3 December 2009

Amtrak Cascades Renovations - First Look

We are working with Amtrak to get ready to begin the next phase of renovations to the Amtrak Cascades train fleet.
 
First up is the complete renovation of the Bistro and Lounge cars, in addition to adding Wi-Fi (yay!) and upgrading the video system.
 
The renovation will begin shortly after the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. this March.
 
We have a concept drawing of the renovated Bistro car ready and want you all to take a look and let us know what you think!
 
Here is the current Bistro car:
 
 

Current Bistro car interior.
 
 
Here is the proposed redesign:
 
 

Artist's conception of proposed changes.
 
 
Leave us your comments and any suggestions you have on what improvements you would like to see on the Amtrak Cascades trains below:
 
DJStroky said...
 
Woohoo for Wifi, but will it be free or have a cost? For biz class it ought to be complimentary.
 
First impression of the Bistro car:  Is there nowhere to sit in the Bistro car? That seems kinda odd.
 
Bistro car suggestions:

• Absolutely have a self-serve place for water. Make sure it's design can also fill water bottles;
• Have some kind of handle or surface to lean on because it is quite often wobbly in the bistro car;
• Show more detail on the map above, better yet have a magnetic train that moves depending on the current location;
• Have some kind of screen to show real-time info on where the train is, maybe even have skynews or something like in airports;
• Have a payphone booth or common computer with wifi because quite often people want to make phone calls while on the train, but don't have their own phones;
• The display box with the VIA Rail ought to be replaced with something more functional.

Other suggestions:

• For special bike events like Seattle to Portland, offer additional bicycle storage;
• For bicyclists that won't be able to use Talgo trains while they are out of service, don't charge an additional fee or require a bike box;
• Design the garbage cans a little better because they fill up quickly and sometimes take some effort to shove trays from the bistro car into.