Acela 21 (Avelia Liberty) development, testing and deployment (2Q 2024)

[JuniusLivonius]

Completing backlogged radio summaries. There are hilarious conversations sometimes.

As a reminder, I capture almost all dispatcher messages in CETC-8 (Union [at Rahway] exclusive to Ham [at Trenton] exclusive) and most train/cab transmissions north of the Adams Yard at MP 35.
There appear to be a few antennas at (usually in the range of 100-150W) that CETC-8 uses:
- Rahway (Union Int.)
- Metuchen (Lincoln Int.)
- North Brunswick (Adams Yard)
- Monmouth Junction (Midway Int.)
- Trenton (Ham Int. - don't think I can hear this one)

Night 5/10 - morning 5/11
10:32PM - KP2022 asked to call dispatcher
10:34PM - KP2022 needed crew to check MCB
11:22PM - Casual conversation with KP crew, dispatcher, NJ Transit crew (likely the 11:34PM #3742 from Jersey Ave, deadheads to EWR, deals with KP2022 every night)

* Did they just complete 300 trips?
* The KP crew was celebrating the 200 mile an hour [what]? I can't tell if this was sarcasm. Someone said something about champagne.

12:53AM - KP2022 stopped at Delco and needed foul on 2 track Adams to County (had an issue with [couldn't hear])
1:03AM - Cleared foul
2:18AM - Ready to go west; CETC-7 asked for 3 to 2 west at Ham (probably went home on that run)

Night 5/11 (Saturday)
10:05PM - KP2022 asked to call dispatcher

Night 5/13 - morning 5/14
10:38PM - KP2022 needed 4 track protection
10:46PM - #3737 told to hold at Lincoln for foul
10:50PM - received foul
10:54PM - #3891 also held at Menlo/Metropark
10:58PM - KP2022 clear of foul
12:05AM - #3895 - 3 track County to Midway, Midway to Ham on 1; #3897 did the same at 1:53AM - KP2022 likely went home before then

Night 5/15
No traffic camera sighting though the array of camera alignment was awful today; didn't expect the test train in NJ tonight as there was a move this morning to Sunnyside. (Acela150)

-

As a trainset is reported moved to Sunnyside, I'll be dormant and not watching closely, though I review radio logs the day after.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night 5/15
No traffic camera sighting though the array of camera alignment was awful today; didn't expect the test train in NJ tonight as there was a move this morning to Sunnyside. (Acela150)

-

As a trainset is reported moved to Sunnyside, I'll be dormant and not watching closely, though I review radio logs the day after.

Either it's back so soon or it never really stopped nightly testing. Dormancy is over...

KP2022 (Acela Test Train) was testing last night (night 5/16 - morning 5/17) in NJ, County - Ham.

KP2022 is out again tonight. It was stopped right on the PRR Connecting Railway Bridge over the Schuylkill just as I went to go on camera watch.
~8:19PM Departed from a stop on the PRR Bridge
~8:30PM Passed Tacony
~8:34PM Passed Torresdale

 

[railiner]

Completing backlogged radio summaries. There are hilarious conversations sometimes.

As a reminder, I capture almost all dispatcher messages in CETC-8 (Union [at Rahway] exclusive to Ham [at Trenton] exclusive) and most train/cab transmissions north of the Adams Yard at MP 35.
There appear to be a few antennas at (usually in the range of 100-150W) that CETC-8 uses:
- Rahway (Union Int.)
- Metuchen (Lincoln Int.)
- North Brunswick (Adams Yard)
- Monmouth Junction (Midway Int.)
- Trenton (Ham Int. - don't think I can hear this one)

Night 5/10 - morning 5/11
10:32PM - KP2022 asked to call dispatcher
10:34PM - KP2022 needed crew to check MCB
11:22PM - Casual conversation with KP crew, dispatcher, NJ Transit crew (likely the 11:34PM #3742 from Jersey Ave, deadheads to EWR, deals with KP2022 every night)

* Did they just complete 300 trips?
* The KP crew was celebrating the 200 mile an hour [what]? I can't tell if this was sarcasm. Someone said something about champagne.

