Venture Cars Enter Service on Amtrak San Joaquins

[@SimplyRailway]

Dear god, finally 🥹

[@TohaBgood2]

And Caltrain's new Stadler KISSes are also about to enter service. And they're ordering Stadler FLIRTs for the ACE. Not suggesting that you need to visit next year... but you need to visit next year! 😁

[@TohaBgood2]

@TheAMTKCC_fan I know. For some reason American railfans think that electric power is the devil. But they are excellent trains that are a half dozen generations ahead of the current Bombardier Bilevels, and a full two dozen ahead of the Gallery cars. Caltrain needs to satisfy the riders not the railfans to continue existing.

[@E-man5375]

I’m going to say that when the avelias enter service

[@DMVRailfan]

A. I was thinking the same thing B. Fancy seeing you here

[@AMTKDiverseLikings]

I know right? After many years of delays, ITS FINALLY HERE!

[@himbourbanist]

wow, these look so good. That side shot with all of the stairs down makes it almost hard to believe this is Amtrak. Very shiny new train cars. Can't wait until they're in service system wide

[@gdrriley420]

They won’t be across CA. Only San Joaquin’s and that’s unlikely to change

[@boyziggy]

What are you smoking? The seats are less comfortable, and instead of stepping aboard every passenger now must climb stairs which will double the dwell times at stations, and there’s no cafe car. People who think these trains are an improvement can’t possible be sober!

[@GintaPPE1000]

@@boyziggyHis username says it all. Urbanists just worship the ground anything European walks on.

[@pacificostudios]

The arrival of Venture cars in California is great news, and it probably helps explain why the Surfliner I rode this week had two California cars and one Superliner.

[@RailsofCaliV2]

I saw it too

[@gdrriley420]

Yes they are getting 5-7 cal 1 cars along with nearly all the surfliners and all the ca leased superliners along with 3-8 superliners they bought

[@pacificostudios]

@@gdrriley420 - Even after all these years, the Superliner coach is still the best riding car on the property. Unfortunately, Superliner doors aren't opened at stations, so one must move to another car well before your destination station. Sometimes even a Skyliner lounge appears, which emphasizes the need for an observation car on all trains.

[@gdrriley420]

@@pacificostudios funny thing is they should ride very similar to cal 1 and superliner II cars. Yeah but they’ll keep doing that with 1 superliner business class and 1 normal business class car. They bought 3 cars with upto 8 being considered. Not sure the exact mix of superliners they got

[@SleepTrain456]

Indeed! Being from San Diego, I often see _Pacific_ _Surfliner_ trains feature a Superliner and (sometimes) one or two coaches in the Northern Californian livery. I think you are on to something: the Ventures allow coaches previously used on the _San_ _Joaquins_ to migrate to the _Surfliner._ Thanks for the comment!

[@TheAmtrakSpartan]

I also loved the Ex-NJT Comet 1B Cars.

[@natesmainlinevids]

First time I’ve seen the new Siemens coaches on any Amtrak train was two of them on Pere Marquette 371 in Chesterton when I went to Chicagoland. Even I still need to see the coaches on this route so badly as I haven’t done so yet, especially in the testing phase.

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Omg omg omg. I ride this all the time. I’m excited!!

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@superbaddy4]

Let's also enjoy those NPCUs while they still last. Soon enough, CDTX 9301 will be arriving.

[@Railviation]

Are they going to be retired?

[@artoismta]

@@RailviationMore than likely. I reckon a few will be re-wrapped and overhauled to use as spares, but I doubt they’d see real service once the cab car units arrive.

[@ggnore90]

Where can I find this 9301? I’ve only ever seen on video of a cab car at the Siemens facility

[@superbaddy4]

9301 hasn't been delivered yet, but when it does arrive, we'll certainly know.

[@davidng2336]

@@artoismta if anything once the lease expires, they may go back to Amtrak and used there until they retire.

[@djjamar]

I wish that train cross Tehachapi into socal. But UP said no way.

