Acela 2 on its way to testing

[nlogax]

Do the same requirements apply to Acela 2?

FRA crashworthiness requirements were revised a couple of years back allowing the procurement of new stock built to European safety standards - hence Avelia is 30% lighter than its predecessor. Should have happened years ago but better late than never!

 

[Chris125]

A number of youtube comments by (often disgruntled) Americans that these have European-style horns, a standard TGV type presumably?

 

[ainsworth74]

FRA crashworthiness requirements were revised a couple of years back allowing the procurement of new stock built to European safety standards - hence Avelia is 30% lighter than its predecessor. Should have happened years ago but better late than never!

Perhaps an acknowledgement from the FRA that now that Positive Train Control is widely rolled out that they can utilise the less "bomb proof" European standards?

 

[TRAX]

A number of youtube comments by (often disgruntled) Americans that these have European-style horns, a standard TGV type presumably?

Nope not an SNCF horn at all.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Presumably, it'll use a Nathan horn of some type. It only has 2 for starters rather than the bog standard K5.

 

[nlogax]

Perhaps an acknowledgement from the FRA that now that Positive Train Control is widely rolled out that they can utilise the less "bomb proof" European standards?

The amended rules do carry a reference to PTC eliminating overspeed situations, but specifically tied to fixing of passenger windows failures via the elimination of overspeed events and resulting rollovers. I think you're probably right though, PTC is going to be an enabler for the sorts of technologies that Europe and Japan have been taking advantage of for decades.

The rule amendments make for interesting reading. Avelia is a Tier III train, but the Tier II limit is now raised to 160mph - which is as fast as Avelia could ever hope to go on NEC metals. Makes me wonder if a Pendolino-style EMU could have fulfilled the Acela replacement brief instead of new locos and trailers.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-11-21/pdf/2018-25020.pdf

SUMMARY: This final rule amends FRA’s passenger equipment safety standards using a performance-based approach to adopt new and modified requirements governing the construction of conventional- and high-speed passenger rail equipment.