Talgos coming back on line NOW

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.

AmtrakWPK

Conductor
AU Supporting Member
Honored Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2004
Messages
1,864
Location
Casselberry, Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEATK-07-107

Contact: Media Relations (510) 238-4360

September 27, 2007

Tilt Trains are Coming Back to Amtrak Cascades Service this Fall

First Train Expected Back in Service as Early as this Saturday

OAKLAND - Amtrak has received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to make recommended repairs on the Talgo-manufactured railcars used in the operation of Amtrak Cascades service between Eugene, Ore. and Bellingham, Wash.

As the trainsets are repaired, they will be rotated back into service one at a time starting this weekend. All trainsets will be expected to be repaired by early November. Amtrak anticipates that train schedules will return to normal in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel season.

"We have determined the appropriate solution and are moving forward with the repairs," said Nora Friend, Talgo's spokesperson. "Once the repairs are complete, the trainsets will gradually be put back into service and travelers will once again enjoy all the amenities available on the Amtrak Cascades service."

During a routine train inspection in early August, small cracks were discovered in welds of the upper portion of the car body structure suspension support system of several cars. WSDOT, Amtrak and Talgo agreed to remove the trains from service as a precaution. After a thorough analysis, it was determined that the cracks were caused by welding techniques in the manufacturing process and did not compromise the safety of the passengers. The cracks are not deemed a safety hazard and will be repaired under warranty at the maintenance facility in Seattle.

Substitute train service is currently operating on the route at reduced speeds and does not include some of the amenities featured on the regular Amtrak Cascades service, such as business class, feature movies, checked baggage, or bicycle accommodations.

Amtrak Cascades is operated by Amtrak under contracts with the Washington and Oregon Departments of Transportation. Under contract, Talgo has responsibility for the maintenance of the trainsets, and these maintenance operations are performed in Seattle.

Amtrak Cascades consists of four daily round-trips between Portland and Seattle, with service between Bellingham, Wash., and Portland, via Seattle; between Eugene and Seattle, via Portland; and between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.

Amtrak will continue to operate trains 510 and 517 between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., utilizing Superliner train equipment.

Operation of the Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight (Trains 11 & 14) and the Chicago-Portland/Seattle Empire Builder (Trains 7/27 & 8/28) continues on their normal schedules.
 
Aloha

Nice to see that a solution is in hand as those are nice train sets. Even if I only rode them once some 10 years ago.
 
Never been on a Cascades train, but saw one sitting next to my Starlight while stopped at PDX (Portland, OR) a couple years ago. Compared to the massive Superliner cars the Talgo equipment looked almost like a kiddie park train with a roof. Then I got a look inside, and wow. Very impressive.
 
Never been on a Cascades train, but saw one sitting next to my Starlight while stopped at PDX (Portland, OR) a couple years ago. Compared to the massive Superliner cars the Talgo equipment looked almost like a kiddie park train with a roof. Then I got a look inside, and wow. Very impressive.
I've rode on Talgo trainset round trip from Tacoma to Portland few years ago. I'm very impressive with the Talgo with large windows. I thought that single axle will roughen up the ride, but it didn't. Glad that the Talgo are back without creating a huge headache, as Acela did.
 
I've rode on Talgo trainset round trip from Tacoma to Portland few years ago. I'm very impressive with the Talgo with large windows. I thought that single axle will roughen up the ride, but it didn't. Glad that the Talgo are back without creating a huge headache, as Acela did.
Aloha

My Talgo ride was north to Canada. I thought the ride leaving the Seattle station as very rough but once on the main quite nice. Think the roughness was related to switches.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top