Regional New England Rail (Amtrak & State DOT & NEC)

Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

As long as it isn't tilting more than it needs to it shouldn't even be all that noticeable it is tilting while you are riding in the train because centrifugal force will be pulling you towards the floor of the train the tilt is to offset that force to make the ride comfortable.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Thanks.

The present Acela trains look like they are beginning to show their age now. One thing that I DID notice is that these new train will not have the now familiar & distinctive Viewliner shape. Unless more refinements are coming.

Will it still feature 2 power cars & six passenger cars? I love that Amtrak has brought back the old flavor of the red, white, gray & blue paint scheme!! :cool:
 
Last edited:
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

stellarfun,

A bit more info from RailwayAge,

Alstom lands Amtrak next-gen NEC trainset contract

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php...ec-trainset-contract.html?channel=&Itemid=345

Alstom describes the Avelia Liberty as the latest development in its high-speed trainset portfoilio. “The new trainset will be able to carry up to 33% more passengers than the current Acela Expresstrains,” Alstom said. “Its configuration includes an innovative compact power car and nine passenger cars, with the possibility of three more being added if demand grows. The train is capable of travelling at speeds up to 300 kph (186 mph), but will initially operate at a maximum speed of 257 kph (160 mph) based on NEC track speed limits. Additionally, each concentrated power car is equipped with Alstom’s pioneering Crash Energy Management (CEM) system. Another key feature is the trainset’s articulated architecture, which provides greater stability and passenger comfort while enhancing safety. The Avelia Liberty also includes Alstom’s innovative Tiltronix anticipative tilting technology, which allows it to negotiate curves safely and more comfortably at high speeds.”

A puppy-faced, beautiful train.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

So is the 33% capacity increase in the 9 car base set or if you expand that set out to 12?
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

I understand the paragraph to state that the new train sets, with of a configuration of nine passenger cars, results in a 33% increase of passengers over the current train sets. Three more cars, equaling twelve, can be added for additional passengers beyond the 33% increase. I don't think I've seen an existing Acela train with nine passenger cars on the Northeast Corridor, but, I might be mistaken.


August 30
Article from USA TODAY covers stick n move's post and a little bit more:

Amtrak unveils new Acela trains
(Avelia Liberty trains)

http://usat.ly/2caDbbg
 
Last edited:
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

EdMc said:
I understand the paragraph to state that the new train sets, with of a configuration of nine passenger cars, results in a 33% increase of passengers over the current train sets. Three more cars, equaling twelve, can be added for additional passengers beyond the 33% increase. I don't think I've seen an existing Acela train with nine passenger cars on the Northeast Corridor, but, I might be mistaken.


August 30
Article from USA TODAY covers stick n move's post and a little bit more:

Amtrak unveils new Acela trains
(Avelia Liberty trains)

http://usat.ly/2caDbbg
Click to expand...

Acela's power cars are on-paper rated for 9, but that probably isn't real-world doable with how temparamental they are. There was a proposal in 2010 to send the Acelas through midlife overhaul, manufacture a new order of passenger cars to expand the existing sets to 8 car, and repurpose the displaced HHP-8 conventional locomotives into 6-car rated Acela power cars to create several more trainsets. But price tag and maint requirements for making Frankensteins out of Frankensteins was so ghastly they scrapped the idea instantaneously and immediately started from scratch.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

F-Line to Dudley said:
Acela's power cars are on-paper rated for 9, but that probably isn't real-world doable with how temparamental they are. There was a proposal in 2010 to send the Acelas through midlife overhaul, manufacture a new order of passenger cars to expand the existing sets to 8 car, and repurpose the displaced HHP-8 conventional locomotives into 6-car rated Acela power cars to create several more trainsets. But price tag and maint requirements for making Frankensteins out of Frankensteins was so ghastly they scrapped the idea instantaneously and immediately started from scratch.
Click to expand...


Frankensteins out of Frankensteins. Hah! I like that. Yeah, that would've caused them to have created a money pit.

