Acela 21 development, testing and deployment

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Now add management, pointy haired or not, purchasing and contract agents with checkbox forms, risk-averse lawyers, and the like, and money, and technicians and engineers. That's my guess.

Also don't forget politicians with itchy ribbon cutting fingers.

Out of curiosity, are the US crashworthiness standards that much more onerous than those in Europe? I often see those standards cited as one of the reasons why Amtrak cannot buy train sets that are closer to their off the shelf European counterparts.

One would think that, given Europe‘s extensive history with HDR, they would have developed sensible crashworthiness standards. It certainly appears to the casual observer that their standards have, by and large, kept European passengers safe for decades. Does anyone have a view on whether our more stringent standards provide meaningful incremental safety benefits? Or is it more of a not invented here thing?

Of course Europe doesn't run the kinds of heavy freight trains we have which is a factor.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

not just freight but average locomotive een if ballasted in Europe weighs about 80 Metric ton. compare that to any American Locomotive or like a Genesis at 275 000 Lbs. (125 metric ton) and you find its about equal to Smart vs a F150 pickup truck

 

[Dutchrailnut]

meanwhile in upstate NY

 

[jiml]

meanwhile in upstate NY

What a beautiful shot.

 

[eldomtom2]

Out of curiosity, are the US crashworthiness standards that much more onerous than those in Europe? I often see those stamdards cited as one of the reasons why Amtrak cannot buy train sets that are closer to their off the shelf European counterparts.

I believe the primary difference is that US crashworthiness place/placed much greater emphasis on buff strength, with much higher requirements in that area compared to Europe, where there is more of an emphasis on things like crumple zones.

 

[GDRRiley]

I believe the primary difference is that US crashworthiness place/placed much greater emphasis on buff strength, with much higher requirements in that area compared to Europe, where there is more of an emphasis on things like crumple zones.

While thats still an option (T1) we now also allow lightly modified euro spec as T1 Alternative and T3 for high speed trains

 

[jis]

While thats still an option (T1) we now also allow lightly modified euro spec as T1 Alternative and T3 for high speed trains

Additionally, it should be noted that the safety cage protected by CEMs in T1 Alternate has the same buff deformity (or lack thereof) requirement as for the entire body of the car in T1. T3 is similarly related to T2 IIRC.

 

[Acela150]

Monday night (9/11) KP2022 was out with one of the new sets.

Tonight (9/13) KP2022 is taking the First Production set (PC 2108/2109) back to Hornell. No idea if another will replace it in Philly.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Monday night (9/11) KP2022 was out with one of the new sets.

Tonight (9/13) KP2022 is taking the First Production set (PC 2108/2109) back to Hornell. No idea if another will replace it.

I think I read TS9 will be sent to Philly

 

[Acela150]

I think I read TS9 will be sent to Philly

You were correct!

TS9 with PC's 2150 and 2151 came down.