RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Harold Weisinger

Mechanical Engineer 

Motive Power & Equipment 

Division

April 2014

Harold Weisinger

Mechanical Engineer 

Motive Power & Equipment 

Division

April 2014
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Objective

 Provide an overview of passenger cars in the 

United States;

 Characteristics of Intercity and Commuter 

equipment;

 Influences upon interior design.

 Q&A
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Commuter Equipment

Commuter cars are 

configured for greater 

capacity than intercity or 

long distance trains. 

Commuting times are 

hopefully less than 1 or 2 

hours. Commuter trains 

generally accelerate and 

decelerate quicker than 

long distance trains to 

accommodate more stops 

along the route.

Doors are configured for 

quicker loading and unloading 

of passengers.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The single - level commuter car with high and low-level boarding

This type of car 

arrangement is used on 

the Northeast Corridor 

due to the tighter 

clearances. The 

entrance can be from 

one or multiple doors 

per side from a high or 

low - level platform. The 

car height is 12’6” and 

can seat up to 117 

passengers with 2x3 

seating.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The single - level commuter car with high-level boarding

This type of car arrangement 

is used on the commuter 

lines that only use high –

level platforms. Commuter 

agencies must have a 

system safety plan to 

address the evacuation of 

trains in non - platform areas.

Metro North, Long Island RR 

and Denver RTD use this 

configuration.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The multi - level commuter car with high-level boarding

Stations have limited platform length available for trains. Single 

level car capacity requires a greater train length than may be 

available. The multi - level car allows greater capacity with less 

train length and also economy of operation with less equipment. 
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The Bi - level commuter car with low-level boarding

This type of car has been 

in service since the late 

1950’s. It is often referred 

to as a “Gallery” car.

The entrance can be from 

one or multiple doors per 

side from a low - level 

platform. Height is 16’2” 

and seating capacity can 

be up to 182 passengers 

with 2x2 seating on the 

lower level and 1x2 

seating on the upper level
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The multi - level commuter car with high and low-level boarding

This is a NJ Transit multi- level car with high and low – level 

boarding. Four side doors for quick loading / un-loading. This 

car is designed for the tight clearances of the Northeast 

Corridor. The 2x2 seating on all levels allow for more seating 

than a single level car.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Intercity and Long Distance Trains

Intercity and Long Distance trains can operate from a 

few hours between cities to 2 or 3 days between 

different regions of the country. The cars are configured 

for seating comfort, food service, baggage storage and 

sleeping accommodations. Seating in the revenue cars 

is typically 2x2.
RAIL 101

Passenger Train Set

Amtrak Intercity-L/D Single Level Car – high and low-level boarding

Amfleet II’s and Viewliners operate on overnight trains 

entering stations (i.e. BOS, NYP, PHL, WUS) with 

restrictive clearances. Amtrak operates Amfleet II 

coaches and café cars with Viewliner sleeping cars 

and Heritage baggage and dining cars.
RAIL 101

Passenger Train Set

Amtrak Intercity-L/D Single Level Car – high and low-level boarding

Amfleet I and Horizon coaches and café cars operate 

on intercity “day” trains typically in a corridor service 

such as North East Corridor (NEC) or hub service out 

of Chicago to DET, MKE, STL. The cars have higher 

seating capacity than overnight equipment.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Amtrak Intercity bi-level Superliner with low-level boarding

Superliners operate outside of the Northeast Corridor 

where there are greater clearances for height. Amtrak 

operates Superliner coaches, dining cars and sleeping 

cars. 
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Amtrak Intercity bi-level Superliner with low-level boarding

The transition sleeping car (at left) allows passage 

from a single level car into the upper level Superliner. 

Note that the passageways between the Superliners 

are at the upper level. 
RAIL 101

Passenger Train Set

Amtrak Acela 

Intercity - single level trainset with high-level boarding

America’s Hi-Speed train has an active tilt system that 

leans the train in curves to maintain passenger comfort 

at higher curve speeds on the NEC
RAIL 101

Passenger Train Set

Talgo Intercity single level trainset with low-level boarding

The Talgo trainset is articulated where each car is semipermanently attached and shares a truck. It has a 

passive “pendulum” tilt system. Talgo trainsets are 

operated by Amtrak in the Pacific Northwest “Cascades 

Corridor“ between Eugene, OR. and Vancouver, BC. 
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Clearances: How they affect shape and 

configuration of the railcar
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The loading gauge or 

clearance defines the 

maximum height and 

width for railway

vehicles and their 

loads to ensure safe 

passage through 

bridges, tunnels and 

other structures.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Railway clearances in the U.S. are established by

the Association of American Railroads

A comparison between vehicles of the same track gauge (56.5”) 

while having different exterior dimensions.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The shape of the car can be influenced by how fast the 

train will go through a curve, how far will it lean at speed. 
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Amtrak Intercity Single Level Car – high and low-level boarding

The shape of this cross 

section allows for more 

width at shoulder height. 

The shape also allows the 

car to lean in curves (the 

dynamic envelope) without 

intruding into the space 

occupied by an adjacent 

train.
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Amtrak’s Viewliner 

design takes advantage 

of clearance available 

above the high level 

platform constraints 

without exceeding the 

dynamic envelope of 

the vehicle.

Amtrak Intercity Single Level Car – high and low-level boarding
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

The cross section 

of Amtrak’s Acela 

allows the train to 

actively tilt in the 

curves for quicker 

schedules..

Amtrak Acela – Intercity Single Level Cars – high–level boarding
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Amtrak’s LDSL Baggage 

car interior photo illustrates 

the shape and space 

available within the finished 

car body. 

Amtrak Intercity Single Level Car – high and low-level boarding
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Ultimately, the interior 

shape is determined by 

the car structure which 

must meet federal 

crashworthiness 

standards as well as 

APTA industry standards.

Amtrak Intercity Single Level Car – high and low-level boarding
Rail 101

Passenger Operations

• High platforms in the Northeast have been standardized at 

48” ATR set 5’ 7” from center line of the track;

• Freight cars are 10’ 8” wide at more than 3’ 4” ATR;

• Not all passenger trains stop at all stations (commuter vs. 

intercity);

• FRA trying to standardize platforms outside the Northeast at 

15” ATR set 5’ 5” from center line;

• Multiple passenger car door threshold heights in US today;

• Periodic track surfacing/aligning changes relationship 

between platforms and car door thresholds;

• Vehicle height can change due to wheel and suspension 

wear. This can cause variations in loading height. Page 24
Rail 101

Passenger Operations

Page 25
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Summary

• Clearances;

• Speed of operation;

• Vehicle relationship to 

platform lengths and 

heights;

• Type of service;

• Type of space needed;

• Schedule time for loading 

and unloading;

• Loading capacity;

• Structural requirements;

• Accessibility Standards;

• Industry requirements;

• Federal Safety Standards

The interior design envelope of the passenger rail car, 

with many possible configurations, is a result of :
RAIL 101

The Passenger Car

Thank you for your time and attention