12:53AM - KP2022 stopped at Delco and needed foul on 2 track Adams to County (had an issue with [couldn't hear])
1:03AM - Cleared foul
2:18AM - Ready to go west; CETC-7 asked for 3 to 2 west at Ham (probably went home on that run)

Night 5/11 (Saturday)
10:05PM - KP2022 asked to call dispatcher

Night 5/13 - morning 5/14
10:38PM - KP2022 needed 4 track protection
10:46PM - #3737 told to hold at Lincoln for foul
10:50PM - received foul
10:54PM - #3891 also held at Menlo/Metropark
10:58PM - KP2022 clear of foul
12:05AM - #3895 - 3 track County to Midway, Midway to Ham on 1; #3897 did the same at 1:53AM - KP2022 likely went home before then

Night 5/15
No traffic camera sighting though the array of camera alignment was awful today; didn't expect the test train in NJ tonight as there was a move this morning to Sunnyside. (Acela150)

-

As a trainset is reported moved to Sunnyside, I'll be dormant and not watching closely, though I review radio logs the day after.

Do you happen to know if anyone uploads these transmissions onto the internet, so those of us out of the territory can listen in?

I found this one, but apparently it is now out of service...
http://www.railroadradio.net/content/view/166/200/

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Given the eastbound traffic pileup near Frankord Junction, I'm no longer checking tonight. If the test train is running, it's probably still waiting in the yard. I'll be back if I hear radio communications.

Night 5/16 - morning 5/17
10:14PM - KP2022 chatter about cut-in and cut-out (cab control?)
10:33PM - KP2022 received protection 4 track Lincoln - County
10:43PM - cleared protection; asked to call dispatcher
10:45PM - #3737 reported unfavorable signal at Menlo (foul wasn't yet cleared)
11:13PM - Eastbound KP2022 on 3 track blocking #3742 from leaving the branch as usual
11:22PM - #3742 and KP2022 having their usual conversation
2:42AM - #3805 trying to race KP2022 as usual (same engineer as #3742)
3:05AM - KP2022 (east of County, likely) preventing a westbound MOW move at Lincoln on 3 track

Night 5/17 - morning 5/18
11:11PM - Eastbound KP2022 on 3 track blocking #3742 from leaving the branch as usual
11:27PM - #3742's sees red light on west side of KP2022 (couldn't hear response)
2:31AM - #7805 (weekend run for #3805) trying to race again...

Do you happen to know if anyone uploads these transmissions onto the internet, so those of us out of the territory can listen in?

I found this one, but apparently it is now out of service...
http://www.railroadradio.net/content/view/166/200/

I remember that broadcast. I probably saw it in 2021 before I made my own setup. It was a big influence on what I'm doing now.

I record all radio traffic I hear, 24/7; it's how I write about activities from the previous days. Anything mentioning KP2022 (and anything interesting) I definitely keep. If you're curious about anything mentioned, just ask me and I'll probably upload it.

I use an RTL-SDR with a J-pole antenna (designed for 160MHz) and any old computer running rtl_tcp over the network with FM demodulation using gqrx. I have an additional Python program to organize audio data into organized and timestamped files and silence detection.

If you want live transmissions over the internet, I'm afraid I can't help directly at this moment. I only have an indoor antenna (but at high elevation, so not terrible) so even a nearby motor can cause some noise issues, requiring micromanagement of the squelch. I need my squelch very low so I can pickup the very transmissions I document each day. (There is possibly an algorithmic and programmatic mitigation to this problem)

If you know (or anyone reading this knows) anyone with a home or business close to the ROW and willing to donate a small amount of space (needs only power, but internet access is welcome) let me know. Somewhere in Philadelphia would be cool and would directly assist with hunting down Acela 2. (Here's a radio secret I want to eventually act on: ACSES II traffic is not encrypted, but someone needs to write something to decode it...)