[@Shinyarc]

Riding Ventures for the first time on the Carl Sandburg was a splendid experience, very glad that they’re spreading across the nation.

[@GP30_Foamer]

Well it’s about time!

[@hectora7479]

She is a beauty!

[@davidng2336]

Took so long. And they look good!

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad to see these are in service. Can’t wait for the cab car.

[@ternie6515]

I got to ride the first train lots of fun

[@Mason_J]

Gotta love it when the camera man gets scared by the train horn 😂

[@KaiHenningsen]

American trains are insanely loud. Meanwhile, over in Europe, we're working on making our trains quieter ...

[@fridericusrex9812]

@@KaiHenningsen Typical America. Loud, inefficient, slow.

[@lalakerspro]

Typical european baby who cant handle noise. Our trains are slow because we have cars and planes. We are starting to make high speed rails, meanwhile crappy europe still runs 19th century freight trains@@fridericusrex9812

[@RafaelAcosta-oq4eo]

Very nice job ❤

[@kitchener2200]

Great video.

[@NorthEastTransitProductions]

Nice Catch

[@NorCaliRailroading2023]

Its an exciting but also sad day for the railfanning community

[@stevenasante8662]

Car brained idiots do not know how to cross a railrod crossing if their lives depended on it, literally...

[@brady8735]

I was never really a fan of the comets but I will still miss them

[@TohaBgood2]

I will never understand this hobby. Why would they be sad? Brand new, modern, state of the art trains! What's not to like?

[@BrakeCoach]

@@TohaBgood2I guess its the nostalgia. But honestly, since theyve ran for many decades theyve had a good run

[@lalakerspro]

Nostalgia. These new sets are better but that doesn't mean we forget the past. @@TohaBgood2

[@yumenekotrain]

とても美しくカッコいい列車。 チャンネル登録をしました。🐱

[@SleepTrain456]

As a railfan from San Diego, I found this quite an entertaining video! I didn't know the Ventures are now in service (finally) on the _San_ _Joaquins._ Also, the horn on CDTX 90218 sounds very good! Thanks for posting this! I'll subscribe!

[@NormanSilv]

Riders are very pleased. Comfortable. good Rest Rooms, Bike and baggage storage.

[@Thisoldhiker]

Is that older engine 90218 stripped out and just being used as a cab car?

[@Gryphonisle]

Snob Hill is already implied in the name, Nob Hill, which was previously known as Fern Hill and then the California Street Hill. Then the rich arrived, either the cable cars and Nob Hill got its current name from the East Indian word Nabob, for rich or important folks

[@KaiHenningsen]

And here I thought it came from the English word noble, for rich or important folks.

[@LDTV22OfficialChannel]

This is the beginning of the future of Amtrak.

[@rcdo-ultrarailwaytransitfan76]

Wow those were impressive and I am sure it will only be on 713 & 718

[@transitcaptain]

I wish I could say that it was the first Amtrak train I’ve ever seen with solely Siemens equipment. But there’s an NPCU

[@ggnore90]

Wait for the Venture cab cars to roll out onto the sets, then you may get to!

[@princeradclifflapuz3865]

I like these train cars

[@nolantherailfan5048]

But that paint scheme is super ugly

[@princeradclifflapuz3865]

@@nolantherailfan5048 but it is not ugly

[@FreihEitner]

The retirement of Amfleet cars begins. I hope some of them will wind up in museums and private ownership.

[@danielgarepis-holland3214]

Comet cars in this case

[@combusean]

This thing is perfect juxtaposed with the old cabbage cars.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I wonder if they’re going to use both the NPCU cabbage cars alongside the new Siemens venture coach/control cars

[@Whiterose11476]

Wow, very cool!

[@ronnyrueda5926]

Will they be getting cab cars?

[@Perich29]

No it's easier to take these old loco and turn them into baggage cab car like these.

