All Aboard Florida update

[blue streak 1]

Unable to get link to work.

The West Palm Beach AAf station had a construction accident.  What appears to be a casion boring crane was boring and hit a snag.  Caused the crane to tip over but no injuries. 

Any one who has operated know what warning an operator has that a snag is hit ?

EDIT found another link.  Wonder if operator was wearing his seat belt ?

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/west-palm-beach-fire-rescue-no-one-injured-in-cran/nqdRy/

[blue streak 1]

AAf is leaning more toward expansion to Jacksonville after going to Orlando.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=1d4a08189b765f7543c06228773d3b0f&/topic,25868.0.html

 

 

[Brian_Tampa]

Actually AAF has already built freight bypass tracks around both the WPB and Ft Lauderdale stations. I would assume any future stations would also get a bypass track as well. I am under the impression that freight trains will not run through on the platform tracks. 

Amtrak trains should be able to use the platforms as the height matches the NEC platform height. 

[Wizlish]

CSSHEGEWISCH

I'm not sure why bridge plates would be needed.  South Shore does quite nicely with gantlet tracks at Hegewisch and other stations.

That is fine if you already have your gantlet tracks in, and have money to keep the switches, their controls, tie-in to PTC, etc. maintained.  I would be interested to see a cost analysis comparing the gantlet alternative for all the stations with putting bridge plate arrangements on the cars 'one time' and then maintaining them.

Failure of one of the bridge plates = send the affected people to another door, or in worst case to another car.  Or schlep a fixed plate from the office, if you know a train with a failed car is due.

Failure to switch a train to the gantlet track = interesting.   Presumably PTC would catch it, and ECP would stop the affected train before any actual contact occurs, and a safe backing move would then be possible.  Presumably also the gantlet switches would never move or split under a moving train, and will always be maintained in good order regardless of weather or power failures.  Presumably there is no situation under which a fast-moving train gets shunted through one of the gantlet switches (and it might, at AAF speeds, be both of them by the time the train stops...) 

Etc.

Frankly, I prefer the bridge plates in this application.  Really prefer them.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'm not sure why bridge plates would be needed.  South Shore does quite nicely with gantlet tracks at Hegewisch and other stations.

[Wizlish]

blue streak 1

Subway gap fillers in NYC are platform mounted for curved stations. That is entirely different than car mounted for AAF

But they do the same effective thing, and I am not particularly surprised that the term would be applied to mechanically-actuated bridge-plate solutions. 

On the other hand, when I first read the post, I assumed the bridge plates were on the platform until I read the story.  Yes, it makes more sense to put them on the train, and yes, it makes sense to deploy them the way the Bode solution does.

(And no, I don't think FEC would be happy with a stuck sliding gap filler, or with one that extended into a moving consist, either.  Be interesting to see how -- if at all -- you could arrange platform fillers to 'fail safe' if a locomotive hit them...)

[blue streak 1]

Subway gap fillers in NYC are patform mounted for curved stations.  That is entirely different than car mounted for AAF.  Allows for central maintenance location to fix these beasts.  Don't think FEC would want a plate "H" train goint thru a station with a hung up extender in the way.

 

[Wizlish]

"This is the first time we have seen 'gap filler' used"?

They must not be from New York.

Which is funny because I thought Simmons-Boardman was headquartered in south Manhattan, no more than a few subway stops from, well, you know...

[blue streak 1]

Here is AAF's ( Brightline ) solution to having high level platforms on the mainline of FEC which will have plate "H" & "K" cars that would not clear present Amtrak high level platforms.  Hope this retractable plate system will work. 

A consequence of this set up will probably preclude Amtrak ever operating on the FEC ?

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/high-performance/retractable-bridge-plates-a-first-for-brightline.html?channel=54

 

 

[D.Carleton]

The Siemens press release for the coach: http://news.usa.siemens.biz/press-release/mobility/brightline-trains-taking-shape-siemens-completes-first-passenger-coach-shell

[CMStPnP]

blue streak 1

First AAF ( brightline ) ppassenger car built.  May be one for the compression test  ?

