I can't lie, I'm envious that the San Joaquins service got shiny new rolling stock before the Pacific Surfliner did. Regardless, I love to see these new cars finally in service for passengers in the Central Valley! I hope that they are able to refurbish the old F40 cabbage cars to match the San Joaquins livery and keep them in service for many years to come. :D
Came here to write the same thing but you already did. Obviously *live* human-read announcements are the best in terms of charm (as well as clarity), but if that's too much to ask, Amtrak California should at least have the recorded announcements done using real human voices.
And the same trains that OBB uses on their premium Railjet services in Europe. Big upgrade for Amtrak. They're basically making all the intercity trains in the US Railjets!
I think the Acela new trains on the Northeast Corridor is also going to enter service pretty soon. They're modernizing the rolling stocks faster these years.
I don’t think the bi levels are going away just supplemented by the ventures. There was a plan to replace them with new bi-levels but that project fell through because of a failed test
@@davidng2336 actually Sumitomo was the original contractor (selected over several real manufacturers like Alstom and, ironically, Siemens) and were hired to source modern bi-level replacements for the current "California Car" bi-level fleet. However, their subcontractor failed to deliver and almost derailed the entire project, with the feds threatening to cancel federal co-financing. So Sumitomo fired their original subcontractor and instead subcontracted Siemens to sell them normal one-level cars (which were not designed with California's lower boarding platform heights in mind and therefore require steps). It was a total disaster and I'm genuinely puzzled as to why they chose to remind people of it. Or perhaps someone at Amtrak California meant it as an ironic joke/cautionary tale?
on the North east, they've turn their old electric loco into Cabbage units as well. Amtrak needs to do the same thing with the old GE Genesis instead of scraping them.
Edit: just looked it up and they apparently are the trainsets, just must have installed a coupler at one of the ends and will prob change it out and switch it for the cabcar They’ll prob stick with cabbage for the foreseeable future, so far iirc only NEC and Cascades have been picked for the Airo program, if it works then they might produce a non trainset cabcar (idk if the trainsets are going to use a US standard coupler, by the initial photos they aren’t)
@@YuqiLinux Unfortunately or was due to mere incompetence. The selected project contractor (Sumitomo Corporation, one of five applicants including Siemens btw) was originally hired to source 130 new bi-level cars. However, their subcontractor was late and delivered a prototype that failed the crashworthiness tests. At that point the project was so far behind schedule that Amtrak California was about to lose the federal subsidy that would cover more than half of the costs. So instead of trying to fix the problems, they just decided to join an already existing order for off-the-shelf single-floor cars built by Siemens. In terms of accessibility, the bi-level cars were actually designed for California's (lower) platform heights and allow level boarding, while the Venture cars are standard height, i.e. taller, and require additional contraptions which in reality makes them less accessible. With all this in mind, I find it odd that Sumitomo have the nerve to splash their logo all over the new cars...
Nice cars, but its disappointing that there aren't any US origin manufacturers of rail passenger cars left or for that matter, mass transit cars. All the units made these days in the US are subsiduaries of foriegn companies. The US once led in the development of rail/mass transit cars, witnessed by past companies like Budd, Pullman-Standard, St. Louis Car, and others. Although not a rail car, the PCC mass transit streetcar was such outstanding design (developed in the mid 30's, ) they continued to be built under license in Europe as late as 1978.
@@darryldworak6356 True, but those new cars did cost money -- could swap out the bogies for powered ones just the same. The San Joaquins are a more Regional route, so DMUs would be a very good fit. CalTrain runs EMUs now, and there are several DMU routes in California (mainly connector/shuttle routes, but Sonoma SMART is looking to extend their route to a more regional scale).
It seems you got stuck with the same uncomfortable, poorly made cars we did in Illinois. Tell me: Do the seat back pouches have bottoms in the or are they just decorative? Do the seat seats recline, or do they just move about an inch? Do the doors open and close by themselves, picking up the movement of the next car and letting in freezing air in the winter? Does the ventilation blow air in your face for your entire trip because you can't turn it off or redirect it?
@@Qazwsxedc165 Nope. Literally identical vinyl covers without the "cloth" inserts. I've sat on both versions and on the original European version on the Railjet. There is no difference. The Brightline fanboys are just coping because Amtrak got the same trains and that makes Brightline "less premium" in their eyes. They want to believe, bless their hearts.