--

Found this video from 5/17 around noon - passing BWI going to Philadelphia
You guessed it - running at 90MPH and not line speed

 

[Acela150]

You guessed it - running at 90MPH and not line speed

The new trainsets are limited to Type "D" speeds unless in a testing enviroment and other specs are met.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Avelia Liberty passed over Schuylkill River at 8:22PM, headed east
8:34PM Torresdale
8:38PM Eddington

The new trainsets are limited to Type "D" speeds unless in a testing enviroment and other specs are met.

Yep. It seems the oversight was that the curve near BWI is also very close to that speed. 110mph Type A (Acela with tilt) and 90mph for everyone else.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

8:27PM - Unknown train crawling north (east) out of what I think is part of the Penn Coach Yard. Shape looks kinda right to be Avelia Liberty.

Briefly had a nice camera alignment until 8:13PM when I-76 east jammed up and they rotated all 3 cameras.

Currently waiting on a camera near Torresdale.
8:49PM KP2022 spotted passing between Torresdale and Cornwells Heights

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night of 5/28
8:30PM KP2022 / Avelia Liberty spotted over Schuylkill river heading east
8:41PM Tacony
8:53PM Eddington

If my locations, times and judgement are correct, that looks like it took an unusually long time between Tacony and Eddington.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Had a continuous view from 8:10PM - 8:45PM of the 2 tracks leading out from PCY (west of the two Keystone Corridor tracks underneath the West Philadelphia Elevated)

Spoiler: Incorrect

No Avelia Liberty sighting - I think they typically don't run in the rain as I've noticed before

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Had a continuous view from 8:10PM - 8:45PM of the 2 tracks leading out from PCY (west of the two Keystone Corridor tracks underneath the West Philadelphia Elevated)
No Avelia Liberty sighting - I think they typically don't run in the rain as I've noticed before

DISREGARD

They snuck out at a different time or I'm blind. As of 11:05PM they were near County when #3737 (outbound #3742 from Jersey Ave) usually talks to KP2022.

The engineer of #3737-#3742-#3805 is really keeping it together every night with confirmation. Usually KP2022 doesn't make a peep otherwise.

 

[Acela150]

TS 8 just got back to Philly this afternoon (5/30) from Beantown and swapped places with TS 12.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Picking up radio summary from morning 5/18... no activity from then until night of 5/23

Night 5/23 - morning 5/24
11:12PM - #3742 asks dispatcher to tell KP2022 to do 300 tonight
11:23PM - #3742 from Jersey Ave waiting on KP2022 to clear County
11:25PM - KP2022 waiting for #3742 to come off the branch
11:30PM - #3742 moving
2:39AM - KP2022 gets scared and runs away before #7805 can race

Night 5/24 - morning 5/25
9:32PM - #3984 held on 2 (where?) for test train crossing on 3
9:37PM - KP2022 asked to give a call when ready to go back west
11:10PM - #3742 possibly going down 3 once test train gets west of County
11:15PM - #3742 having the regular conversation with KP2022

Night 5/28 - morning 5/29
10:58PM - #3737 - the usual
2:26AM - #3805 - the usual
2:27AM - The race is on. KP2022 ready in 5 mins to do its last westbound run
2:30AM - "Here we come" - KP2022 wins

Edit: 353 is Siemens Charger - They stole KP2022's identity
Night 5/29 - morning 5/30
11:01PM - #3737 - the usual
11:02PM - KP2022 engine "353" requested permission to press stop release button 3 track at County proceed west to 3 trackRegarding the swap,
12:06AM - Same permission requested
12:51AM - Same permission requested
12:52AM - KP2022 to dispatcher: "tomorrow will be a long day; Friday isn't looking bad"

A bit late but it's obvious in retrospect what the "long day" is with the round trip from Philadelphia to Boston to swap trainsets. I suppose there's no speed run tonight, 5/30. Tomorrow I suppose...

