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If I remember correctly, it was indeed because the ITCS system wouldn’t interlock with the Charger units correctly.

No sweat chief. It was announced early on that the equipment would enter revenue service on IDOT sponsored lines. Testing itself is just easier on the AML because Amtrak controls the whole show.

Amtrak has announced that the new Siemens cars will begin testing on the Michigan Line starting Monday, 1/25.

Not talking full service, just training runs to break them in, train crews, etc. AML would be the ideal place for it because they aren’t dealing with a foreign railroad dispatcher or (many) conflicting movements. Once the revenue service begins yes it will clearly be on fhe That wasn’t really...

I’d imagine they’ll be tested on the Michigan Line first, since it’s Amtrak-operated and there aren’t many conflicting movements right now.

I am not totally well-versed in NYS operations (as the Midwest is my home), but I agree that if NYSDOT were to purchase a set of DMs then I would expect a portion of those to be contracted to Amtrak, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a follow-up order of Venture coaches for NYS/Empire popped up...

M-N’s order will have little basis for Amtrak’s procurement choices. Personally, and this just my opinion without any available hard costs to associate with it, buying EMUs and selling the Sprinters would be a mistake. You still have to replace most of the single-level fleet where EMUs don’t...

Alternative to running down to TOL and then east. It’ll be a little quicker if you can get the border stuff figured out.

Unless I’m missing something or this map is incorrect, the line between Detroit and Niagara Falls is there. It’s the CN Grimsby Sub in the latter half. I’m not sure what the original routing of the Rainbow was but there’s still infrastructure in place for a new service. Is there any weight to...

It's not at all a feverish dream....and I hardly consider myself a railfan. When the Niagara Rainbow was operating, Canadian customs locked the cars they needed to lock and that was it. No need to make a stop in Canada so you can "seal" the train and travel directly to the next border. The...

The Capitol Limited would have to be swapped for single-level cars then in order to take advantage of the 110 mph running across the AML. The Supers are limited to I believe 100. Agreed on the first paragraph. Amtrak recognized the potential for a ridership increase for the Michigan stations...

Amtrak Michigan Line

It cannot be on the same route though, is the thing. The smaller towns on the Water Level Route don't have the demand to justify it. If you wanted say two trains per direction per day between CHI and NYP, then one can go across the WLR and the other should traverse the AML and Canada. Or forget...

What do you believe a complete long-distance system looks like?

I encourage everyone to read the CUS Master Plan from 2012. Granted, it's eight years old. But there are a lot of ideas there that I'm sure Gardner has seen and may have even played a role in to make Chicago the "Gateway City"...

100%. Anderson was a great CEO and from what I understand, truly loved the job. It was something entirely new for him and he apparently loved being in the field on the NEC with Regionals flying by two tracks over while the crews sought shelter in the M/W equipment. I never realized that there...

Like many, I am conflicted. Stephen Gardner is akin to the Anti-Christ to some members of this board and is more of a figure of change to others. I can respect both positions, as everyone has had differing experiences and it is sometimes difficult to understand what another has experienced...

It (likely) will not happen. When choosing a supplier, your best option is the one with the proven product. I don’t believe Stadler has mass-produced a US heavy-rail order as of yet (if this is incorrect someone tell me) and not everyone can do it (see Nippon Sharyo). Siemens had a proven...

Cone of Silence is a supply chain thing. The procurement folks are doing their thing, and they are sequestered from speaking to anyone outside their department about the procurement process and who the selectee is. It’s a normal thing.