Oh boy, can you believe it? The US is still rocking those dinosaur trains while the rest of the world has moved on to sleek, futuristic transportation. What's up with that? It's like they missed the memo or something. Come on, America, time to catch up!
I can't lie, I'm envious that the San Joaquins service got shiny new rolling stock before the Pacific Surfliner did. Regardless, I love to see these new cars finally in service for passengers in the Central Valley! I hope that they are able to refurbish the old F40 cabbage cars to match the San Joaquins livery and keep them in service for many years to come. :D
The Venture cars are coming with cab cars, so the F40s are on borrowed time unless they get sent to other lines or kept as backup.
@davidng2336 Good to know. I hadn't seen the Venture cab cars yet. I guess that's what progress looks like, though.
@@SoCalHighIron for reference, here’s what a completed cab car will look like: th-cam.com/video/PR7k-pI95iw/w-d-xo.html
@davidng2336 Huh. Almost like they just added on a Charger head onto it.
@@SoCalHighIronpretty much like the Via Rail trainsets, makes them look like multiple units
That paint scheme, it just looks so good!
I really love that F40PH K5LA horn. It sounds so awesome!!!!!!
Love it! Shame that the audio announcements are so robotic compared to what you get in Europe, but I'm loving the information screens and aesthetic.
It's AI reading the announcements. Kind of awful. Record real announcements!
Came here to write the same thing but you already did. Obviously *live* human-read announcements are the best in terms of charm (as well as clarity), but if that's too much to ask, Amtrak California should at least have the recorded announcements done using real human voices.
Also the pauses between lines are uncomfortably long
And no HOT/Microwave food or drinks
This is literally the standard Siemens voice used on their trains all over the world.
Excellent video fantástic my friend Like 👍🏻 awesome locomotive 😍 And Greeting 🙋🏻
Great video !
The Venture Cars is the same rolling stock that is being used on the Brightline Miami to Orlando Airport train service.
And the same trains that OBB uses on their premium Railjet services in Europe. Big upgrade for Amtrak. They're basically making all the intercity trains in the US Railjets!
Does the doors on the Venture cars have that constant bell when its open vs the California cars? If not then turn off the bell on the California cars.
I didn't hear bells when the doors were open.
Amtrak finally gets modern trains? Amazing!
I think the Acela new trains on the Northeast Corridor is also going to enter service pretty soon. They're modernizing the rolling stocks faster these years.
I wonder what that other button is for near the floor
Door open/close? They usually have both hand-level and foot-level buttons.
Anybody know if they will start removing the spoilers on the tail end of the Chargers? Looks so awkward when not running with the older hi-levels.
Makes sense after most of the bi-level cars are retired.
But I noticed the rear headlights are built into the spoilers.
I don’t think the bi levels are going away just supplemented by the ventures. There was a plan to replace them with new bi-levels but that project fell through because of a failed test
Thank You!
The Siemens Venture cars remind me of the Comet IB cars with the open doors and the steps to climb up.
With the current seating, these are basically upgraded commuter cars.
Nice train☺️
Love it
Thanks for the ride. Will these cars get matching cab cars instead of the NPCU ex F40? And what's Sumitomo's role?
There will be new cab cars. Siemens built this; Sumitomo is a subcontractor.
Sumitomo fucked up the original order so badly that they essentially were forced to give up and the contract to Siemens instead.
@@davidng2336 actually Sumitomo was the original contractor (selected over several real manufacturers like Alstom and, ironically, Siemens) and were hired to source modern bi-level replacements for the current "California Car" bi-level fleet. However, their subcontractor failed to deliver and almost derailed the entire project, with the feds threatening to cancel federal co-financing. So Sumitomo fired their original subcontractor and instead subcontracted Siemens to sell them normal one-level cars (which were not designed with California's lower boarding platform heights in mind and therefore require steps). It was a total disaster and I'm genuinely puzzled as to why they chose to remind people of it. Or perhaps someone at Amtrak California meant it as an ironic joke/cautionary tale?
@@V45194 more like it’s the power of Amtrak's Siemens partnership.
Will there be Siemens units as reverse drivers or are they sticking with the “cabbage” units?
Wikipedia says they should have cab cars. It’ll be a sleek looking train set.
@@jeesmith99It’s possible that they’re still under production.. same as the cafe car. Looks like it’s just a temporary consist.
on the North east, they've turn their old electric loco into Cabbage units as well. Amtrak needs to do the same thing with the old GE Genesis instead of scraping them.