[@sixfifty_sebb]

yes they just delivered the first cab car and will test them sometime maybe this month

[@Starship2050mars]

Cool 😎 ❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 impressive and amazing work by the team at Amtrak yard and in ace yard in. Stockton CA good work I’m so excited to ride the venture cars with A cab car so awesome 😎 🎉 thank you Amtrak California workers who built this train sets for our passengers to ride on fast Wi-Fi next generation still going to see a lot of cab cars on ventures cars soon hopefully for my birthday 🎂 October 20 my family is taking me on Amtrak in October to San Francisco for fleet week it’s going to be a great time so I’m hoping to see the cab cars in service by the fall of 2024 my first time I’ve been on the bi level cars they are ok ✅ ❤ I appreciate the teamwork Amtrak thank you for your service 🍾🍾🍾🍾🚆🚆🚆🚆🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🤗🎁🎁🎁🎁⚾️⚾️⚾️🎂⚡️👍👍👍

[@Daniel-hj8el]

Finally the time💀 have come, for this! Also where the real cab, well yes the F-40 cabbage is goat, BUT, their also SC-44 charger cab that they built?

[@artoismta]

3:30 *Reverts to steam locomotive*

[@larailfan1714]

Last night I had a dream about seeing these at Martinez, except they were in the livery that was originally planned and the cab car was in service.

[@getube9]

And thanks to CalTrans, no cafe...

[@ggnore90]

Probably because the cafe car isn’t out yet… same thing goes for the Lincoln service which is why they stick a horizon or amfleet cafe car onto the consist

[@United1158]

What train numbers will these operate on?

[@railroadkid9000]

I was on board them today and it was a rocky ride

[@DesertHighIron]

Could you elaborate? What kind of issues did they experience?

[@pacificostudios]

One advantage of riding a bilevel car is that the entire car absorbs vibration and jolts, in addition to the ride-smoothing quality of the suspension system. However, the single-level cars finally give wheelchair-using passengers access to the cafe, and so the bi-levels are doomed on trains with cafe cars. Since the Amtrak bi-levels are only about 30 years old, it will be interesting to see if they are sold for commuter service or not. Coaster and Amtrak even use the same locomotives, SC-44 Chargers.

[@railroadkid9000]

@@DesertHighIron the cars weren’t necessarily the problem it was the old 90218 it had positive train control issues, and we were delayed outside Hanford for about 45 minutes. Then we had an issue that wasn’t our fault. Some idiot was going too fast in the rain flew into a ditch came out of the ditch, and then crashed into the side of a freight train damaging the tracks. That’s why I meant it was a rocky ride..

[@DesertHighIron]

@@railroadkid9000 Ah ok, good to hear the cars behaved.

[@Sammy-jf6gt]

@@pacificostudios This new set doesn’t even have cafe service so the wheelchairs still don’t get it. All they have is a snack box they had already been handing out

[@rockyshore7017]

Eventually these will become the standard San Joaquin fleet? I suppose that'll take years...

[@patrickdietze70]

Assuming though from the look of the consist, no food service? That's trash!

[@xbx.trains2192]

these look a lot like the British Mark 5 and Mark 5a cars

[@TohaBgood2]

These are basically the same trains that OBB uses on Railjet services. The cars are Americanized Viaggio Comfort cars and the locomotives are the US version of Siemens's Vectron.

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

Finally!!!!

[@k5elevencinc0]

USB ports and wifi?

[@Sacto1654]

first time I've seen a converted former F40PH used on this route.

[@utahrailfan1946]

1-2 trains a day use them. Usually on the Comet car set

[@davinhuffaker4670]

Bruh the thumbnail made it look like caltrain

[@michu6777]

Are these replacing the Comet cars, California cars, or both? I really love riding the bi-level California cars and I would miss them when they retire. Such a comfy and quiet ride with great views from the upper level. The Comet cars on the other hand, were terrible. Super rough riding and incredibly noisy inside. Riding a Comet car feels like riding BART, just without the crackheads

[@TohaBgood2]

Eventually, these will replace all the trainsets on the San Joaquins. But for now they're only replacing some of the Comet cars, then all the Comet cars, and then all the California cars. The Comet cars are very very old and, let's face it, atrocious. So they will most likely be retired if no other agency wants them, which is unlikely. The California cars will go back into the state-wide shared Caltrans rolling stock pool. They can be redistributed to any of the other state-run Amtrak California services, but will most likely go to the Capitol Corridor as they have planned service expansion coming up and need more overflow cars. Some might eventually make it to the Surfliner, but that's unlikely given the need for extra cars in NorCal.

