On Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 4:31:39 PM UTC-4, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
      
   > Is that order just enough to replace what has been damaged over the   
   > years, or would it actually expand the fleet in a significant way?   
      
   Good question.   
      
   I believe it is to replace damaged or ancient cars, including 60 year old   
   diners and baggage cars.  It may free up some space, since it includes dorm   
   cars for crew who currently occupy revenue space.  There _may_ be some new   
   Viewliner sleepers*, but I'm    
   not sure.  In any event, the order is running late, like so many other railcar   
   orders.     
      
      
   >That's one of the many reasons why the FRA needs to start accepting    
   >standard UIC passenger cars.   
      
   Good point.   
      
      
   * Unlike current Viewliners, the roomettes won't have a toilet in each room,   
   the passenger will have to go down the hall.  Apparently this is actually   
   better when two people share a roomette, but it is a step backward when there   
   is only one person.  I    
   don't know the ratio of usage of roomettes--one or two people.  Pre-viewliner   
   roomettes only held one person; two people would get a bedroom.  The old 10-6   
   design was very popular.   
      
   I think in Canada they still use sections.  I wonder if they can rent out the   
   upper berth--in the U.S., back in the 1930s the upper berth lost favor, which   
   is why they came up with the roomette for single travelers.   
      
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