New Carriages For Rocky Mountaineer Delivered

In May 2015 Stadler had been awarded a contract from RM for ten new GoldLeaf 3.0 double deck dome cars. These are the first new carriages to be acquired by RM since 2007 when the last of the present fleet of Ultra dome cars was delivered, and are the largest investment in RM existence. 

The 1,435 mm gauge carriages are four-axle vehicles, 27,127 mm long over couplings, 3,050 mm wide and 5,520 mm high  above rail top. They can be operated in a temperature range of -25 to +50 °C. They have a maximum speed of 177 km/h (110 mph) and feature steel bodyshell. The bogies with a secondary air suspension have a wheelbase of 2,600 mm, the wheels have a diameter of 920 mm when new. 

Entry height is 1,300 mm above rail top. Floor height above rail top on the upper deck is 3,390 mm, on the lower deck, 1,200 mm. Ceiling height above rail top on the upper deck is 5,370 mm, on the lower deck, 3,220 mm. The upper deck is 2,850 mm wide, the lower deck 2,870 mm. The cars feature only one entrance on one end of the car, which is fitted with an open viewing platform. The inter-car gangways are situated on the lower deck. Each compartment on the upper deck has two emergency exit / rescue access windows on each sidewall, the compartment on the lower deck has one such window on each sidewall.

The air conditioned cars have 72 comfortable seats on the upper deck, electrically adjustable and heated. There are large panoramic windows, which can be dimmed electrically to moderate intensity of incoming sunlight. On the lower deck is an on-board restaurant with 36 seats, with a kitchen, while on the upper deck is a service bar.  The galleys feature upgraded ovens and stovetops, electrical grills, eco-friendly dishwashers, and optimal preparation spaces for meal preparation. There is also a passenger elevator between both decks to enable all passengers - also those with reduced mobility - to have the possibility to travel on the upper deck and enjoy the impressive views. Each car includes two toilets, one of which is suitable for the disabled passengers, and a diesel genset located under the floor in the lower deck to provide autonomous energy supply. The fuel tank has a volume of 550 litres (145 US gallons), the diesel engine has a 150 kW power.

The carriages will not only be more comfortable than the existing dome cars, but will also offer greater operating economy. Their construction took place at the Stadler Reinickendorf works (a Stadler Pankow subsidiary), with deliveries starting in April 2018 and running until November 2019. They are designated RMRX 9541 to 9550.

On 15 April 2019 Rocky Mountaineer announced that seven new cars will be offered on its Western Canadian routes for the 2019 season, adding four cars to its fleet in April, with three additional cars coming later in the season. On 12 December 2019 RM accepted delivery of its tenth new-built car, bringing the company’s total to 26 bi-level GoldLeaf and 16 single-level SilverLeaf cars, in time for its 30th anniversary in 2020.

The GoldLeaf 3.0 double deck dome cars are authorised for use in Canada and the United States and can be coupled with the vehicles in the existing RM fleet. They are located at Kamloops and are destined to the trains traveling on two of Rocky Mountaineer’s routes: First Passage to the West, a two-day rail journey between Vancouver and Lake Louise or Banff; and Journey through the Clouds, a two-day rail journey between Vancouver and Jasper.

However, on 30 March 2020 Rocky Mountaineer announced it will extend the delay of its 2020 travel season and suspend all train departures until 1 July. The season was scheduled to start on 13 April.

The RM Fleet

Rocky Mountaineer has a workforce of over 500. It is the busiest privately owned luxury rail service operator in North America, and between 1990 and 2019 carried more than 2 million passengers. Between April and October RM offers a selection of package tours ranging in length from two days to several weeks with overnight accommodation in hotels en route. Clients also have options of combining more than one tour. The longest rail journey covers almost 1,000 km, taking two days. Since RM trains operate over scenic rail routes, in the Rockies, they run only during daylight hours, so that passengers can enjoy the spectacular scenery. 

The company’s rolling stock and locomotives are maintained by between 35 and 40 RM maintenance and provisioning staff at Kamloops depot, situated about 400 km northeast of Vancouver. During the off-season, the cars are stored at Kamloops and serviced to eliminate any deficiencies and to realise any necessary repairs.

Depending on demand, RM trains are formed of two diesel locomotives, hauling a Series 9200/9400 generator car, and between six and 12 carriages. The locomotive fleet consists of five Class GP40-2L machines (8011 to 8015) built by Diesel Division of General Motors of Canada (GMDD) in 1975 - 76 and originally used by CN (Canadian National). These were refurbished by Alstom in 2001 before being put into service by RM. There are also four EMD-built Class GP40 machines (8016 to 8019), built in 1968 for Penn Central and further rebuilt as Class GP40-2 by NREX (National Railway Equipment) of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. All nine diesels are owned by RM. They are all Bo’Bo’ machines, rated at 2,240 kW, and have a top service speed of around 105 km/h (65 mph). They are 18 m long, and weigh around 113 t in working order.

Two types of passenger accommodation are offered, GoldLeaf Service and SilverLeaf Service, the main differences between them being the carriages used and level of on-board services provided. Except new Stadler-built cars the GoldLeaf accommodation is provided in 16 double deck four-axle Ultra dome carriages, built by Colorado Railcar (now US Railcar) of Columbus, Ohio between 1995 and 2007, numbered 9501 to 9509, 9511, 9521, 9523, 9525, 9527, 9529 and 9531.

