Surfliner (railcar)
| Surfliner | |
|---|---|
 "Surfliner" coach/baggage/cab car leading the Pacific Surfliner in Lake Forest, CA. | |
 Lower level accessible seating area of a Surfliner car. | |
| Manufacturer | Alstom |
| Family name | Superliner derived bi level intercity railcar |
| Constructed | 2000-2001, 2002 |
| Number built | 62 |
| Formation | single car |
| Fleet numbers | 6000 series |
| Capacity | 90 passengers (coach cars) |
| Operator | Amtrak & Caltrans as Amtrak California |
| Depot(s) | Los Angeles, Oakland |
| Line(s) served | Pacific Surfliner, Capitol Corridor, San Joaquin |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 85 ft 0 in (25.91 m) |
| Width | 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) |
| Height | 16 ft 2 in (4.93 m) |
| Entry | Step |
| Doors | 2 sets of bi-parting automatic doors per side |
| Maximum speed | 125 mph (201 km/h) |
| Power supply | 480v AC 60Hz Head end power |
| Bogies | GSI 70 |
| Braking system(s) | Air |
| Coupling system | AAR |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Surfliner is a bilevel rail car owned by both Amtrak and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and operated under the Amtrak California brand on short-haul corridor routes in Southern, Northern and Central California. Alstom delivered the first order of cars for Amtrak between 2000 and 2001. A second order for the Caltrans Division of Rail was delivered in 2002. Amtrak's Superliner was used as the design baseline for the Surfliner, but several changes were made to the design to make the car more suitable for corridor services with frequent stops.
History
After the problematic delivery of the California Car in 1996, Amtrak set out to create a more advanced and reliable second generation intercity car for use on the busy San Diegan route (which was re-branded as the Pacific Surfliner when these cars were delivered). Several design changes were made to the cars including moving one of the restrooms to the upper level, adding a power outlet at every seat pair, moving the checked baggage compartment into the lower level of the cab car and creating a smaller galley on the lower level of the café car, enabling the upper level to be used for revenue seating.[1]
Description
40 Surfliner cars were delivered to Amtrak (all numbered in the 6xxx series) in several types: coach cars, café/coach cars equipped for food sales on the lower level, business-class cars which have two small galleys to allow an attendant to offer complimentary beverage service, and coach/baggage/cab cars equipped with coach seating, a checked baggage space on the lower level, and engineer's operating cab and headlights on one end, allowing the train to be operated in push-pull mode. [2][3] All Surfliner cars are equipped with overhead luggage racks, reclining seats with tray tables and footrests, reading lights, restrooms, AmtrakConnect WiFi, 120v power outlets, and a wheelchair ramp.[4]
Caltrans also placed a smaller order of 22 cars. 10 cars (numbered in the 6x5x series) are used to supplement the Amtrak-owned cars on the Pacific Surfliner and the other 12 (numbered in the 6x6x series) are used to expand the fleet used on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin.[5]
Future developments
California and a coalition of Midwest states (Illinois, Michigan and Missouri) placed an order for 130 third generation bi-level intercity cars with Sumitomo on November 6, 2012. The cars will be built by Nippon Sharyo at a new factory at Rochelle, Illinois. Eighty-eight cars will be going to the Midwest states and 42 will go to California. The first cars are expected to be delivered by late 2015.[6]
This third generation car will only feature a few differences from the Surfliner and California Car. The most noticeable change will be to the design of cab cars which will now be more pointed on the cab end to provide crush-able space to comply with new crash energy management guidelines. The other major changes will be in the café car where the galley and lounge seating will take up two-thirds of the upper level with the other third used for revenue seating; the lower level will have a storage compartment for the café, a workstation table for crew and more revenue seating.[1]
See also
- California Car (railcar) - The first generation intercity railcar used in California, on which the Surfliner was based.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Surfliner cars. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bi-Level Passenger Rail Cars Standardized Technical Specification" (PDF). PRIIA 305 Next-Generation Equipment Committee. pp. 30–33. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ "Pacific Surfliner Names". On Track On Line. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ "Amtrak - Pacific Surfliner". Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Amtrak Pacific Surfliners". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ↑ "California Surfliners". On Track On Line. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ Nippon Sharyo and Sumitomo Corporation receive the Contract Award for 130 Bi-Level Passenger Cars from Caltrans and IDOT
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