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Just saw Avelia trainset 2 leaving South Station for Southhampton St around 9 pm ET. First time seeing it, a couple of thoughts: - the nose is much more streamlined than the AX-1 sets… makes a really nice impression in the station - SO much quieter than the AX-1 sets, which always seem to put the bl...

Looking at the construction photographs, there appears to be the standard TGV-style high voltage line running between and above the cars - it's just that it is shrouded on this design so less obvious than on single-level TGV cars (where it is more or less exposed) - so I would expect that these woul...

While the performance and capacity of these trains are far more important, a few thoughts on the profile differences between the power car and the coaches: - When this set was originally pitched, the power cars were totally unique. Since then, these power cars have been incorporated into the next ge...

Interesting to note that the photo in that article (which first appeared on November 20) was taken a few months ago, based on the tree foliage. The most recent PRIIA 305 minutes indicate the following update, which was current as of October 31: "On the Acela replacement: Trainset 1 is together ...

If they are going to Davisville, that would support the theory that they may be used in some capacity by the MBTA and RIDOT. The T in the past has used Davisville/Seaview as a place to store and repair equipment - the MBB coaches leased to CTRail were rehabbed there. Not sure what repair capabilitie...

One possibility is that they could be leased for a pilot (or semi-permanent) express commuter rail service from RI to Boston. That has been discussed between the states for some time, and this article mentions that Massachusetts was negotiating a lease with Amtrak for electric locomotives at the tim...

Power outages can also affect diesel-operated lines when signals or crossing gates lose power. The T has cut back vegetation on most lines in connection with the PTC install; hopefully that will be repeated periodically. Now that the T has a specific plan for Phase I, I will be curious to see how eq...

For Lynn, it sounds like there had been significant pressure brought by community groups and lawmakers from that area to include it. Plus, by the time the initial electrification is completed, all of the stations on the initial route except for River Works will have high-level platforms now that Che...

In my opinion, as a daily rider - yes. The total cost is quite high, but will be implemented over at least a decade or two; as discussed at the FCMB, this initial phase will help set the stage for further expansion of both electrification and the regional rail model. The highways around Boston are a...

Some more concrete progress on the Acela 2s: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/new-horizons/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The article claims that the first coach bodyshell has been produced at the Italian plant that has in the past produced the AGV (upon wh...

Glad to see some concrete progress on the Acela 2 front, albeit from a subcontractor: https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2018/9/alstom-and-merrill-technologies-group-celebrate-first-power-car" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I was beginning to wonder where the photos ...

I don't know where you heard that they won't.. It has been widely publicized that the new HST will have 7 passenger cars. 2 Power Cars making it a total of 9. Every mention of the Avelia Liberty in Amtrak and Alstom materials that I've seen has referenced nine passenger cars and two power cars, wit...

Perhaps as the result of cascading signaling issues around South Station, we got the Cape Flyer trainset on the Needham line this morning. Sadly, the café was not open.

It's the area behind Star Market - right where the two ROWs used to intersect. The "jungle" is the triangular area between the two elevated grades.

Somewhat off-topic, but the former junction where that line met the present-day Needham Line has turned into a bit of a hobo jungle (I see it every day). It is usually strewn with beer cans and other debris, and quite often (especially in warmer months) inhabited by older, shirtless guys who seem to...