JOLIET, Ill. — More than a year after making their first test runs, the Siemens Venture equipment built for state-supported Amtrak service in the Midwest made their first revenue trip Tuesday morning on Lincoln Service train No. 303 from Chicago to St. Louis. The equipment is scheduled to return this evening on train No. 306, departing St. Louis at 5:40 p.m. and returning to Chicago at 11:05 p.m.
The first cars in the Midwest portion of the order, which also includes equipment for California, were delivered in August 2020 [see “Digest: First cars in IDOT order …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 31, 2020]. They began testing in January 2021.
Watch Trains News Wire for more information on the new equipment.
As noted in another article, the Amfleet cafe car was added because of a last minute issue with the new Venture cafe cars that Illinois and Siemens were working out.
I can imagine the sweet scent of the new cars filling the lungs of the passengers and crew.
It is a shame the Amfleet car is in there, it would be nice to see how well the roof line of the cars aligns with the roofline of the loco.
You can see that on Brightline everyday.
I won’t miss the unhealthy sight of Amfleet and Horizon mixed on the Chicago corridors, said to be necessity in the snow.
Will these cars be used on the Saluki and Illini? Or will CN require Superliners as they do now?
According to the Wikipedia article they will be used on all Illinois corridor services.
Wikipedia states that the Midwest did buy cafe cars; seating capacity per trainset based on maximums per car appearts to be 246 California is using vending machines– ala SP food automat cars– but have much greater seating capacity– estimated at 460. Not clear regarding Amtrak’s purchase. VIA rail per info in Wikipedia article will have maximum of 314 seats but info on food service options is missing.
The Cafe/Lounge cars, 4301-4317, do not show up in UMLER yet.
Agree with Jack. Unfortunately, they look dirtier than the Amfleet car included. Do folks think it is just the lighting? Also any idea why the amfleet car is included? My only thought is that it is included for food service. Hope Amtrak got some Venture food service cars.
nice photo, clearly showing details of the new equipment! 🙂