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/shaping-our-future/all-aboard-florida/major-milestone-for-brightline-passenger-rail-2a41618c-72e2-25c9-e053-0100007fafe8-366616441.html

 

Looks like a shell of a viewliner almost.   Now what is going to be interesting to me with this project is how fast......two private companies both experienced with rail passenger service get this from the shop floor onto the rails and any bugs associated with the construction (worked out)............and comparing it to Amtrak's past track record.

In this case real money is on the table vs monopoly money (taxpayer funds).

[blue streak 1]

First AAF ( brightline ) ppassenger car built.  May be one for the compression test  ?

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/shaping-our-future/all-aboard-florida/major-milestone-for-brightline-passenger-rail-2a41618c-72e2-25c9-e053-0100007fafe8-366616441.html

 

[gregrudd]

I wonder if FEC are going to make a video of the construction of the AAF sets like BR did for the HST 125 See plenty of footage on the development of the Paxman Valenta for rail use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGBQxWwMbIA

[CMStPnP]

If it was me deciding on a Siemens Coach for AAF I would pick the two level coach in the brochure below (page 17).......

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobility/global/SiteCollectionDocuments/en/rail-solutions/passenger-coaches/viaggio-imagebroschuere-en.pdf

This wasn't hard to find, BTW.    Now I hope I am not dreaming too much here but possibly we can also get the three chime before PA announcements, automated train announcements with digital schedule........ along with multi-linqual announcements in the train stations to be a little more compatible with the rest of the world and a little more civilized than Amtrak?

On the wheelchair discussion I had read on the Midwest HSR Bi-Level specs that there would be a wheelchair elevator on each car to take wheelchair bound passengers up to the second level.    So it does not surprise me if FEC read those specs or attempted to duplicate as much as possible with the design since FEC is also going to need rapid passenger entry and exit........they will also need the dual door arrangement as displayed on the Simens cars on Page 17 on the above link.    The double doors on the first floor is going to limit seating there, so I would expect them to ask for double level cars.

[081552]

MikeF90

 Sorry, I was typing with my right thumb on my iPhone yesterday during Gene's presentation. WC = wheelchair.

The All Aboard Florida train cars will have an aisle wide enough for use by a wheelchair user. I'm sure all customers will appreciate the wide aisle! 

 

Deggesty

WC is Wesleyan Chapel--no, the context tells me that it is Wheel Chair.

 

 

Thanks Johnny, I was thinking something related to the ADA.

Still, 10 feet plus is some wide wheel chair. That must refer to the passenger coach width, Superliners are about the same.

 

 

[MikeF90]

Deggesty

WC is Wesleyan Chapel--no, the context tells me that it is Wheel Chair.

Thanks Johnny, I was thinking something related to the ADA.

Still, 10 feet plus is some wide wheel chair. That must refer to the passenger coach width, Superliners are about the same.

 

[Deggesty]

WC is Wesleyan Chapel--no, the context tells me that it is Wheel Chair.

[MikeF90]

081552

Trains will be the first totally accessible to WC users. 10' 6" width.

West Coast? Water Closet? How about a decode and a Wikipedia update? TIA!

[A McIntosh]

Thanks for the site and the info. The only thing that would be neat to see, if it is available, is an artist rendition of a AAF Siemens built train 

[schlimm]

A McIntosh

I wonder when there will be an illustration of what these trains will look like from the inside and outside?

 

Look  at the AAF and Siemens websites.  http://news.usa.siemens.biz/press-release/rail-systems/all-aboard-florida-selects-siemens-train-manufacturer

[A McIntosh]

I wonder when there will be an illustration of what these trains will look like from the inside and outside?

[081552]

Gene Skoropowski, All Aboard Florida just finished his presentation at the APTA conference in SF. The size of the Miami station is amazing. A city in itself. Cummins just shipped the first engine to Seimens for the first Charger locomotive. Train set testing next year. Trains will be the first totally accessible to WC users. 10' 6" width.