cb@MITRE-BEDFORD.ARPA (Christopher Byrnes) (02/19/86)
>Even if, as it now appears, the accident is entirely CN's fault, under >the arrangements imposed on VIA, it is VIA that will bear the financial >brunt of the wreck. Some say 3 to 5 million dollars (~2 to 3.5 million >American), some say even more. I've heard that VIA rail is already committed to replacing most of their current long-range passenger fleet (which dates from the 1940's and 50's) with Canadian-built copies of Amtrak's "Superliner" equipment. I hope VIA has enough equipment to tide them over until their new cars and F40's arrive. While I hope the Canadians enjoy riding in Superliner equipment as much as I have, I hope VIA does not fill out its passenger fleet by purchasing soon-to-be-surplus Amtrak cars available after Amtrak is shut down. Amtrak has also lost some Superliner equipment due to wrecks over the years. Fortunately Superliners seem to handle wrecks about the same as older equipment, they don't split open like some newer cars tend to. Assuming Amtrak survives this latest crisis, has any thought been given to getting a few replacement Superliners before the production line is shut down again? Eventually the existing Superliners will have to be overhauled so a few extras plus the replacements for wrecked equipment will be needed. Christopher Byrnes cb@Mitre-Bedford.ARPA ...decvax!linus!bccvax!cb.UUCP