Anyone know what engine "353" means in an ACSES context?

TS 8 just got back to Philly this afternoon (5/30) from Beantown and swapped places with TS 12.

That's right.
Fan Railer was on top of it... some people just have internal contacts I guess. TS12 and TS8 swapped today 5/30 as Extra 884 and 885, respectively. TS12 moves east to Boston, while TS8 returns west to Philly

 

[JuniusLivonius]

511pa re-arranged the backend of their camera feeds which threw me off but I had the best shot to date of the PCY.

KP2022 / Avelia Liberty test train is moving tonight...
~8:04PM moving in PCY
~8:07PM moving onto main tracks
8:25PM KP2022 crossed the Schuylkill

No longer looking. Happy railfanning.

 

[Bob Dylan]

TS 8 just got back to Philly this afternoon (5/30) from Beantown and swapped places with TS 12.

Are you getting to work any of the Test Runs???

 

[west point]

Do these AX-2 runs to / from toward BOS area change crews at NYP same as regular NEC trains?

 

[Acela150]

Are you getting to work any of the Test Runs???

I am qualified on the new Acela equipment. However at this time I’m on a regular assignment. But I do see them every Thursday and Friday night.

 

[Acela150]

KP2022 is at HAM interlocking as of 1109pm about to do an Eastbound turn.

 

[Acela150]

Do these AX-2 runs to / from toward BOS area change crews at NYP same as regular NEC trains?

Yes. However it must be a crew that is qualified on the equipment.

 

[daybeers]

Is there any news on where exactly Amtrak is at with the Avelias? Are we still hoping for 2024 revenue service or is that a pipe dream?

 

[west point]

Can anyone tell us what Amtrak and Alstom are looking for with these tests?

 

[Acela150]

Is there any news on where exactly Amtrak is at with the Avelias? Are we still hoping for 2024 revenue service or is that a pipe dream?

So far the testing is progressing well. Minor issues occur here and there. But nothing earth shattering.

Can anyone tell us what Amtrak and Alstom are looking for with these tests?

There are a wide variety of things. Mostly these are being looked at by Alstom, Amtrak, and the FRA. I can’t really go into specifics at this time.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night 5/30 - Morning 5/31
9:56PM - CETC-8 announcing "turnover time" and needed to give job briefing to KP2022
11:12PM - #3742 held at the branch waiting for test train to clear up
2:46AM - Regular conversation between #3805 and KP2022. KP2022 "can only do 150 at this time"?

Tonight, May 31st 8:37PM - KP2022 (Avelia Liberty test train) inching up to exit out of PCY (FINALLY)
8:41PM - KP2022 moving a little bit closer to main line, now stopped. A double-ended Keystone or Regional (possibly #658 to NY) pulled out of the station up the Keystone tracks (blocking the exit from the yard)

As of 8:53PM the camera turned around and KP2022 was still stopped under the viaduct. Peace out.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night 5/31 - morning 6/1
11:16PM - #3742 out of the branch blocked by KP2022 coming east through Delco run as usual; yells at KP2022 to hurry up
Could not hear KP2022's side of the usual conversation.
11:28PM - KP2022 ready to move west

The usual 2:30AM conversation did not take place.

For once, a railfan actually filmed the test train at Princeton Junction. Looks a bit slow to me.


Note the P42DC on #186. #66 and #65 also had diesels later that night as I heard from the radio.

 

[Trogdor]

Saw one of the sets passing through New Carrollton northbound yesterday around 1:15 pm.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Today 6/4, KP2022 (Avelia Liberty) left/leaving PCY at 8:05PM. Which one of you railfans at PA DOT left the camera pointed at the PCY yard leads and Keystone line where it goes under the viaduct? There is not a single roadway in the frame. It's just the tracks.