons on the CP class 2300/2400 but newer and with LEDs and they're pretty reliable so I don't see the issue

@craigpalmer9196 Жыл бұрын

coming from Springfield Il. i would never consider Jolet anything but part of Chicago not southern Illinois

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

Did I refer to Joliet as southern Illinois? I don’t remember doing so, but it’s been a while since I wrote the script for this one.

@shsav2012 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if I’m in the minority saying I prefer the Amfleets over the new coaches rode a Venture between Chichago and ST Louis in late November 2022

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

In all honesty, I don’t think you are. My first impressions with the Venture coaches was with Brightline, and that was an overwhelmingly positive experience, so I of course looked at these with rose tinted glasses. In reality, the coaches are nice, but the comfy seats of amfleets will never be beat by these.

@shsav2012 Жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips good to see that I’m not alone I’m binge watching your channel right now are specifically I have the Texas eagle video on And a tomorrow I’m traveling on the northeast regional out of Roanoke Virginia

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

@@shsav2012 Haha thanks for the support! I’m glad to hear the channel is considered “binge-worthy.” And safe travels on the Northeast regional!

@sweynforkbeardtraindude 2 жыл бұрын

So you were the one in the loo, and all you were doing was filming it! I about shat my britches waiting on you to exit!!🇩🇰

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Haha, sorry that happened! Although I don't think that was me, as I don't remember seeing anyone waiting for the toilet.

@barroningram7286 6 ай бұрын

37 miles in 50 minutes ? creeping along

@lucaspadilla4815 2 жыл бұрын

“One thing that I cannot for the life of me understand” is probably the most common statement in American rail

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Lmao 😂

@bminus7377 2 жыл бұрын

No footrest?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately not. My guess is that each row is too close together for one to fit and actually be of any use.

@bostonrailfan2427 2 жыл бұрын

no regional trains have them, unnecessary

@1940limited 2 жыл бұрын

If I understand correctly you paid for business class but were given seats in the old coaches? It seems to me many of the amenities need closer attention, such as soap, hot water and tissues. Interesting the upholstery in the new cars isn't as thick as the older coaches. And what's with the mesh containers in each seat but the stuff falls out the bottom?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing as Amtrak hasn't rolled out the Business Class venture coaches yet, the only option for business class is in the older Amfleets. That'll change once the business and cafe cars are added, but until then, it'll be like what's seen in the video.

@SirKenchalot 2 жыл бұрын

Public sector vs private sector! Brightline managed to get their liveries to match up between coach and loco. Do these Chargers run around at Kansas City for the journey back as theirs no engine on the rear of that train?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I think so, but I know that the full Siemens Intercity trainsets will replace these trains in the future, or at least those on the Lincoln Service to remove the need for dual engines.

@themoviedealers 2 жыл бұрын

Private sector wasn't able or willing to run passenger trains for 50 years. Public sector vs private sector!

@68vette11 2 жыл бұрын

No, we rarely cut the engine off a trainset as it's very time comsuming. The entire train is wyed after discharging passengers and parked for the night and put on ground power.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

Brightline hits a car every other week at it's crossings and lies about taking more subsidies than Amtrak! At the moment, Amtrak is more "private sector" than Brightline! And it's not close either!

@HighHolyOne Ай бұрын

Yes, BUT... the BUT is in caps because the Venture Coaches seating cause swelling since they are a huge pain in the BUTT! Seriously uncomfortable, and I've been loving train travel since 1961.

@TricksterDa 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure how I feel about a train ride that covers 37 miles in 50 minutes - especially with, if I heard the narrator correctly, only one stop.

@jasonbathurst3199 Жыл бұрын

Why do the trains in Europe look so much more advanced than in the US. Our trains still seem boxy and not streamlined.

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

It's all related to the FRA's crashworthiness standards. Because trains in the US operate on freight tracks, they need to be able to withstand crashes with said freight trains. This often means increasing the mass and safety structures within a coach, leading to the boxier cars we see today.

@brucebruce7816 2 жыл бұрын

South shore line uses millennium station

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I am aware, hence why I said that the other three downtown stations are served by Metra and the South Shore Line.

@josephalder743 2 жыл бұрын

Too bad you didnt show a wheelchair boarding and ride with restroom and cafe care movements.

@francisvanderwall3954 2 жыл бұрын

Great commentary, shaky camera.

@ejyoder2545 2 жыл бұрын

I hope they tested those retractable steps in winter. It looks like they’d be pretty vulnerable to ice and other debris buildup.

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I'm not sure what preventative measures there are against icing, but I would certainly hope Amtrak has thought of something.

@superiorjr154 Жыл бұрын

My only problem with the venture coaches are the seats. Everything else is absolutely perfect. Those damn seats are so stiff.

@eirinym 2 жыл бұрын

The one thing that disappoints me about the new venture coaches is the seating. It really should be more comfortable and offer more lean back. Perhaps the non Midwest versions will be better, but considering the longer routes Amtrak has compared to European routes, comfort is important. Seating can be changed of course, but I guess we'll have to see when they start appearing elsewhere such as on the northeast corridor.

@TohaBgood2 2 жыл бұрын

Everybody seems to adore these exact same seats on Brightline! I think we'll be fine.

@scottsinger7806 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve ridden these a few times. They are a clear downgrade from the old cars. Comfort level went way down.

@jnfreels 2 жыл бұрын

Totally unrealistic Chicago Union Station walk- through. The waiting area in Chicago is an over crowded, petri dish dump of filth and cobid transmission, and no one is allowed to walk directly through the gates without first walking through the mad-mouse rope-offs which replaced the seats that used to be there. The new cars are very, very nice but are not used. They have been sitting on a siding near the Ogilvie Station for the last year. Also Amtrak trains are limited to 80 mph coming out of Chicago except for a short section of track in downstate IL because of poor track conditions.

