ApproachMedium wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 10:11 am
mcgrath618 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:14 am
scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:10 am
I ask again, Is brightline getting techs who actually know the gear, and amtrak getting contractors who had training classes?
I think to others' points, Brightline never had another locomotive. Their techs and mechanics have only ever worked on SC-44s (at least, for Brightline). Amtrak has a little bit more of an eclectic mix of GE power that a whole generation of mechanics has been trained on (and now essentially has to unlearn).
The ACS-64s on SEPTA have held up beautifully.
Brightline and SEPTA barely move. Brightline goes nowhere right now. SEPTA runs their motors on rush hour only trains. its comparing Apples to peanuts.
I can understand the frustration with the overall availability issues that are seen with the Amtrak Siemens equipment. Brightline has Siemens technicians on-site in West Palm Beach at their repair facility. I have been there recently to visit and talk to the shop people there.
Saying Brightline "barely moves" is to ignore the fact that they run an hourly schedule 7 days a week with around 900 trains per month. I was told that on average, only 1 train a month is delayed or not available due to issues with the Siemens trainsets (this includes not only the Chargers, but the Venture cars too). To me, that is an impressive number considering Brightline has been dealing with so many vehicle collisions as well that take a Charger out of service for a day or two.
The question that should be asked is what is different with Amtrak that is running the same equipment as Brightline? Is it the lack of on-site Siemens tech's and the nature of their support and spare parts agreement? Brightline paid a lot of $$$ for a 30 year support agreement that includes on-site support. As far as I know they are the only Siemens Charger customer to do that from the original order date.