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It’s been almost a year since the venture cars made their first test run here in Michigan, and with them about enter service, there are some questions that I’ve got, can anyone confirm the following:

1. Will MDOT be receiving cab cars like what the states of Wisconsin/Minnesota will be receiving?
2. Are there any Café cars for these trains? When the test train ran, I didn’t see one.



Thanks,

-DC

There will be cafe cars. I remember reading somewhere that they are coming well after the passenger cars, so the Venture-equipped trains were to have Amfleet (and/or Horizon?) cafes for the better part of a year. That was a pre- or early-pandemic announcement, so who knows now.

David Collins wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:13 am

It’s been almost a month since the venture cars made their first test run here in Michigan, and with them about enter service…

Have you heard anything concrete about when they will enter service?

It’s taken forever, with the lead in the water (who in their right mind would drink train lavatory water anyway? Maybe back in 1940, but now?!), and Amtrak’s lack of capacity to train staff and deploy, and someone said something about the luggage racks being wrong…

I have high hopes for the comfort and convenience of these cars, but I am fearful of being disappointed. The Superliners are feeling tired and dated, but remain very comfortable compared to the single level equipment. It will be bittersweet to see them go.

http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents ... %80%9D.pdf
About to enter service? Probably a little optimistic.
Minnesota isn't part of the Midwest coalition AFAIK.

David Collins wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:13 am

It’s been almost a month since the venture cars made their first test run here in Michigan...

Month? You mean year?

TSS wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:27 pm

Have you heard anything concrete about when they will enter service?

Yes, I have, I have a friend of mine that works trains out of Chicago (No, Not Buster Manning) and he’s told me they should be entering service by the end of April.

NS3322 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:03 pm

David Collins wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:13 am

It’s been almost a month since the venture cars made their first test run here in Michigan...

Month? You mean year?

Yes, my mistake

Im afraid you are going to be very disappointed in the comfort. The best way I can describe the seat comfort,,,,,get on a city bus
and ride it for 6 hours. Seats are narrow and for two people sitting together, you WILL get to know them well . Arm rests do separate you abit.The plugs and USB ports are behind you in the middle of the seat backs. Crowded trains are going to be fun

David Collins wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:13 am

It’s been almost a year since the venture cars made their first test run here in Michigan, and with them about enter service, there are some questions that I’ve got, can anyone confirm the following:

1. Will MDOT be receiving cab cars like what the states of Wisconsin/Minnesota will be receiving?
2. Are there any Café cars for these trains? When the test train ran, I didn’t see one.



Thanks,

-DC

1. From my understanding, no. Only the Hiawatha is getting cab cars; I believe WI & CA are paying extra for them.
2. Yes but later; so you'll see Amfleets & Horizon cafes for a while still.

peter

With the discussion about Venture cars and their "issues" recently, I did a little research and was disappointed in what I found. One of the most important rumors to me about these cars is that the Midwest cars have uncomfortable seats. While these cars may have other issues and break-in issues that overshadow the seats, Doing a little digging into the basic accommodations for the VIA venture cars, and the Bright line "Smart" class cars (their lowest accommodation), just looking at images it is seems like it could be clear that the Midwest cars are likely behind.

Amtrak Via Brightline

Bumping this thread: According to a source related to the matter, Amtrak is to debut a full train-set of venture cars on trains 350/355 next Monday.

A month or 2 ago, a friend was riding Amtrak P370 from Chicago back to St Joseph & had a conversation with a Conductor, where, the Conductor had said they don't like the idea of these new Venture cars because: the door windows do not open & if a door is opened above 2 mph, the train will go into Emergency - all of which is going to hinder them for "spotting" the cars on the passenger platforms for boarding & de-boarding.

The MARC trains (Maryland Rail Commuter) that operate on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor between Washington DC & Perryville, Maryland (with Amtrak crews) have MARC Stations between the major Amtrak Stations & there are numbered signs the engineer sees to know where to stop his engine for whichever car(s) will be handling passengers. That idea may have to be adopted on the Grand Rapids sub-division.

Looks like today is the day. Per Facebook post (no photo confirmation) they are on today's #350.

Update: Saw them myself, they are on #350. Amfleet cafe car is the second car though...rest are all Ventures.

NS3322 wrote: ↑

Tue May 24, 2022 10:12 am

Looks like today is the day. Per Facebook post (no photo confirmation) they are on today's #350.

Update: Saw them myself, they are on #350. Amfleet cafe car is the second car though...rest are all Ventures.

AFAIK the Venture "Bistro" cars are not yet built and/or serviceable, so they'll be continuing to use the Horizon and Amfleet Cafes for now