@estellagutierrez795 Жыл бұрын

Clean up is all you need to do...

@carlsmith5545 Жыл бұрын

Brand new and still not bullet status. Highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology, the new american dream...

@LonestarTrips Жыл бұрын

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, bullet trains and high speed rail in general requires dedicated right-of-way, which costs money. LOTS of money. And with the main railways owned by freight operators, it means a whole new set of tracks are required to operate at high speeds. Brightline and their Orlando expansion is a perfect example of the base construction required to run at speeds upwards of 110 mph: dedicated high speed tracks.

@StudioSA15 2 жыл бұрын

*bRuH*

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Yes?

@StudioSA15 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips*mBtA? ViDs*

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@StudioSA15 Patience is a virtue. They're coming, but I've got some way cooler content to get through first before those go out.

@StudioSA15 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips ok what u got coming also u need to go to the UK

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

@@StudioSA15 Ha I know I do, just not sure when I'll be able to. Here's a few things coming in the next few weeks: DB ICE First Class, Amtrak Acela First Class, Amtrak Downeaster, Amtrak Sunset Limited, SEPTA, and a ride on the Capitol Limited overnight.

@Hillsidedojo 2 жыл бұрын

New Acela's don't align with their coaches either!

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

I thought the livery aligns? Does it not?

@bostonrailfan2427 2 жыл бұрын

@@LonestarTrips it does, people are just being idiots with their claims

@thompsoncox6068 2 жыл бұрын

Amtrak is no way to run a railroad

@physh 2 жыл бұрын

When you see how good similar cars look with Railjet in Austria and how outdated the Amtrak already looks, this is quite sad.

@DrKO2453 2 жыл бұрын

The paint doesn't match because Amtrak is government run. Government gets very little right

@wblynch 2 жыл бұрын

The seats look horrible. Good for commuter lines only or trips less than two hours. I’m not big but I feel bad for big people trying to get comfortable in these.

@Donaldopato 2 жыл бұрын

Just rode from St Louis to KC. Seats are not comfortable at all. The little storage net is useless. Step backwards!

@johnweber6612 2 жыл бұрын

They look nice like all new equipment. Nothing outstanding. Seats do not look that comfortable.

@playballdr 2 жыл бұрын

why do amtrak trains look like something that they bought used from north korea

@thelivingear990 Жыл бұрын

I just rode the missouri river runner hoping to experience the new equipment. My train had nothing but amfleets (budd?)and viewliner baggage cars that apparently were not available to the train? After asking the attendant about the new equipment he was quick to remind me that the older cars were more comfortable. Sadly, one of the bathrooms on my car did not flush and it was just disgusting seeing someones $&@& in the toilet. Between this and Amtrak taking the observation car from the Texas Eagle and Capitol Limited for my trip back in August, I’m disappointed with Amtrak right now. I may wait for them to finish upgrading their equipment before I ride Amtrak again. I love trains but Amtrak is really encouraging me to fly or drive just about anywhere I want to go. What sucks is I have seen Amtrak running nothing but the new equipment a few months ago on this line! What happened?!?!?!??

@chowardgolf Жыл бұрын

Those coach seats are incredibly uncomfortable. Worse on any train in us. Did the trip from Chicago to St. Louis last summer. Much brighter for sure Vs trains on east coast or long distance.

@rob4b Жыл бұрын

This is standard in Europe it's so sad that America hasn't invested earlier in good quality trains.

@loafandjug321 2 жыл бұрын

Amtrak is ghetto compared to trains in Japan.

@linesided Жыл бұрын

This whole "safety" thing is a crock of jing jong. Imagine if the same philosophy was applied to planes, cars, bikes. Everything would look like a Judge Dredd set of armor accented with steel plates and brick motifs. Plenty of countries in the world have safe rail transit which also is aesthetically pleasing. Perhaps invest in proper train tracks and stop shoveling passenger service on subpar tracks. It's bureaucratic madness meets commercial insanity in the states.

@eurouc 2 жыл бұрын

Ok…. so two comments: why are so many US platforms at track level necessitating steps ? Then big thumbs up for Siemens technology, however, theses trains look bulky and decidedly dated. Nothing new and contemporary about them. Couldn’t Siemens have provided one of their much more modern and sleek European models?

@LonestarTrips 2 жыл бұрын

Track level platforms are significantly cheaper and easier to build, hence why most in the US are built as such. The cars, however, are a slightly different story. The Federal Railway Administration, or FRA, has strict crashworthiness standards that all trains must pass. Most passenger trains in the US share right of way with freight trains, and thus must be able to withstand such an impact, so the extra bulk is to help meet those requirements. CalTrain even had a tough time getting permission to use Stadler's KISS EMUs on their corridor, which sees almost exclusively CalTrain traffic. All of us in the US would love to have nicer, sleeker trains, but until passenger and freight are separated, that is unlikely to happen.

@johnnicpon5783 2 жыл бұрын

NOT an improvement. First of all NOBODY likes going backwards. They should be flip over seats. Second, the one thing Amtrak had going for it was that the coach seats reclined much more than airplane seats. I always said it was a more civilized means of transportation. Now, not so much. I have ridden Amtrak from Chicago Union Station to NY Penn Station in coach. These new cars will be very uncomfortable!!! Yes the bathrooms are a nice improvement. But you don't travel in the bathroom. Poor redesign! It should never be just about looks. It needs to be about comfort!