Adam H. Kerman wrote:
> Stephen Sprunk  wrote:
> >BBD bilevel cars (i.e. nearly all commuter trains outside the Rust Belt)
> >have a built-in, full-width step below the door at half the height
> >difference; no step boxes are required.  Why Amtrak LD trains don't have
> >such (which would remove the need for those step boxes--and a dozen or
> >so crew members per train) is mystifying.
>
> This was an innovation from streetcars. The reason folding stepwells are
> impractical is what you just wrote: Rust. You could have them in California.

IIRC, Amfleet cars have an automatic retractable bottom step.

Jimmy

--- SoupGate/W32 v1.03
 * Origin: LiveWire BBS -=*=- UseNet FTN Gateway (1:2320/1)