STOCKTON, Calif. — The operating agency for Amtrak’s San Joaquins and the California Department of Transportation officially launched San Joaquins service using Siemens Venture equipment on Tuesday, March 5, with ceremonies featuring Caltrans director Tony Taveres, state Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin, and other officials.
The first Venture cars debuted in San Joaquins service without fanfare in late December, after a long and never-fully-explained delay [see “Top 10 stories of 2023, No. 4: Amtrak’s ongoing capacity issues,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 28, 2023]. The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and Caltrans now say in a press release that was part of “a 30-day failure free test period,” and that the cars “performed as expected and will now be introduced as part of overall inventory running the San Joaquins revenue service.”
Caltrans’ 49-car order placed in 2019 was part of the same agreement that included Amtrak Midwest cars in use on state-supported lines based in Chicago.
“These new Venture Rail Cars move us forward into the next era of rider experience, comfort, and reliability,” said Pat Hume, chair of the joint powers authority. “We are also pleased to have sourced these cars from Siemens, which manufactured them in Sacramento, one of our corridor cities. Local manufacturing not only contributes to the character of our service, but also to the local economy.” Michael Cahill, president of rolling stock for Siemens Mobility North America, said, “These trains were designed with Californians in mind, and they set a new standard for passenger travel with end-to-end accessibility. They are truly best in class.”
The San Joaquin website now features an extensive introduction to the new cars, including a 360-degree virtual tour, and lists new features such as overhead information signage, dual power outlets with USB connection, next-generation WiFi, and increased luggage storage. Not mentioned is that the café cars featured on older equipment will be eventually replaced by vending machine food-service cars in the Venture trainsets [see “California, Siemens say first Venture cars are ready …,” News Wire, Oct. 5, 2022]. The vending-machine cars are currently not ready, so the new trains offer no food service of any type.
— Updated March 7 at 7:35 a.m. CT to clarify that vending-machine cars are not yet in service.
My thoughts exactly Mr. Rice much better choice than vending food. Food svc could be eliminated from NEC trains too plenty of opportunities in urban stops for people to pick up snacks before they board for the typical short commutes of those riders.
Mr. Riley–As a 50-year rider of the NEC, going back to college days to recent years on trips east from the west coast, I can say that it was a very rare trip indeed when I did not buy something from the cafe, at least a cup of coffee and usually something to eat to cover a mealtime. As a passenger, you’re schlepping luggage and watching the clock for your departure. Being able to settle on the train and then purchase food and drink is a darned attractive amenity. My trips ranged from two hours to six, pretty typical of the ridership I’d say, and not a “commute.”
from things I read several months ago, the big reason for the delay (beyond fixing some problems with the cars–modifications the Brightline cars did not have) was that the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority wanted to use Hetzog Rail Services to maintain the new Venture cars. Amtrak was not happy about that, they want to keep getting paid to maintain the cars. SJJPA’s complaint is that Amtrak seems to think they own the cars and SJJPA has clearly said no, WE own the cars, We own the locomotives. SJJPA likes Hertzog because they can negotiate literally every dime of cost while Amtrak charges huge sums of money as a lump sum and will not discuss costs claiming it’s “proprietary information”. In my opinion, the only thing that holds back SJJPA from firing Amtrak is the matter of ticketing, they would have to do their own ticketing (maybe use some system like Brightline’s). Also that Amtrak, out of spite, would probably not allow any interchanging.
Wait… wait… the Amtrak Siemens cars were going to be just like Brightline! Tell me these comments are not true!
Sounds like an opportunity for some Cali style food vendors or food trucks to be ready at the stations for some carry on food and drink.
I just rode the San Joaquin and the new cars are terrible…the seats don’t recline, no Cafe car, no upper or lower seating just one level and it was a bag of Chezzits and small water. 5+hours with nothing to eat, uncomfortable seats and terrible if you have luggage and didn’t see vending machines but would definitely be a downgrade.
You didn’t see the vending machines because those cars are not yet ready and available for service. Also, without knowing the types of vending machines and the provider it is possible that it will be an upgrade, if they have cold and hot vending machines as vending machines can hold a wider variety of options. Plus I’m sure they’ve done studies and most people don’t buy food on the San Juaquins but bring their own onboard if they are taking that long of a journey.
Sorry, vending machines instead of a cafe are a downgrade.
While vending machines are a downgrade, the current trains offer NO food options at all — I understand the crew pass out bottles of water and a bag od something but there’s no choice.