RAILforum: Any Amtrak Rail buses in operation?

This is topic Any Amtrak Rail buses in operation? in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/11/1537.html

Posted by wap4 (Member # 2289) on :

Hi all,

I was just searching for rail bus services in USA but could not find any useful details. Is there rail bus service run by Amtrak, if so can anyone provide the web links ?

BTW i found this funny NG(760 mm) railbus picture posted by an IRFCA member.
http://www.irfca.org/photos/Suburban/DSC00237?full=1

Thank you
wap4

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

Absolutely positively, none, nada, zilch.

My personal thought: thank goodness!

The reference you see at various message boards to Ambus refers to Amtrak Thruway Service. These are simply highway vehicles (taxicab, van, or bus) that provide coordinated connecting service with Amtrak trains. Although they are operated by concerns independent of Amtrak, they offer guaranteed connections, through Amtrak issued ticketing, and service to or from the train depot.

But beyond that, a bus is a bus is a bus.

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 11-20-2003).]

Posted by Boyce (Member # 2719) on :

Railbus=passenger train=Amtrak trains.

Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :

I would not equate any Amtrak service with that of railbuses, even the services formerly operated by Budd RDCs.

No "railbuses" currently operate in the USA. I myself know of railbuses, that they are railcars reverse-engineered from actual road buses. The only actual railbus operation that I know of that used to operate in the USA was the former Houston North Shore Railroad, which was an electric interurban prior to their de-electrifying and using Twin Coaches railbuses, which were quite bizarre-looking what with their possessing wheel-wells that resembled those of road buses. The New Haven Railroad (pre-McGinnis) also used vehicles called "railbuses" built by Mack but running on conventional four-wheel trucks (bogies).

Posted by espeefoamer (Member # 2815) on :

Would the new DMU built by Colorado Railcar count as a railbus?

------------------
Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.

Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :

No. It would count as a DMU. A railbus would be considered LRT by the FRA and would fall under FTA jurisdiction.

Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :

I doubt Amtrak...But there are some private line sin New England that I herd about. But nothing national like Amtrak.

Anton