In the vid, it shows that some or all of the passenger cars will share the same bogie on the ends. :cool:
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Jahvon09 said:
Frankensteins out of Frankensteins. Hah! I like that. Yeah, that would've caused them to have created a money pit.

In the vid, it shows that some or all of the passenger cars will share the same bogie on the ends. :cool:
Click to expand...

These are swappable, though. Not like a regular car that can detach/attach at-will...they're still hard-coupled. But they can do it with tools in the yard during downtime that lasts couple hours, not half a week. Will help equipment uptime enormously, since 1 car down for maintenance no longer needs to knock the whole trainset out-of-service.


Rumors are they're keeping 1 full Acela consist post-retirement to use as a high-speed track geometry and test train, since none of the regular work fleet can do their thing at any higher than 125 MPH. One (probably shortened by a couple cars) will certainly be going to a rail museum somewhere as an exhibit for America's first-ever HSR fleet, and the rest will just be razorblade fodder back at the Bombardier factory. Probably with the staff at Wilmington shops giving a standing ovation at being cured of their PTSD when the blowtorch first starts cutting them up.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

F-Line to Dudley said:
These are swappable, though. Not like a regular car that can detach/attach at-will...they're still hard-coupled. But they can do it with tools in the yard during downtime that lasts couple hours, not half a week. Will help equipment uptime enormously, since 1 car down for maintenance no longer needs to knock the whole trainset out-of-service.


Rumors are they're keeping 1 full Acela consist post-retirement to use as a high-speed track geometry and test train, since none of the regular work fleet can do their thing at any higher than 125 MPH. One (probably shortened by a couple cars) will certainly be going to a rail museum somewhere as an exhibit for America's first-ever HSR fleet, and the rest will just be razorblade fodder back at the Bombardier factory. Probably with the staff at Wilmington shops giving a standing ovation at being cured of their PTSD when the blowtorch first starts cutting them up.
Click to expand...


Some of the dough is supposed to be used for track work and station modernizations. Penn Station in New York and a few others were mentioned, as well as Union Station in DC.

Do you know what type of track work was mentioned & the extent of it? Guess that they are still not going with that multi-billion dollar plan that once neccesitated a whole new separate set of tracks in their own new corridor.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Jahvon09 said:
Frankensteins out of Frankensteins. Hah! I like that. Yeah, that would've caused them to have created a money pit.

In the vid, it shows that some or all of the passenger cars will share the same bogie on the ends. :cool:
Click to expand...

That would be "Fronkensteen" of course In honor of the recently Late great Gene Wilder
Igor: Dr. Frankenstein...
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: "Fronkensteen."
Igor: You're putting me on.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, it's pronounced "Fronkensteen."
Igor: Do you also say "Froaderick"?
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No... "Frederick."
Igor: Well, why isn't it "Froaderick Fronkensteen"?
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: It isn't; it's "Frederick Fronkensteen."
Igor: I see.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: You must be Igor.
[He pronounces it ee-gor]
Igor: No, it's pronounced "eye-gor."
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: But they told me it was "ee-gor."
Igor: Well, they were wrong then, weren't they?
Click to expand...
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Also, I wonder if some of the platforms at the stations will be lengthened to accommodate
the new longer Acela II train sets.

Since the radically new train sets have this new versatility which is not feasible with the existing Acela trains. I think also, that they also might want to include seat belts in the new trains, since they appear to tilt a little further on curved sections of the tracks than the existing ones, & that they can reach tops speeds of 186mph. But this speed may never be used. Just saying. :cool:
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Jahvon09 said:
Also, I wonder if some of the platforms at the stations will be lengthened to accommodate
the new longer Acela II train sets.

Since the radically new train sets have this new versatility which is not feasible with the existing Acela trains. I think also, that they also might want to include seat belts in the new trains, since they appear to tilt a little further on curved sections of the tracks than the existing ones, & that they can reach tops speeds of 186mph. But this speed may never be used. Just saying. :cool:
Click to expand...

You don't feel the tilt, the centrifugal force from the train moving around the curve pushes you in the direction of the tilted floor.