[@michu6777]

@@TohaBgood2 Cool thanks for the info

[@RaisedLetter]

Nice look for once. Finally they can get rid of those stupid fins. Pity Siemens has proved they can't do paint schemes.

[@lalakerspro]

It seems like the seats are not as comfortable as the california or comet cars. Do these new cars reduce journey time? These dont have a cafe car either. New doesnt always mean better. If it aint broke, dont fix it

[@TohaBgood2]

In this case new is better. The Ventures got rave reviews on Brightline and VIA. These are good trains. Accept a good thing when it comes. Not everything new has to suck.

[@lalakerspro]

@TohaBgood2 that's like buying a new iPhone when they removed features like calling, but made it look better. Sure, it's newer, but is it as functional?

[@TohaBgood2]

@@lalakerspro In a thousand ways, yes. The new trains have better facilities for riders. Better wifi, better bathrooms, quieter cabins with the doors that block the noise from the fully permanently coupled cars that also block bathroom smells, better ventilation, better lighting, better ADA accommodations, etc. These are short trip, daytime trains. The seat comfort is standard for that type of train. And the vast majority of riders will take a new modern train with modern amenities over a throne in a 1970s era car. This is just the reality of the situation.

[@boyziggy]

These venture cars are lemons, worse off by every measurable aspect than the previous trains. Narrow seats, high level boarding, no cafe car, terrible trains . How does anyone see this as an “improvement “?

[@artoismta]

The NPCU at the back of the consist actually made me wince… where are the cab cars bro?? 😐😐😢

[@ggnore90]

Theyre being added to the sets at a later date but it’s unknown when

[@weirdfish1216]

took them long enough!!

[@dennisvanheck3232]

Nice train but why is there no cabcar

[@voidjavelin23]

still on progress

[@Perich29]

9:38 they must have removed the engine and generator off that Loco and turn it into bagadge cars and cab cars I don't hear anything on that old loco.

[@Gryphonisle]

CalTrans, the highway agency, not CalTrain? Not Amtrak? CalTrans runs trains?

[@sjdorst]

Caltrans doesn't RUN trains, but they do have locomotives and rolling stock that they own. They're used on the Capital Corridor, San Joaquins, and (I think) the Surfliner services. The head end of the train in this is a converted F40PH. Originally owned and operated by CalTrain (not CalTrans), their prime mover was removed to turn them into combo cab/baggage cars (known as "cabbage" cars). I would guess that the motors in their bogies were also removed.

[@Wolfgodmak]

CalTrans is a sub-company to Amtrak, the BNSF and Union Pacific lines have Amtraks California Zephyr and Coast Starlight. Amtrak has numerous sub-companies like Acela, Pacific Surfliner, Silver Star etc. but operate under state transportation

[@TohaBgood2]

@@Wolfgodmak Ummmmm... no. Caltrans is the California state DOT that runs all the transportation infrastructure in the state, including the trains. They have a joint venture that they formed with Amtrak to explicitly manage the California state supported routes. Amtrak California is sort of a local subsidiary of Federal Amtrak and the state via Caltrans. But they only run the intercity rail services within the state - San Joaquins, Capitol Corridor, and Pacific Surfliner. The long distance trains that pass through California are still run directly by Federal Amtrak. Those are the Coast Starlight, the California Zephyr, and maybe the new Coast Daylight (SF-LA) when/if that arrives.

