Amtrak Cascades Talgo train...

[Anonymous]

Since I've traveled on it several times, I've been wondering- Are trains like the new Talgo articulated trains, currently in service between Vancouver, BC., Seattle, WA., Portland, OR., and Eugene, OR., ever going to be put in more wide-spread service along the West Coast, if not, the country? I have heard some rumors about it... And this raises another question- what improvements will be necessary to run them faster? Most of the track between Vancouver, Seattle, and Eugene has bolted rail and wood ties...

[Anonymous]

Well, in order to have Talgos moving at higher speeds (let us say 90/100 mph. Cascades can tehoretically reach 125, since tey're Talgo 200 derivatitives), it will be necessacry to install an ATS/Cab signal system, wich mandatory in order to comply with FRA and other standards.
For higher speeds, other measures will have to be applied, such as closing all grade crossings and a better signaling system.
In terms of track speeds, being Talgos passive tilting trains, they can steer in curves (Ok conventional tains steer marginally 1 or 2 degrees due to the movement of its suspensions) to a maximum of 8 degrees, with 5 being the standard. This, and the fact of veihcles being shorter than a regular 85' car allows such trains to have a better acceleration in curve. With such caractheristics, theoretically a Talgo train is able to reach higher speeds (20% more than a conventional train).
As a final note, newer trains entering service in the Madrid-Lerida (and in the future, Barcelona) high speed line, are presently being certified for 137 mph, and there is a prototype being readied for 230 mph, in order to cover the 400 miles of the new line in 2 1/2 hours

[Anonymous]

I rode the Talgos that were leased and operated between Seattle and Eugene and then the new Talgos that replaced them. They are rough riding on jointed track but i don't remember there being more than just a few miles of jointed track south of Portland. I understand that UP has replaced all jointed rail with welded rail on the old SP south of Portland. They are very smooth on welded rail.
Originally one of the Talgos was going to operated between LA and Las Vegas. I haven't heard what happened to that idea. tho.

[Anonymous]

The track, the track, the signals and the crossings.

When will Americans realize that as long as we run passenger trains down the same railroad tracks as freight trains, we won't go fast. The Europeans have already learned that fast passenger trains going over 140 mph do not mesh with slow freight trains going 80 mph. It is a dispatcher's nightmare! It is UNSAFE!

And to think the average speed of a freight train in America is less than 30 mph!

If one wants a fast train, the diesel Talgos fastest speed is 138 mph. Bombadier's Jet train can do 150 mph, and the TGV and ICE electric trains do 186 mph.

BUT NONE OF THESE PASSENGER TRAINS WILL GO FASTER THAN 120 MPH RIDING ON THE SAME RAILS AS FREIGHT!

Frankly, we need to get it into our heads that the government is going to have to build fast track, because the private freight companies have FAILED to keep and their maintain their tracks for 30 mph.

[Anonymous]

Freight railroads have NOT failed to maintain their track for 30 MPH speeds. Most Main tracks that handle more than 2-3 pairs of trains a day are good for 60 MPH at least.

Amtrak is a dead albatros about the railroad industry's neck. They pay next to nothing, demand premier treatment, and pay nothing for the freight train delays they cause. The talgos on the UP between Portland and Eugene are a classic case of this. They tie that passably busy single track CTC line up in knots for about 18 hours a day.

The relationship is kind of like if the government told you that you had to take a welfare queen into your home. They would pay you marginal cost, but since you are making the house payment, and paying for the utilities anyway your marginal cost is zero. She gets to pick her bedroom, control the TV, and use the kitchen at her convenience. Then her freinds come over and complain that your house is inadequate and you don't treat her right.

Amtrak has got to go!

Mac

[Anonymous]

ALL>>>>>>very interesting reading,THANKS ALLLLLLL,aka HUB

[Anonymous]

Unless the BNSF has ripped up the second track between Portland and Seattle, it has been double track forever. The Amtrak trains are scheduled so it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to work out the best meets on single trackage. We would all love to see dedicated passenger railroads but I'll never live to see the day except in very short segments owned by Amtrak.

[Anonymous]

I'd settle for consistant 90 mile running, like the old IC until 10 years ago. The key word is consistant, through the towns and yards, too.