You don't need seatbelts on high-speed rail, very smooth ride. (Were it not smooth you could not go fast!) I have been on numerous trains much faster in France and Japan. No seat belts needed.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

I think that the smoothness comes from the concrete ties and the fact that the tracks are welded together, instead of being bolted together.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Jahvon09 said:
I think that the smoothness comes from the concrete ties and the fact that the tracks are welded together, instead of being bolted together.
Click to expand...

And near constant track maintenance and alignment work. They really stay on top of the rail quality and alignment.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Otherwise, there would be complaints from loyal customers who have become so accustomed to riding the trains very frequently.

After all, Amtrak wants to stay competitive with shuttle airlines that offer service to New York City & Washington, DC.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Jahvon09 said:
Otherwise, there would be complaints from loyal customers who have become so accustomed to riding the trains very frequently.

After all, Amtrak wants to stay competitive with shuttle airlines that offer service to New York City & Washington, DC.
Click to expand...

Or, in the actual high-speedish areas, there are accidents killing people due to neglect in maintenance, which has the potential to really lose loyal customers.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

bakgwailo said:
Or, in the actual high-speedish areas, there are accidents killing people due to neglect in maintenance, which has the potential to really lose loyal customers.
Click to expand...


One such accident is the deadly one that occurred on May 12, 2015 just north of Philly.

But that was said to be caused by something unrelated to maintenance. It still has yet to be determined what had actually caused it.

Speed was involved though. Nine people were killed as a result of it.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

Jahvon09 said:
One such accident is the deadly one that occurred on May 12, 2015 just north of Philly.

But that was said to be caused by something unrelated to maintenance. It still has yet to be determined what had actually caused it.

Speed was involved though. Nine people were killed as a result of it.
Click to expand...

The NTSB in May said it was caused by 'loss of situational awareness' by the operator, who thought he was in a different curve. The operator was going 102mph in a 50mph zone. It was also the regional, not the Acela. Maintenance was not a factor.
 
Re: Amtrak / Regional Rail Discussion Thread

JeffDowntown said:
And near constant track maintenance and alignment work. They really stay on top of the rail quality and alignment.
Click to expand...

They have to. Each FRA track class from Class 1 (max 10 MPH freight/15 MPH passenger) to Class 8 (160 MPH passenger max) has maintenance standards that must be met. A number of things go into that, but it's mostly dependent on number of ties per X feet of tangent track (with stricter standard for curves of >Y degrees) that are allowed to go bad before a speed restriction has to be slapped on a segment of track. Since individual ties expire at random times that can deviate significantly from the average rated lifespan of a tie (wood splitting, concrete corrosion, water or freeze/thaw taking its toll on one tie when the tie 5 ties over stays dry, and other such naturally-occurring randomness), that means the inspections and replacement have to meet ever-stricter standards with each additional track class. You can't have a Class 8 rating without pretty immaculate and frequent track maintenance of the ties and other line structures.


That's why you don't generally see anything greater than Class 4 (60 MPH freight/80 MPH passenger) on commuter rail lines because the default stop spacing doesn't allow local trains on higher track class to accelerate fast enough between stops to hit >80 MPH long enough before needing to slow up for the next stop. So the bang-for-buck for going to Class 5 (80 MPH freight/90 MPH passenger) just isn't there for how little time on the clock the daily slate of schedules would actually top 80. The money spent on track maint starts outstripping the money made on farebox recovery from running faster, so every freight and passenger RR has to pick its battles on "sweet spot". Generally you don't see Class 5 except on CR lines where a whole lotta express service patterns overlap the locals...like the New Haven Line or Hudson Line. Here...maybe future Worcester Line and inside-Wilmington Lowell Line when the express vs. local vs. Amtrak service layering gets nice and thick. Class 6 (110 MPH) or higher is almost entirely the realm of Amtrak corridor service because even express-spaced CR stops are on-average closer than intercity stops. And definitely Class 7 (125 MPH) is the stuff of electrified Northeast Regional- and Keystone-type services, with Class 8 and Class 9 (220 MPH) being the stuff of pure HSR.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top