NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Dreamstar Lines, which hopes to launch luxury overnight train service between San Francisco and Los Angeles, has released conceptual renderings of Art Deco-inspired interiors for its equipment.
The company commissioned Designworks, a BMW Group company, to create initial concepts for its plan to retrofit cars with four types of accommodations, in addition to a lounge car.
Accommodations would include standard class, which the company compares to first class on an international flight, and three types of rooms with a private bathroom and shower: bedrooms, sleeping two; suites, sleeping two in a queen bed with extra space; and family, sleeping six (including two children).
“Our goal is to create a truly memorable mode of medium-distance travel that provides an optimum blend of comfort and convenience for people who are seeking something unique and are tired of the hassles involved in traditional modes of transportation,” said Dreamstar Lines CEO Joshua Dominic, who said the sleeping cars “are designed for relaxation and incorporate circadian design principles supporting a good night’s sleep.”
Said Julia de Bono, CEO of Designworks, “With everything powered by your phone, from tickets to climate, lighting and music, passengers can enjoy effortless control without leaving their bed. Ambient lighting and thoughtful design ensure that the time spent in transit becomes restful, turning passive hours into an investment in active performance and vitality.”
Dreamstar said last year that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Union Pacific “formalizing the parties’ negotiations toward a comprehensive final agreement,” with a goal of beginning operations in 2025 [see “Plans for private San Francisco-Los Angeles overnight …,” Trains News Wire, March 25, 2024]. Dominic said then the company intended to remanufacture existing bilevel cars for the service.
Looks fancy and fun. But where do they plan to get the Bilevel cars? The only available ones I can think of off the top of my head are the Caltrain ones, but 90 of those just got sold to Peru. I’m not sure if that constitutes the whole former fleet or not. Motive power may not be as hard, with all the Chargers showing up I supsect Amtrak may start selling some more of their Genesis engines.
I’ve heard rumblings the bi-levels are going to be former Santa Fe Hi-Levels, of which there are a fair amount on the market.
Anyone else remember the American European Express?
Does this require Amtrak’s approval or is it exempt because it’s intrastate?
Bringing back SP’s Lark. Given the route, wouldn’t a revived Daylight be a good idea, too?