Edit: just looked it up and they apparently are the trainsets, just must have installed a coupler at one of the ends and will prob change it out and switch it for the cabcar
They’ll prob stick with cabbage for the foreseeable future, so far iirc only NEC and Cascades have been picked for the Airo program, if it works then they might produce a non trainset cabcar (idk if the trainsets are going to use a US standard coupler, by the initial photos they aren’t)
The first cabcar is nearly finished or finished. It won't take long until it is in service.
The cars seem very quiet.
They are. That’s about it
these are like the Illinois Zyphr.
I personally will miss the bi-level coaches, too bad no one apparently knows how to build those anymore...
I thought they’re moving away from bi-level for accessibility concerns?
@@YuqiLinux Unfortunately or was due to mere incompetence. The selected project contractor (Sumitomo Corporation, one of five applicants including Siemens btw) was originally hired to source 130 new bi-level cars. However, their subcontractor was late and delivered a prototype that failed the crashworthiness tests. At that point the project was so far behind schedule that Amtrak California was about to lose the federal subsidy that would cover more than half of the costs. So instead of trying to fix the problems, they just decided to join an already existing order for off-the-shelf single-floor cars built by Siemens. In terms of accessibility, the bi-level cars were actually designed for California's (lower) platform heights and allow level boarding, while the Venture cars are standard height, i.e. taller, and require additional contraptions which in reality makes them less accessible. With all this in mind, I find it odd that Sumitomo have the nerve to splash their logo all over the new cars...
@@V45194 Well, this is appalling!
Nice cars, but its disappointing that there aren't any US origin manufacturers of rail passenger cars left or for that matter, mass transit cars. All the units made these days in the US are subsiduaries of foriegn companies. The US once led in the development of rail/mass transit cars, witnessed by past companies like Budd, Pullman-Standard, St. Louis Car, and others. Although not a rail car, the PCC mass transit streetcar was such outstanding design (developed in the mid 30's, ) they continued to be built under license in Europe as late as 1978.
Joanna Text-To-Speech Voice
I still think that they should have built these with powered bogies such that the trains can start & stop more quickly to save time.
That would be nice just cost being too high holding that idea back
@@darryldworak6356 True, but those new cars did cost money -- could swap out the bogies for powered ones just the same. The San Joaquins are a more Regional route, so DMUs would be a very good fit. CalTrain runs EMUs now, and there are several DMU routes in California (mainly connector/shuttle routes, but Sonoma SMART is looking to extend their route to a more regional scale).
It seems you got stuck with the same uncomfortable, poorly made cars we did in Illinois. Tell me: Do the seat back pouches have bottoms in the or are they just decorative? Do the seat seats recline, or do they just move about an inch? Do the doors open and close by themselves, picking up the movement of the next car and letting in freezing air in the winter? Does the ventilation blow air in your face for your entire trip because you can't turn it off or redirect it?
You might want to email or call Amtrak directly. They don’t review the comments under my channel.
✌🏾
Looks fine except archaic diesel locomotive
Seats look skimpy and narrow on the Venture cars. VIA has them too.
And Brightline has the exact same seats. But no one is complaining about them on Brightline or VIA. Why do you think that is?
@@TohaBgood2 Brightline has better quality seating material that's more comfortable.
@@TohaBgood2 I remember seeing comments on the hard seats on Brightline. People sure have complained.
@@Qazwsxedc165 Nope. Literally identical vinyl covers without the "cloth" inserts.
I've sat on both versions and on the original European version on the Railjet. There is no difference. The Brightline fanboys are just coping because Amtrak got the same trains and that makes Brightline "less premium" in their eyes.
They want to believe, bless their hearts.
Not feeling the robo announcer, but everything else seems superb 👌
Sorry no I’m still prefer the ORIGINAL cars for the San
These are so uncomfortable….never thought i would miss the amcans
Wasn’t a fan. No cafe car, & water leaking from the roof onto the luggage. Poorly made.
Water leaking? That's nuts..
@@YuqiLinux yeah it was the first train to Bakersfield out of Jack London. Heavy rain all night in the Bay Area. My only thought is poor sealing.
Oh boy, can you believe it? The US is still rocking those dinosaur trains while the rest of the world has moved on to sleek, futuristic transportation. What's up with that? It's like they missed the memo or something. Come on, America, time to catch up!
Bad robot voice
Get the goddam cab cars!
The first one is done soon. Be patient.
Too many anouncements
Yes, those announcements are uncomfortably loud and unnecessarily long to me.