The upper decks have wrap-around windows offering passengers an unrestricted view of the mountainous scenery, and armchairs in 2 + 2 rows. The lower decks are fitted out as restaurants, offering gastronomic breakfasts and à la carte lunches. The carriages are 27.1 m long over couplings, 3.05 m wide, 5.3 m high above rail top and weigh 82 t tare, and have seats for 70, 72 or 74 passengers. 

The GoldLeaf stock was put through a refurbishment programme. This involved the fitting of new seat units on the upper decks, supplied by BORCAD CZ. One GoldLeaf carriage was fitted in April 2014 with a batch of these seats, to be evaluated by passengers during the 2014 operating season. Batch refurbishment started in 2015, being realised by Canarail of Montréal. By early June 2016 five carriages had been refurbished and returned to service. The contract was completed in 2018, the work was realised during the winter to avoid stock shortages.

SilverLeaf accommodation was originally provided in six single deck carriages with large flat side windows and curved windows at cantrail level, to offer the widest possible view of the scenery. These four-axle vehicles are numbered 2001 to 2006. They are each fitted with 56 seats, in 2 + 2 rows and the passengers are served plated meals at their own seats. These carriages are 25.9 m long over couplings, 3.05 m wide, and 4.27 m high above rail top. They weigh 60 t tare.

SilverLeaf stock is in fact upgraded stock from RM’s fleet of 32 RedLeaf carriages, consisting of Series 3200 and 5700 vehicles, built by Canadian Car and Foundry (CC&F) of Montréal in 1954 - 55. Two of them were refurbished in 2006 by Industrial Rail Services of Moncton, New Brunswick, followed by another four, which were refurbished between 2012 and 2014 by Avalon Rail of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which specialises in the rebuilding, restoration and preservation of vehicles. The RedLeaf accommodation brand was withdrawn in 2015. 

In April 2014 RM awarded Alstom a contract to modernise four more CC&F carriages to SilverLeaf standard. The work was realised at Alstom’s Mare Island factory in California. It involved stripping the vehicles down to the main frame and bogies, and building completely new bodyshells, with testing and commissioning of the rebuilt carriages. 

One major challenge was the quality of the original documentation and specifications, since the vehicles are now over 60 years of age. While stripping down the carriages, every component and procedure involved had to be re-corded, so that the end result following rebuilding was both reliable and acceptable to RM. At cantrail level the new, curved panoramic windows were fitted. The bodyshell sides were extended down below the level of the underframe, and here new skirting panels were installed, these being of a hinged design to allow access to and maintenance of equipment installed beneath the underframe.

These carriages, having had their lifespans extended, now offer even higher standards of luxury for clients. The interior fittings are also completely new, with new kitchen facilities, WC cubicles, LED lighting, HVAC, and appliances such as refrigerators, cabinets, coffee makers, microwaves oven and dishwashers. The seat units are designed so that they can be rotated to face the direction of travel. 

It is reckoned that the rebuilds will extend the lifespan of the carriages by at least another ten years. The cost involved is around 60 % of that of completely new rolling stock. 
Early in 2016 RM extended the contract to six carriages, instead of the original four. The third of the rebuilt batch was returned to RM on 18 March 2016, and the contract was completed by 2018. The original six SilverLeaf carriages are numbered 2001 to 2006, so Alstom’s rebuilt RedLeaf stock is numbered 2007 to 2012. RM will retain the remaining RedLeaf carriages, with plans to make some into new staff cars, and to save others for further refurbishment.

A complete caption for photo 1: The first GoldLeaf 3.0 double deck car, RMRX 9541, being transported from Stadler Reinickendorf works on 20 April 2018. Given the size and weight of these cars (approximately 80 tonnes), this was not a simple matter to transport them through Berlin, as it required considerable preparations and a number of additional transport measures compared to the rail vehicles normally transported in this way. With a height of 5,520 mm high above rail top, the Rocky Mountaineer cars are so far the highest vehicle ever produced by Stadler; even the 1,520 mm gauge KISS EMUs for Aeroexpress are lower, with a height of "only" 5,240 mm (however, they 3,400 mm wide).

A complete caption for photo 2: The rear of an RM train heading from Vancouver to Banff near Sicamous, British Colombia. Between the Ultra dome GoldLeaf carriages are two of the old CC&F carriages and one SilverLeaf carriage which has been modernised by Industrial Rail Services. In 2015 RM started incorporating recently refurbished carriages in its trains, and now all services are formed of new or refurbished GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf stock, both with panoramic windows.

A complete caption for photo 3: Borcad was in 2014 awarded a contract by Rocky Mountaineer for a batch of luxurious seats to be installed in its 16 initial GoldLeaf class carriages. The new seat units were fitted in the upper decks. This was a notable contract, being the first within the railway industry for the Czech manufacturer in North America and Canada. The choice by Rocky Mountaineer was based on references and the design of other Borcad products. Following almost 18 months of negotiations, the development of the prototype seat unit took 12 months. One GoldLeaf carriage was fitted in April 2014 with a batch of these seats, to be evaluated by passengers during the 2014 summer operating season. Seats for the remaining GoldLeaf carriages were then delivered by 2018. The seat units have electrically powered adjustable bases, backs, lumbar support and footrests. The upholstery is also heated. The seat units can be rotated through 180° to face the direction of travel. Their design is also compliant with the APTA passive safety standards for operation in the USA (between Seattle and Vancouver), and has been verified during actual crash testing. The photo shows the upper deck of the GoldLeaf class carriage fitted with the new Borcad seats.