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> Double-decker cars are significantly more common in continental Europe. And west of Chicago in the US. Amtrak runs double-decker cars west of Chicago and in
by HankB99 3y ago
> Double-decker cars are significantly more common in continental Europe.
And west of Chicago in the US. Amtrak runs double-decker cars west of Chicago and in fact Chicago's passenger rail service (Metra) is mostly (all?) double-decker.
My understanding is that tunnel clearance in the east is not sufficient for the double-decker cars.
I also see containers stacked two high and auto carriers that appear to be similar height and these probably also don't travel east in the US for the same reason.
- bobthepanda 3y agoDouble deck cars do exist on the east but are configured differently. West of Chicago the floor is level with the door, east the double deck is achieved by having the lower floor halfway below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C3_(railcar) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C3_(railcar)
- throwaheyy 3y agoIt’s not the lower/upper deck that is at different heights, it is the station platforms and doors. West coast has track-level platforms so the doors are on the lower deck, east coast has high-level platforms so the doors are above the bogies at the ends of the cars. Caltrain’s Stadtler trains have both sets of doors, presumably for future standardization on high-level platforms.