MARC to buy VRE cars

[Tristan]

Here's an interesting twist...VRE is selling its 13 Kawasakis to MARC:

MARC to Acquire 13 VRE Bilevel Cars

Source: Railway Age

Maryland MARC's Board of Directors was scheduled Wednesday to approve
the purchase of 13 bilevel cars from Virginia Railway Express for
about $22 million. Maryland Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Administrator Paul J. Wiedefeld said the VRE cars are similar to and
compatible with MARC's own existing 50-car bilevel fleet; both VRE and
MARC equipment was manufactured by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. The 13 VRE
cars entered service in 1999 and 2000.

The 13 purchased cars will ply MARC's Penn Line, part of Amtrak's
Northeast Corridor, linking Perryville, Md., Baltimore, and
Washington, D.C. The new cars also will give MARC more breathing room
for rehabilitation of its existing fleet. MTA is still in negotiations
with Amtrak about adding weekend runs on the Penn Line and with CSX
about adding midday trains to the Camden Line. Both Amtrak and CSX
have stated that capacity issues must be resolved.

[Tristan]

VRE to Sell Kawasaki Cars

Several months ago, VRE was approached by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), who operates MARC commuter rail, about a potential sale of VRE's 13 Kawasaki railcars.  After considerable analysis, negotiations, and consultation with the VRE Operations Board, local jurisdictions and the Federal Transit Administration, VRE has executed an agreement to sell the cars to MTA.   This is a good deal financially as VRE paid $23 million for the 13 Kawasaki cars in 1997 and MTA has agreed to pay VRE $22 million for the same cars.  An additional benefit to this sale is that it will permit us to standardize VRE's fleet.  A standardized fleet will reduce maintenance costs, streamline parts procurement and increase fleet flexibility.

VRE will be replacing the 13 Kawasaki cars with 10 new Sumitomo Gallery cars just like the ones being introduced into service now.  We will be removing the Kawasaki cars from service by Monday to prepare them for transfer to MTA.  While we know that some of you will be disappointed that we are selling these cars, the transaction was an excellent opportunity for VRE.

[79MetroExtraMD]

VRE to Sell Kawasaki Cars

Several months ago, VRE was approached by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), who operates MARC commuter rail, about a potential sale of VRE's 13 Kawasaki railcars.  After considerable analysis, negotiations, and consultation with the VRE Operations Board, local jurisdictions and the Federal Transit Administration, VRE has executed an agreement to sell the cars to MTA.   This is a good deal financially as VRE paid $23 million for the 13 Kawasaki cars in 1997 and MTA has agreed to pay VRE $22 million for the same cars.  An additional benefit to this sale is that it will permit us to standardize VRE's fleet.  A standardized fleet will reduce maintenance costs, streamline parts procurement and increase fleet flexibility.

VRE will be replacing the 13 Kawasaki cars with 10 new Sumitomo Gallery cars just like the ones being introduced into service now.  We will be removing the Kawasaki cars from service by Monday to prepare them for transfer to MTA.  While we know that some of you will be disappointed that we are selling these cars, the transaction was an excellent opportunity for VRE.

Hell, they were originally ours. We just sold them to VRE. Shouldn't be much to do with the cars. I think the controls and signalling equipment are the same. Just replace those "green" seats with the new MARC seats (which are so damn comfortable) and splatch on MARC decals and paint and renumber them. There might be some space in the 7800 series or maybe the 7900 series.

Who would miss em? VRE wants Gallerys anyway. I can't really stand Gallery cars especially the top level. It's a claustrophobic's nightmare and the stairwell is tight. Oh well, the Metra of the east.

Those 13 cars would definately do some good on the Penn Line. It's become a madhouse on the morning and afternoon trains. The morning express 513 gets crowded leaving Baltimore Penn Station all the way to BWI. On some days, you might get a seat, others, you're left standing wherever you find space. It's worse in the evenings. Trains 428, 530, and 534 always have the most loads of any train on the Penn Line. It's amazing how the conductors and crew can navigate through a sea of people. At many times, I found myself standing in the vestibule because the trains are at double capacity. Main problem I see is having a single level car for a Quiet car on a 8 car train. Hopefully, they'll make a full bi-level consist on these three trains to try to alleviate some of the capacity issues and put them singles on the Brunswick and Camden line. When are we getting new cars?

[Tristan]

I think it was more of a piggyback order than a sale...correct me if I'm wrong.

[79MetroExtraMD]

I think it was more of a piggyback order than a sale...correct me if I'm wrong.

I think you're right about that. I remember seeing that somewhere. My memory fades me, but yea, we need them. Why do we buy all 50 just to make things easier.

[mrpete]

It was a piggy back order as at the time VRE ridership was taking off and the single level cars were packed. Plus Amtrak charges VRE and MARC for platform space at Union and DD's you get more trains at the platform.

[79MetroExtraMD]

It was a piggy back order as at the time VRE ridership was taking off and the single level cars were packed. Plus Amtrak charges VRE and MARC for platform space at Union and DD's you get more trains at the platform.

Account for the already crowded upper section of the station around the Gate A area. I wonder what MTA is proposing to do as for addressing the Union Station storage issue. We don't get a special location to store our trains during the day (I won't say who).