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Evidence that improbable rumors such as "failed egress test" are not to be taken seriously

What makes me suspicious about this type of report *now* is that egress tests are typically static tests done before any dynamic tests start. It’s waaaay too late in the process to be only now doing those tests.

This is the very first cert for a Tier-III set. More so, for a new design train—Amtrak is effectively the launch customer. So many firsts, so many landmines to navigate, some of which exploded.

It's been my understanding that an unreserved Surfliner ticket is good for one year. I have an unused ticket whose value I want to apply to a new ticket between a different station pair. I called Amtrak res but the woman told me the ticket was "forfeited" and has zero value. She told me she has...

CA HSR is another: the rolling stock procurement includes 30 years of maintenance and service in a facility built and owned by the authority to the vendor’s specifications

The text below was posted on Reddit's r/Amtrak subreddit. I cannot vouch for its accuracy, but it's interesting enough even as gossip. I had an expiring upgrade coupon, so I used it to ride first class this morning. I overheard the attendant talking to a passenger about Avelia Liberty. The...

An issue with California services is that they're unreserved. As a Surfliner semi-regular usually traveling solo, when I use the cafe car I bring my food back to my seat because there's always a risk of someone else sitting there in my absence. And, no, seat checks aren't enough; many/most...

I don't see anything that replaces the SSL for coach. There is a café car, true, but the text focuses on food service booths rather than lounge chairs that prioritize landscape viewing and hanging out. For example, the table on 1-16 calls out 27 units of "table/lounge" seating for first class...

My hope is that the order is configured somehow, someway to keep the production line open long-term, for possible route expansion and replacement of wrecked equipment. Our start-stop approach to equipment purchases prevents the build-up of institutional knowledge, a trained workforce, robust...

There's a middle ground. All the stuff that needs FRA approval already has it (Nippon Sharyo has exited the chat). All the other stuff such as interior fitments, HVAC systems and the like, are just matters of how the chassis is upfitted. New upfitting designs are easy to implement relative to...

If you haven’t figured it out by now, here’s the truth: the Anglosphere (UK, US, Canada, Australia, etc) sucks at building infrastructure. Basically every project everywhere goes way over time and budget (HS2, anyone?). Thinking of diverting CAHSR funds to conventional rail? To highways? To...

REALLY REALLY REALLY high speed! I thought I read somewhere Alstom had a factory there, but maybe not. 🤷‍♂️

In Europe, Alstom puts out a damn fine HSR product. Alstom U.S. puts out damn fine conventional rolling stock (Pacific Surfliner cars are Alstom and they're workhorses). So I'm trying to understand what's going on with the new Acelas. I wonder how much the manufacturing issues can be traced...

I seem to remember the Pacific Parlor Car had swivel seats...

Excellent find! For me, this is the money shot in that presentation: the "Lessons Learned": Standardization and Innovation can be in conflict at times. Overly-detailed specification may limit equipment choices in a constantly changing supply market. It is challenging to accurately...

I'm a bit surprised Caltrans would go through the expense because those are fixed-term lease cars (free use for repair, I think) and have already been around for a while, so how much time could be left on the lease? Also, with new corridor cars coming, the days of the SuperSurfers are ever so...

Were I to speculate, I would say Amtrak communicates with the restaurant well ahead of time, letting the restaurant know when the train is expected in town, and the restaurant schedules its prep accordingly. I would further speculate that beyond a certain time window, the restaurant takes a pass...

It's like venturing into a Disney-ish world of innocence to read a first-timer's amazements about something that is routine to me.

Relevant to the Philadelphia crash and other topics that come up from time to time, here's a reasonably easy-to-understand primer on signaling systems from the 1800s until now. It includes an introduction to many of today's most popular alphabet soups like ACSES, I-ETMS, ETCS and more. Oooh! I...

Disappointing, but not surprising.