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

[jis]

From April 1, 2024 onward, please post comments discussing the Acela 21 (Avelia Liberty) development here. For previous posts regarding the Acela 21 (Avelia Liberty) development, please refer to this thread, which is currently locked:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...ing-and-deployment-2018-1q-2024.72089/page-35

 

[Acela150]

TS 8 to Beantown on the 1st. Scheduled to follow 172. NOT an April Fools Joke.

 

[Acela150]

One of the trainsets was testing between Philly and Paoli today doing multiple round trips.

 

[MARC Rider]

I saw a trainst sitting in Ivy City on Wednesday.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I saw a trainst sitting in Ivy City on Wednesday.

It's been there a while.

 

[Acela150]

It's been there a while.

Indeed it has. Not really sure which set it is, or why it’s there. A guess says for mechanical familiarity.

 

[Acela150]

TS 10 is currently in Ivy City being worked up for a swap with another trainset on Monday 4/8. TS 12 is scheduled for delivery Tuesday into Wednesday.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Evidently the (a?) trainset has been in Boston from 4/1 and has returned.

I've been intensely listening to the radio for a few months and I thought I should start sharing when I hear KP2022 is out. Some nights it's just the CETC 8 dispatcher saying one single message.

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9HDRg1w6cc8


Spotted on April 18th. Heard on radio as KP2022 at 11:08PM so that's a back-and-forth test between County and Ham and not a relocation move.


Again, KP2022 was out again on April 20th. I didn't find anybody's uploaded videos.

Radio:
9:09:41PM Requested move west from Delco
10:42:03PM Received protection 4 track County to Delco
10:52:57PM Cleared up protection on 4 track, received protection 2 track Adams to County
11:03:07PM Cleared up protection on 2 track, started preparing to move west from Delco

 

[JuniusLivonius]

KP2022 is out again tonight, April 22nd. CETC 8 needed a call at 10:34PM before it returned [west].

 

[Acela150]

They were supposed to get out Friday, but they had some issues and weren't able to turn a wheel. Not an earth shattering issue, that was resolved and they went out Saturday instead.

I can't publically share many details of whats going on, but I can share that company officials are being very supportive to the crew of these test train(s) and have been out riding multiple times to get a grasp of things.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

They were supposed to get out Friday, but they had some issues and weren't able to turn a wheel. Not an earth shattering issue, that was resolved and they went out Saturday instead.

I can't publically share many details of whats going on, but I can share that company officials are being very supportive to the crew of these test train(s) and have been out riding multiple times to get a grasp of things.

That's cool information, thank you. Never heard them run on a Saturday until this weekend.

Regular update... this was last night's radio traffic since it wasn't complete when I last posted.

4/22 night - 4/23 morning radio log (New Jersey - KP2022 Acela II test train - County to Ham)
10:34PM CETC-8 needed a call with KP2022 before turning back east
11:08PM CETC-8 asked KP2022 if dispatcher could drop signal at County
1:19AM CETC-8 said CETC-7 is "checking on something" before "giving the signal"

Over 4 hours of testing last night, assuming they began at the regular 9PM.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Radio night of 4/23
11:20PM - #3742 asked dispatcher if KP2022 was holding up departure from Jersey Ave. #3742 is the 11:34PM from Jersey Ave. It deadheads to Newark Airport and is allowed to depart its origin early. I could not clearly hear CETC 8's response as the dispatcher used a "far" transmitter, probably in Princeton or Hamilton. There's some sort of radio zone system.

 

[Acela150]

The 2022 crew was working a Charger test train I believe.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

Amtrak Equipment Procurement Update as of 4-25-24:

On the Acela: Amtrak is working with FRA on QP2 testing – trying to move to the final steps. They are having
multiple daily calls/updates with the OEM and FRA. This procurement is heading in the right direction.
Trainsets are being delivered to various locations as reported previously with #12 moving to Penn Coach
yard. The remaining units will be stored at Alstom until they are placed into service. Work force training is
taking place with Alstom at two of three sites – with training at the third site -Sunnyside yard - starting soon.

from NGEC.com

 

[Acela150]

FRA approved the trainset for the next round of testing last week. That should begin this week pending crews being available.

 

[trainsupercommuter]

What’s the rumor for the date of revenue service?

 

[Acela150]

What’s the rumor for the date of revenue service?

That’s depending on how the testing goes and how long it will take to put the miles on the revenue sets. As of now the plan is still the Fall from my understanding.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

5/7 night - 5/8 morning... it's back!
9:45PM KP2022 asked CETC-8 to return back west [from County/Delco]
10:45PM KP2022 was asked by CETC-8 to give a call when stopped at HAM
1:01AM KP2022 asked CETC-8 to return back west; CETC-8 said CETC-7 was "clearing up a foul" - not sure if that's the last run tonight or KP2022 needs a clear "buffer zone" absolute block for HAM - FAIR - MORRIS before starting a run like how KP has absolute block for COUNTY to LINCOLN

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night 5/8 - morning 5/9

9:31PM KP2022 needed signal from CETC-8 to go west
9:34PM (what was probably the engineer of #3855 asked if Acela 2 was "fixed yet or still broken")
11:11PM #3742 out of Jersey Ave (deadhead to EWR) needed to wait for signal run-down due to test train (probably just about to end eastbound run)
11:35PM KP2022 told about train #3893 in front low leveling at Jersey Ave
11:39PM KP2022 on the move west
12:20AM KP2022 ready west, waiting for foul in CETC-7 territory to clear
12:53AM KP2022 asked to call dispatcher
12:59AM KP2022 ready west, informed that Delco will be the furthest it can go on return trips for rest of the night; #67 told it's taking 2 track from Lincoln and rest of the way
1:55AM Dispatcher asks foreman if test train can foul 4 track CP Clark to HAM.
2:05AM Foreman informed that foul is clear and test train is ready to go east
2:17AM Test train needed foul again, same limits
2:29AM Cleared foul
2:51AM KP2022 confirmed clear of Jersey Ave low levels (#3805 approaching)

Someone please get Slavinski some pizza already.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Started tracking train movements with traffic cameras on I-95 and I-76. Details later.
A mystery train was parked on the bridge near Zoo for 20-30 minutes until 9:02PM. An Acela-shaped train with LED headlights (who else could it be?) passed near Eddington at 9:15PM.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Saturday 5/11
10:15PM KP2022 asked to call dispatcher at County

Another rogue Saturday test... didn't even document the last day yet.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night of 5/13, Avelia Liberty (KP2022) spotted again on PADOT cameras. This time it was bright enough to be distinguishable rather than just deduced by shape, lights and timing. It's hit or miss with where the cameras are pointed (none pointing at Schuylkill bridge today) but good success so far.

~8:31PM near Tacony
~8:32PM near Homlesburg Junction
~8:35PM between Cornwells Heights and Eddington

 

[Acela150]

They left Philly just after 8 last night.

Friday night they paced 639 for a while. It was rather entertaining for me. Kinda holding out hope for a video of it at PJC where there may or may not have been a battle of the horns.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

Night of 5/14
~8:33PM Unidentified train crossing Schuylkill river
~8:45PM Same passed Torresdale. Couldn't get a good look but definitely looked like Avelia Liberty

 

[Acela150]

TS 10 went to Sunneyside this morning (5/15)