here is a good ? why is it that amtrak only uses about 15-20 passanger cars on a train and not have them like a freight and have 50+ on a train?? Is this regulated by some law? please let me know asap Mike
Basically, each type of passenger carrying car will contain only a certain number of people. They know what the maximum number of probable riders will be for a given route, and that determines part of the car count. Other factors come in. Such as length of trip and the need to provide sleeping facilities, dining, baggage capacity, etc. If ridership increases, they may either add cars, or put on an additional train. Likewise, if passenger count falls, those now unnecessary cars are removed, train frequency is lessened, or it is altogether cancelled. Boxcab E50 [ 26. February 2004, 17:57: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
Also, the freight companies may wait until they have enough cars before bothering to run the train, whereas a passenger train has to (at least try to!) run regularly on a schedule. (can you see passengers being told "we've only got enough people for four cars today, so we'll add your cars to tommorows train!)
Many of the Amtrak trains running today with 15 cars require two or three stops at each station as the platforms are not long enough to hold the entire train. This causes delays and they have enough problems trying to maintain a schedule without adding more delay.
Mike: Economics. The ticketed riders and the route determine the length of the trains. People need to move now, and frieght can wait until they have enough cars headed in that direction.