[@sixfifty_sebb]

yes caltrans, Caltrain is a different train company running from Gilroy-San Francisco and it used to be runned by Amtrak

[@coreywilliams-vt3zb]

What are they gonna do with the "spoilers" on the locomotives now that the cars are in service?

[@voidjavelin23]

siemens will make it removable

[@that1niceguy246]

Why do the Locomotives have that stupid bump on the back?

[@bahnspotterEU]

These spoilers were installed to form a transition to the bilevel California Cars. Now that the California Cars are leaving the San Joaquins, Amtrak should look into removing the spoilers.

[@barbararoberts7408]

The stairs for boarding are too steep. I need a lift for these cars.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

So. What kind of food service car? Cafe car like Amfleet or Horizon cars? Or vending machines?

[@voidjavelin23]

vending machines

[@brettcooper8634]

Now just ged rid of those spoilers and get rid of those F40s or at least repaint them.

[@TohaBgood2]

The F40s are just gutted cabbage cars. They'll be replaced by the Venture cab cars as soon as those arrive. Siemens was already supposed to deliver them, but they got delayed.

[@Konkacha]

Those spoilers are prob staying for the next decade tbh.

[@TohaBgood2]

​@@KonkachaThe Chargers are all owned by Caltrans and are part of the shared state-wide fleet. Theoretically, these Chargers can get rotated to any of the state routes - the San Joaquins, Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, ACE, or even Caltrain. All the other routes except the San Joaquins and the Sac-Merced component of the ACE will continue to use bi-level cars. So it really isn't worth it for Caltrans to spend money to remove those airo elements. Plus, it's always possible that they will go with a different manufacturer to replace the California cars. Those are considered "semi-commuter" rather than true intercity trains, unlike the San Joaquins. So they may actually stay bi-level in the next equipment order. We'll see what happens.

[@Touchybanana]

I've heard the seats on the Venture coaches are worse than the Amfleets/Superliners.

[@timothystamm3200]

Only because the current seats are ridiculously luxurious. They're still fine, they're just not the old excess.

[@TohaBgood2]

@@timothystamm3200 This! And the exact same seats got rave reviews on Brightline. A ton of people just wanted something to whine about.

[@Jon.Morimoto]

​​@@timothystamm3200 Found the hater who thinks quality and comfort is "ridiculously luxurious." Well, I deserve value for my train fare money. It is an honor to be an enemy of the likes of you.

[@Jon.Morimoto]

​@@TohaBgood2 Brightline is a new service. The San Joaquins is an existing train, so it's valid to compare the new trainsets with the ones they are replacing. Degradation of comfort is an error that should have been corrected in the design and manufacturing process.

[@TohaBgood2]

@@Jon.Morimoto This is nonsense. The seats are either comfortable or not. If the Amtrak Venture seats are not comfortable then the identical Brightline Venture sears are not comfortable either. They are quite literally, the same seats mounted in the same cars with slightly different paint on the outside and a few pieces of trim swapped out.

[@theconceptualist8626]

I hope that they don’t do this to the Surfliner cars. They’re too special to me tbh.

[@Jon.Morimoto]

Now's the time to demand that the Surfliner fleet be replaced with new double-deck trains. If you let them get away with it, they'll buy more Sie#### single-deckers, and the beautiful views and comfortable seats will be a sad memory.

[@blitzkrieg634]

Too bad the inside is shit

[@Perich29]

No more double decker cars anymore.

[@fridericusrex9812]

Holy noise pollution

[@voidjavelin23]

nothing compared to a whole clogged highway

[@voidjavelin23]

@@fridericusrex9812 mandated regulation all over again because americans were idiots since the early steam traction railways

[@fridericusrex9812]

@@voidjavelin23 Trains are only obnoxiously loud and slow in America.

[@HGM19922]

Nice, does this mean that the Bi-Level cars are being moved to SoCal for the Surfliner?

[@TohaBgood2]

Most likely to Capitol Corridor, but they might end up anywhere in the state once the San Joaquins releases them into Caltrans's pool of available equipment.