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Amtrak and CHSRA team up for new high speed trains


DJ MC

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Amtrak and the California High Speed Rail Authority are joining forces this coming week to begin the process of ordering up to 62 sets of high-speed trains for use in both the NEC and in the Golden State. Thirty-two of the train sets would be earmarked for the NEC, for use at speeds up to 160 mph, and the others for California. As of now, the plan is to announce on January 17.
 
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The problem is with the Acela is that it will never be a true "high speed train" until it has it's own dedicated line. There are very few places where it can run at it's full speed. The average speed between New York and Boston, a distance of 225 miles is 63mph including stops. The train only reaches speeds of 150mph for two stretches totaling 28 miles between Boston and New York.

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The problem is with the Acela is that it will never be a true "high speed train" until it has it's own dedicated line. There are very few places where it can run at it's full speed. The average speed between New York and Boston, a distance of 225 miles is 63mph including stops. The train only reaches speeds of 150mph for two stretches totaling 28 miles between Boston and New York.

 

The problem is with the Acela is that it will never be a true "high speed train" until it has it's own dedicated line. There are very few places where it can run at it's full speed. The average speed between New York and Boston, a distance of 225 miles is 63mph including stops. The train only reaches speeds of 150mph for two stretches totaling 28 miles between Boston and New York.

Its a start.

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The problem is with the Acela is that it will never be a true "high speed train" until it has it's own dedicated line. There are very few places where it can run at it's full speed. The average speed between New York and Boston, a distance of 225 miles is 63mph including stops. The train only reaches speeds of 150mph for two stretches totaling 28 miles between Boston and New York.

 

At least we are getting somewhere. If Amtrak is able to successfully piggyback this order this it will be very interesting to see how far they will go with it. 32 HSR sets could be ordered. Also if California specs the HSR sets at 220mph this could save Amtrak from having to order new equipment years down the road should the plans for the NEC start to take place. The plans for the NEC as everyone should remember does call for 220mph operation.

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My point is. Will the new trains run on existing tracks? If so then they will not be able to be used to their maximum potential.

A separate high speed track must be built and trains must have in cab signalling.

 

To answer your questions.

 

A. Yes they will run on existing trackage.

 

B. Currently not feasible at this time in terms of funding. Down the road maybe. Trains do have cab signalling around the NEC though. 

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My point is. Will the new trains run on existing tracks? If so then they will not be able to be used to their maximum potential.

A separate high speed track must be built and trains must have in cab signalling.

 

Stick to the buses Brit you've been making a lot of misattributions. The cab signaling installed on the NEC in the 30s was a point of pride for the PRR back then. The HSR trains of Germany's DB do not run on separate track and manage 200 mph speeds, frequency and a reliable reputation. It's well known the real problem with American HSR stems from the FRA and their poor specification requirements for american HSR. They arbitrarily decided on 150 mph. They artificially handicapped the acela.

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Stick to the buses Brit. The cab signaling installed on the NEC in the 30s was a point of pride for the PRR back then. The HSR trains of Germany's DB do not run on separate track and manage 200 mph speeds, frequency and a reliable reputation. 

 

It's well known the real problem with American HSR stems from the FRA and their poor specification requirements for american HSR. Pathetically it's easier to do new construction than implementing better practices.

new construction to bypass the poor spec requirements? what should be done then?

 

I am thinking of politics cause our country is really messed up. Or learning the culture.

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new construction to bypass the poor spec requirements? what should be done then?

 

I am thinking of politics cause our country is really messed up. Or learning the culture.

The FRA focus on crash survivability instead of train avoidance compromises acceleration. With faster acceleration, signal blocks would be cleared faster allowing more trains to pass which in turn results in greater capacity per track. The 

arbitrary choosing of 150 mph. etc. Instead of lobbying to change these restrictions amtrak finds it easier to call for new construction.

 

But it's just one of many amtrak's many things it seemingly can't change.  Another example being Amtrak's desire to build a massive tunnel just to avoid dealing with metro north's 90 mph speed limit in it's master plan. Alternatively some improvements in the track infrastructure could be made for a much smaller cost that would benefit both metro north and amtrak. With that approach a 110-120mph speed limit could be achieved easily.  Anything better is wasteful  because trains will have to slow down for the Hellgate bridge anyway. Yet instead an expensive massive tunnel will be built so amtrak can exist in a vacuum all because amtrak has no real influence to combat regionalism. 

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WASHINGTON – Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) are 
joining forces in the search for proven high-speed rail (HSR) train sets currently being 
manufactured and in commercial service that are capable of operating safely at speeds up to 220 
mph on both Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) and on California’s developing HSR corridor. 
 
Amtrak, in conjunction with California, is today formally issuing a Request for 
Information (RFI) to start the process.  The partnership advances each of their respective HSR 
programs, and could create efficiencies by ordering trains of similar specifications and develop a 
U.S. standard for HSR train equipment that can be manufactured and supplied domestically and 
produced for the rest of the world.  A Request for Proposal could be issued by September 2013 
with an order placed during 2014.
 
Read more: Source

 

 

http://procurement.a...n-construction/

 

Looks like the sets could be ordered as soon a 2014, but that doesn't mean they will arrive in 2014 though.

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