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

[JuniusLivonius]

Still missed another one. Retired Railfan Horn Guy posted a Septa RFW where an extra westbound Avelia Liberty move passed just west of Cornwells Heights. Skip to 25:57 to see it.


Septa SL5 RFW Philadelphia to Trenton. 8/24
Shared September 3, 2024

Hi CNJGeep.

 

[NE933]

Ok, this is great, but..... can someone spill the beans and reveal when the inaugural run will be...

 

[Acela150]

Ok, this is great, but..... can someone spill the beans and reveal when the inaugural run will be...

At this point in time, nothing is set in stone. Things are most certainly looking up and going in the right direction at this time.

 

[trainsupercommuter]

r/amtrak on Reddit has a post saying testing has completed.

 

[Acela150]

r/amtrak on Reddit has a post saying testing has completed.

Currently Phase 2 of 3 is complete.

 

[Tlcooper44]

r/amtrak on Reddit has a post saying testing has completed.

Currently Phase 2 of 3 is complete.

Nothing like good ole reddit providing that top quality news and content.

My guess is Q4 2025.

 

[Mailliw]

Ok, this is great, but..... can someone spill the beans and reveal when the inaugural run will be...

Hopefully before December 31 2099.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

I was worried I wouldn't get the video roundup down before the next update. The period of silence was almost a month like last time. Talk about just-in-time.

Nothing like good ole reddit providing that top quality news and content.

My guess is Q4 2025.

I would always trust Acela150 to verify or clarify whatever crap is spewed on Reddit.

Is phase 2 FRA testing and approval? So now it's up to Amtrak alone to get these in service, right? Will there be a GO to assign proper maximum speed for the Avelias?

 

[Acela150]

The 3 phases of testing all have to be approved by the FRA. And the FRA has to give the approval for each phase.

 

[Budd_Metroliner]

Currently Phase 2 of 3 is complete.

Once 3 of 3 is completed does that mean the crews can get qualified on the train sets or is that able to happen beforehand?

 

[Tlcooper44]

I was worried I wouldn't get the video roundup down before the next update. The period of silence was almost a month like last time. Talk about just-in-time.


I would always trust Acela150 to verify or clarify whatever crap is spewed on Reddit.

Is phase 2 FRA testing and approval? So now it's up to Amtrak alone to get these in service, right? Will there be a GO to assign proper maximum speed for the Avelias?

Yes, maybe the sarcasm in my post wasn’t obvious enough?

 

[Acela150]

Once 3 of 3 is completed does that mean the crews can get qualified on the train sets or is that able to happen beforehand?

So I'm honestly not sure how this will go. I can tell you that a decent percentage of the Philadelphia crew base is qualified on them. Which makes sense as it's the home terminal for testing. I do believe that OBS employees are getting some looks at the new equipment. Mechanical crews are for sure.

I do truly believe that at a point in time the training will pick up and be done quickly but safely. T&E espeically. I'll add that I fully expect these new trainsets to be put in service in a quick and timely manner once the FRA says "go".