Editing Cardinal (train) (section)

== Train consist ==
In the early 1990s, the ''Cardinal'' ran with the usual Amtrak long-distance consist of two [[EMD F40PH]]s or one [[GE E60]], plus several material handling cars (MHC) and baggage cars, followed by several [[Amfleet]] coaches, an Amfleet lounge, a Heritage diner, two or three Heritage 10-6 sleepers, a slumbercoach, and finally, a baggage dormitory car. Following the delivery of the [[Superliner (railcar)|Superliner]] II fleet, however, the ''Cardinal'' was re-equipped with Superliner cars in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trainweb.org/varail/amtrak.html |title=Central Virginia Railfan Page--Amtrak Service |publisher=TrainWeb |access-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref> As a result, its route was truncated to end in Washington D.C., as Superliners cannot operate on the Northeast Corridor due to low tunnel clearances in Baltimore and New York City. With the Superliner equipment, the consist would usually be two Superliner sleeping cars, a diner, a [[Sightseer Lounge]], a baggage coach, and a coach.

In 2002, two derailments on other routes took numerous Superliner cars out of service. Because of this, insufficient Superliner equipment was available for use on the ''Cardinal''. The ''Cardinal'' was re-equipped with a consist of single-level long-distance cars, including dining, lounge, sleeping, and dormitory cars, although service to New York was not restored until 2004. Subsequent fleet shortages shortened the ''Cardinal'' further, and at one point, the train was running with two or three Amfleet II coaches and a combined diner-lounge car. While the sleeping car was later restored, the ''Cardinal'' has not had a dormitory car or a diner since. Similarly, though the [[baggage car]] was also removed, it was restored in response to an upturn in patronage in mid-2010. In 2016, Amtrak added business class service to the ''Cardinal''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/life/amtrak-launches-business-class-service-for-cardinal-passengers/article_55718c4b-27e3-535b-9b6d-5b6f595671ad.html |title=Amtrak Launches Business Class Service for Cardinal Passengers |last=Steelhammer |first=Rick |newspaper=Charleston Gazette-Mail |date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> The ''Cardinal'' seasonally included a dome car prior to the car's retirement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrak.com/fall-travel-on-the-great-dome-car |title=Fall Travel Made Brilliant on the Great Dome Car |publisher=Amtrak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111224454/http://www.amtrak.com/fall-travel-on-the-great-dome-car |archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/02-analysis-amtrak-surrenders-valuable-tool-with-retirement-of-last-dome-car/ |title=Analysis: Amtrak surrenders valuable tool with retirement of last dome car |newspaper=Trains Newswire |first=Angela |last=Cotey |orig-date=September 3, 2019 |date=November 3, 2020 |access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

Amtrak began replacing the older P40DC and P42DC locomotives with [[Siemens ALC-42]] locomotives in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ngec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1115B-1140D-NGEC-2024-Amtrak-Acquisition-Final-012624.pdf |title=Amtrak New Fleet Acquisition Updates |publisher=Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee |date=February 2024 |first1=Joe Sr. |last1=Paul |first2=Michael |last2=Welsh |first3=Michael |last3=Kraft |page=7 |access-date=February 15, 2024 |archive-date=April 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402054110/https://ngec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1115B-1140D-NGEC-2024-Amtrak-Acquisition-Final-012624.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

{{As of|March 2025}}, the ''Cardinal's'' typical consist includes:<ref name=march2025>{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2025 |title=Texas Eagle lounge car set to return; other long-distance trains to gain capacity |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/texas-eagle-lounge-car-set-to-return-other-long-distance-trains-to-gain-capacity/ |access-date=March 4, 2025 |newspaper=Trains News Wire}}</ref>

* P42DC or ALC-42 locomotive (1 ACS-64 electric locomotive used north of Washington DC)
* 3 Amfleet II coaches
* Amfleet II café/lounge car
* Viewliner II sleeping car
* Viewliner II baggage/dorm car