Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   > Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   > >BBD bilevel cars (i.e. nearly all commuter trains outside the Rust Belt)   
   > >have a built-in, full-width step below the door at half the height   
   > >difference; no step boxes are required.  Why Amtrak LD trains don't have   
   > >such (which would remove the need for those step boxes--and a dozen or   
   > >so crew members per train) is mystifying.   
   >   
   > This was an innovation from streetcars. The reason folding stepwells are   
   > impractical is what you just wrote: Rust. You could have them in California.   
      
   IIRC, Amfleet cars have an automatic retractable bottom step.   
      
   Jimmy   
      
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