Airo - Amfleet I replacement Siemens Inter City Trainsets (ICT) (2021 - 1Q 2024)

[GDRRiley]

Arguably the twin unit dual mode Chargers that go with the Airos may need to be separately tested and certified though. Also the Cab cars might need to be tested to 125mph. I don;t know what testing and certification has been done for the California Cab Cars.

I would expect they get tested to 125mph unless the state and midwest decided that isn't worth doing in which case they'll be tested for 110mph.

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

Both the Venture cars and Chargers are operating at 125 mph in commercial service on Brightline as we speak. There is nothing more to test. They are already certified for 125mph commercial operation.

Arguably the twin unit dual mode Chargers that go with the Airos may need to be separately tested and certified though. Also the Cab cars might need to be tested to 125mph. I don't know what testing and certification has been done for the California Cab Cars.

"This train works, fix your tracks", is a discussion Alstom would like to be having about the Avelia Liberty for Acela. But seriously, the recent back and forth in this thread indicates the Airo, other than cab car and auxiliary power car, has been approved for the NER, including the computer modeling which by contrast is holding up the Avelia. Does the higher speed category of the Avelia trigger a more thorough real-world vetting the modeling? Or does it come down to how the contracts were written?

Just seems to me the Brightline 125mph brand new track is akin to a test track at TTC in Colorado, and I assume the Avelia passed that test, before it was released to Gritty and the Phanatic* in Philadelphia. It's good to know the Airo, modulo cab and aux, passed the NER testing. My lazy days waiting for an engine change at WAS will tighten up a bit.

(*) Sports reference.

 

[jis]

Just seems to me the Brightline 125mph brand new track is akin to a test track at TTC in Colorado, and I assume the Avelia passed that test, before it was released to Gritty and the Phanatic* in Philadelphia. It's good to know the Airo, modulo cab and aux, passed the NER testing. My lazy days waiting for an engine change at WAS will tighten up a bit.

(*) Sports reference.

The 125mph certification of Brightline rolling stock was done based on testing on the NEC. When the certification happened Brightline did not even have the base of the roadbed on which track was yet to be laid that became 125mph track

 

[user 14106]

Having just rode is yesterday while the Brightline stretch is probably straighter than much of your average track on the NEC it’s far from a straight shot and has a few curves - a couple significant.

 

[Willbridge]

More propaganda with some nice shots of the assembly lines:

https://media.amtrak.com/2023/10/amtrak-airo-production-stimulates-nationwide-economy/
Given that it’s October 2023, do we think it may be possible the Cascades sees service something in 2025, rather than 2026? Presumably there is still much to do, but 30ish months seems like a long lead time from first car to first revenue train set.

Oregon DOT expects deliveries in "2025 and 2026". That in a msg that I received this week.

 

[toddinde]

Maybe they will use that darkening glass like airplanes have now?

I agree. Shades are pretty unnecessary on day trains with the right glass.

 

[Trogdor]

I agree. Shades are pretty unnecessary on day trains with the right glass.

The new cars do have shades. What they don’t have are curtains.

 

[PVD]

I actually prefer shades to electro darkening glass. Shades can be brought down to keep the sun out of your eyes, while letting in light below or letting you tip your head and see out. And the glass would be a maintenance item far more complicated than a shade.

 

[TransitTyrant]

Still no window shades for coach passengers, and it looks like business class will also be without window shades or curtains (which the current Amfleet 1 business class cars have.)

Venture cars have a shade you can pull down that fully covers the window.

 

[joelkfla]

The new cars do have shades. What they don’t have are curtains.

Problem is when the shade spans 2 rows, and the occupants disagree on whether it should be open or closed.

 

[TransitTyrant]

Problem is when the shade spans 2 rows, and the occupants disagree on whether it should be open or closed.

Sounds like the trade off between the rifle slot Amfleet windows and modern, wide picture windows used on newer trains.

 

[Steve4031]

Some of the older streamlined coaches probably had the same issue with window shades. I vaguely remember some cars with windows spanning two seat rows with one shade. Some of the cars had a metal divider so that each row would have its own window shade.

 

[Mailliw]

Making the window shades horizontal instead of vertical would solve the problem. Or, and I realize how ludicrous this sounds, passengers could be expected to be civil with eachother.

 

[jis]

The FY25 Grant Request includes some financial information about the Airo Project. The Airo Project has final completion date of 2035 with total cost of $4.125 billion with planned expenditure so far of $3.891Billion. All these are IIJA Appropriated funds.

 

[ST Saint]

Cross-posting because relevant:

The first Cascades Airo cab car appears to be well underway:

View attachment 36264

View attachment 36265

Instagram Source (photo 2 & 3, not mine)

 

[jis]

Cross-posting because relevant:

Thanks!

Do you suppose it is a small space for baggage right behind the cab in that? We have been discussing off and on about baggage space and whether there will be any checked baggage service at all anywhere in the Airo age.

 

[ST Saint]

Thanks!

Do you suppose it is a small space for baggage right behind the cab in that? We have been discussing off and on about baggage space and whether there will be any checked baggage service at all anywhere in the Airo age.

Funnily enough, I also learned this tidbit on the Venture cab cars, so I can only assume the Airos will be a similar set up. The guy answering seems to work for Caltrans and has provided good info on the launch of the Ventures there before, so take that as you will. Hopefully we can see pictures of the inside of those soon enough.

 

[jis]

I wonder what we will see in the actually delivered incarnation of the Airos for various markets. But it is good to get that inside scoop nonetheless. Thanks.

 

[Mailliw]

Well at least we know the crew won't have an excuse to take over cafe seating.

 

[jis]

To continue the discussion of the Airo - Amfleet I replacement, please post your comments in the "current" thread on that topic:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...emens-inter-city-trainsets-ict-2q-2024.87160/

Thank you for your cooperation and participation.