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

So Avelia can't cant is what I'm hearing.

Therefore Amtrak can't trak...

Volks, are we sure we are not jumping into the deep end over this?

I don't think Amtrak is in any particular rush to get this equipment into revenue service. At present, I learned here that several existing Acela sets are stored and not needed to operate the existing level of service.

Finally, I would think that Amtrak would just as soon have a "maskless inaugural" ("rollout" seems to be newspeak around here).

Spot on, Mr Norman. Probably just waiting for someone to sign a bit of paper.

RandallW wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:42 pm 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.

Would you be able to explain this in a causal term. I'm a software engineer not a train engineer

Has Amtrak come out with actual speed limits for the Acela 2 on the Corridor? Will some sections in MA and RI be upgraded to 160 MPH because the train will have higher speeds through curves? Im thinking between Mansfield and Hyde Park.

No official speed changes are going to come out before the train set clears the required testing phase. As I stated a few posts ago, 90 mph train type C is the max speed the FRA is allowing it to be moved at during non testing runs until the issues get solved. The current 150 stretches in MA and R.I should both see upgrades off the bat, various other locations on the railroad may also see 5-10 mph upgrades as well.

PHLSpecial wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 5:58 pm

RandallW wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:42 pm 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.

Would you be able to explain this in a causal term. I'm a software engineer not a train engineer

Cant is the measurement of how much the train tilts. 7" is the maximum tilt allowed. They're saying they want to complete testing at the highest degree of tilt before testing with the weight of a sold out train, as the degree of tilt allowed determines the speed limits around curves. Tilt is only for passenger comfort; the power cars don't tilt. I wonder how the tilting feels in the power cars, as the tilting around some curves in Delaware and Connecticut is definitely noticeable in a cool way.

This FRA document explains cant and superelevation with respect to train operating speed, etc.: http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents ... tation.pdf

I saw a train set heading west by Overbrook a little before 10 pm tonight

nova08 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 9:58 pm I saw a train set heading west by Overbrook a little before 10 pm tonight

Was it on a test run or was it being pulled by a P42DC?

I missed the front end. I was driving by Overbrook and stopped at a light. I caught it half way through to the tail end.

The date I've been hearing for entry into service is October.
Apparently the criteria are:
1) 4 sets ready
2) Cleared for 7" cant

Do we have any idea how they are doing in terms of solving the apparent issues?

@photobug What are these supposed issues? I’ve been hearing that these new sets have been having issues for a while now…