Acela II (Alstom Avelia Liberty): Design, Production, Delivery, Acceptance

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:42 am Test runs have ground to a halt. No official word, but reading between the lines would suggest that something is wrong with the trains.

And I guess that's why they call it '23.
Time sitting there, could be time in service.
Proposed for '21. Problems with Pantos.
Only 3 sets built. Delayed as usual.
And I guess that's why they call it '23

(Sung to the tune of "I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues" by Elton John)

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:42 am Test runs have ground to a halt. No official word, but reading between the lines would suggest that something is wrong with the trains.

Well that’s disappointing. There are still only 3-4 trains on Amtrak property at this time, correct? I’d be curious to know if the ongoing IC chip shortage may be playing a part in the delays…

TheOneKEA wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 7:30 pm

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:42 am Test runs have ground to a halt. No official word, but reading between the lines would suggest that something is wrong with the trains.

Well that’s disappointing. There are still only 3-4 trains on Amtrak property at this time, correct? I’d be curious to know if the ongoing IC chip shortage may be playing a part in the delays…

There are two. Set 1 is back with Alstom to have its interior fitted.

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:42 am Test runs have ground to a halt. No official word, but reading between the lines would suggest that something is wrong with the trains.

Would you believe that there is actually rumor floating around that Amtrak is possibly trying to get out/cancel the order…

8th Notch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 1:25 pm
Would you believe that there is actually rumor floating around that Amtrak is possibly trying to get out/cancel the order…

That would be shocking. Alstom isn't exactly Super Steel Schenectady, and I imagine has corporate pride as well as money at stake in this latest export of the legendary TGV product line.

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 2:06 pm

8th Notch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 1:25 pm
Would you believe that there is actually rumor floating around that Amtrak is possibly trying to get out/cancel the order…

That would be shocking. Alstom isn't exactly Super Steel Schenectady, and I imagine has corporate pride as well as money at stake in this latest export of the legendary TGV product line.

I would be beyond shocked if Amtrak tried to get out of the order. The current Acela fleet is supposedly near end-of-life already and if they get retired with no replacements available, the remainder Corridor services would be hugely overcrowded, even if the trains could be lengthened.

What defects could be so severe that Amtrak would even dangle the possibility of an order cancellation? It feels like a last-ditch negotiation tactic to get Alstom to fix whatever problems were found during testing.

And what of the completed trainsets? Sell them to Nigeria for a commuter line in Lagos?

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 3:24 pm And what of the completed trainsets? Sell them to Nigeria for a commuter line in Lagos?

Return them to Alstom and let them be stripped for spares and then scrapped?

I'd say let LIRR have them but only a little cat and not enough capacity, plus expected zero maintenance and they wouldn't last a month.

8th Notch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 1:25 pm

Matt Johnson wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:42 am Test runs have ground to a halt. No official word, but reading between the lines would suggest that something is wrong with the trains.

Would you believe that there is actually rumor floating around that Amtrak is possibly trying to get out/cancel the order…

Would I believe such a rumor is floating around? Sure.
Would I believe such a rumor? No.

Well as of now the FRA will not sign off on them to exceed 90 mph in service which is a major red flag…

8th Notch wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 7:35 pm Well as of now the FRA will not sign off on them to exceed 90 mph in service which is a major red flag…

That’s certainly a red flag! I’d like to know what could have gone wrong…

Per http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents ... uppert.pdf:

• "Delay in dynamic modeling correlation activities needed for high-speed qualification testing & approval (160 mph, up to 7” cant deficiency)"
• "Railway dynamics testing for qualification (160 mph, up to 7” cant deficiency) targeted for Fall of 2022"
• "Full seated load railway dynamics & friction brake testing and acoustic measurement" targeted for late 2022

Amtrak cannot buy sandbags without going thru the tortuous acquisition bid process?

I'd think they want the full 7" cant testing to be completed before the full seated load testing as the degree of cant allowed determines maximum comfortable speed through curves.