Seems Amtrak is having a real problem keeping those Viewliners running. On a recent Jan 29th trip on The Crescent, one Viewliner was missing (which of course led to some very unhappy people, thinking they would have a bed and instead had to ride up in coach. I was lucky enough to have a room in the sleeper that was operating). In any rate, in checking the amtrak website looks like some Viewliners deletions have become permanent throughout April. They include:

1.the single Viewliner on The Cardinal (and the diner as well)

2. Deletion of the Boston sleeper of The Lake Shore Limited.

And, though you can't tell from Amtrak's website, a recent NARP bulletin has shown the Crescents 2 sleepers being reduced to 1, and the Silver Meteors 3 sleepers reduced to 2. Don't be surprised if these become permanent through April.

It looks like the sleepers are back in effective in May.

While I don't mind riding coach, (in fact, it's more fun in a lot of ways) I'm sure other people don't think the same way. I wonder if Amtrak will call people and tell them of the situation, or just wait to break the bad news when they get to the station on the day of travel, much to the chagrin of station personnel, I'm sure.

So long as the 9111 line is not blanked on Feb 19, my self interests will be served.

It is my understanding that the Viewliners removed from service were largely the result of frozen pipes; the calendar will soon correct that problem.

Thanks

(in part) from Amtrak, ops advisory 6 Feb
re: Equipment - Consist Restructure:

--Trains 19/20, Crescent:
Continued Viewliner problems and Amtrak's inability to get sufficient cars back on the road mean that the second Viewliner sleeping car line on the Crescent will not return until April 26 and April 28, on Trains 19 and 20, respectively. Also, Amfleet-II smoking lounges are being transferred to the Lake Shore Ltd.. Crescent will become a nonsmoking train.

--Trains 48/49, 448/449, Lake Shore Ltd.
In an attempt to address the unacceptable performance of the Lake Shore Ltd., Trains 448/449 will become a stub train operation with cross platform transfer at Albany-Rensselaer, beginning February 17. There will no longer be through car service between Chicago and Boston; the Lounge car will operate between Chicago and New York; and it will be an Amfleet-II smoking lounge, transferred from the Crescent, making the Lake Shore no longer a nonsmoking train.

This will match the Lake Shore consist to that of the New York-Miami Silver Service trains and will change the equipment rotation, getting the train's cars to their Hialeah maintenance base more frequently. At New York, Train 92 will turn to Train 49; Train 48 will turn to Train 91.

Standard consist of Trains 48/49 will become two units, Baggage, Dorm, two Viewliner sleepers, Diner, Lounge (smoking), and four Coaches, plus mail and express.

Standard consist of Trains 448/449 will be Baggage, Cafe Car, two Coaches.

Train 448(16) will be last to operate from Chicago.

These changes will remain until 07MAY04, at which time the combined operation of New York and Boston cars on one train CHI-ALB is planned to resume.

--Trains 50/51, Cardinal
This train has had its Viewliner Sleeping Car, Diner, Crew Dorm and baggage car removed, and this will now continue until the Spring Timetable change on 26APR04. Train will consist of Lounge car and three Coaches. No checked baggage service.
Also, Train 51 will no longer operate as part of Regional Train 155 between New York and Washington on Sundays, but will run as a separate train.

--Trains 66/67, Federal
Sleeping Car service on this train is suspended until the Fall Timetable change. The first day the sleeper is planned to operate is now October 25 in both directions.
--NOTE: If equipment problems persist, these service reductions may be extended, or more reductions may be implemented.

Hope this helps.

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