Acela trains too old for the cold

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Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Jan 18 21:03:58 2024 Article is behind a pay wall on Bloomberg.com but it's saying that this is the reason Amtrak canceled a bunch of Acela runs today. I've read that they had to start cannibalizing some of the Acela trainsets to keep the remaining ones running. Didn't realize the Acelas are in such poor condition and are running out of spare parts even though their manufacturer is still in business.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by r33/r36 mainline* on Thu Jan 18 21:11:56 2024, in response to Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Jan 18 21:03:58 2024.* From reddit: The trainsets are years past their end of life, about half of them are fully functional. Lots of maintenance bandaids that wouldn’t react well with any kind of inclement weather. They’re limping along at their best possible speed until the FRA and Alstom work out the new trainsets for passenger service.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Olog-hai* on Thu Jan 18 21:37:23 2024, in response to Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Jan 18 21:03:58 2024.* Sad. Bad build from the start and never did what was implied of them. Barely 24 years old too, and their replacements aren't in sight yet although this is the year they're supposed to start. By contrast, the service life of the TGV Sud-Est was 39 years max. And it could stop at low platforms IIRC; seeing the original Acela on display at Hoboken and its low platforms made me shake my head at the lack of thinking.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Avid Reader* on Fri Jan 19 06:28:09 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Olog-hai on Thu Jan 18 21:37:23 2024.* *TGV Sud-Est was 39 years max.*
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by MainR3664* on Fri Jan 19 07:53:58 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Jan 18 21:11:56 2024.* Amazing (in the bad sense of the word) that they're in such terrible shape at less than 25 years old. Think of it like this- they're basically the same age as the R142/142As- which are not in a decrepit state. Most of us probably still think of them as new!
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Orange Blossom Special* on Fri Jan 19 08:07:04 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Olog-hai on Thu Jan 18 21:37:23 2024.* Meanwhile the chinese are building and supplying trains and buses to the rest of the world at breakneck speeds. Building back better.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Olog-hai* on Fri Jan 19 09:10:06 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Orange Blossom Special on Fri Jan 19 08:07:04 2024.* Yeah. Let's see how long those last.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by R46 5636* on Fri Jan 19 09:12:37 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by MainR3664 on Fri Jan 19 07:53:58 2024.* The Bombardier-built R142 class already has outdated tech that isn't compatible for CBTC retrofit. I'm curious to know what will be done about this and if the R142 fleet will see a replacement earlier than expected.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Avid Reader* on Fri Jan 19 09:31:37 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Orange Blossom Special on Fri Jan 19 08:07:04 2024.* Meanwhile the chinese are building and supplying trains and buses to the rest of the world at breakneck speeds. Didn't the city of Boston dump the Chinese for FAILURE!
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Chris R16/R2730* on Fri Jan 19 10:23:13 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Jan 18 21:11:56 2024.* I'm going to Boston in May and was planning to buy Acela tickets for my first ride ever. Now not so sure....
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Edwards!* on Fri Jan 19 10:44:20 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Avid Reader on Fri Jan 19 09:31:37 2024.* CRRC tried to present to the MTA their version of a "throw away" train. The cars looked nothing like the "usual MTA design", having no remarkable features.. However, the cars were very different,as they were not equipped with a storm door,train identification,with a Eurocentric flavor. The cars would be built to last 15 years, half of what MTA usual equipment reaches.. The TA didn't embrace the concept and rejected it outright. CRRC seemed not too bothered, since the challenge didn't guarantee a railcar order. They, however, Did attempt a joint contract with another company to make inroads , but so far,all equipment built by them suffered defects difficult to repair. Philly's SEPTA system ordered commuter cars, received a few that were filled with issues and malware. Boston's new cars suffered the same fate, even with the cars being built the state of Massachusetts. NY wisely choose to stay away from the shady dealings.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by MainR3664* on Fri Jan 19 13:03:53 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by R46 5636 on Fri Jan 19 09:12:37 2024.* So I guess the R188 conversions on the 7 were all Kawasaki R142As then?
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by MainR3664* on Fri Jan 19 13:06:00 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Edwards! on Fri Jan 19 10:44:20 2024.* I guess that's one thing our MTA did right!
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Italianstallion* on Fri Jan 19 13:48:50 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri Jan 19 10:23:13 2024.* It won’t be cold in May!
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by BILLBKLYN* on Sat Jan 20 00:10:52 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by R46 5636 on Fri Jan 19 09:12:37 2024.* I consider the R44s and up as new.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by Olog-hai* on Sat Jan 20 16:21:49 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by R46 5636 on Fri Jan 19 09:12:37 2024.* Retrofits are what make things compatible, not whst the machine was originally built with. Just an excuse to junk cars that are less than a quarter-century old.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by terRAPIN station* on Sat Jan 20 19:25:33 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by MainR3664 on Fri Jan 19 07:53:58 2024.* But the R-142/As don’t run at 150 MPH though………
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by murray1575* on Sat Jan 20 19:35:48 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by MainR3664 on Fri Jan 19 13:03:53 2024.* Yes they were. Cars 7211-7590 (38 trains of 10 cars) had one new build R188 C car (7899-7936) added to make them 11 car trains. Cars 7591-7810 (22 trains of 10 cars) remain as built and run on the 4 line. Cars 7811-7898 (8 trains of 11 cars) were built new by Kawasaki as R188. By now the 5 and 6 car sets have been well intermixed but usually the 6 car set faces towards Main St.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Olog-hai* on Sun Jan 21 00:57:59 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Jan 18 21:11:56 2024.* The trainsets are years past their end of life Reddit lies.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by hhp664* on Sun Jan 21 10:44:43 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Olog-hai on Sun Jan 21 00:57:59 2024.* Maybe not years past their end of life, but they definately are showing signs of the wear and tear of corridor running. Should have had more sets in the orginal order to properly maintain em and still run the schedule. at this point of my career i just try to avoid them.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by MainR3664* on Mon Jan 22 13:13:42 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by BILLBKLYN on Sat Jan 20 00:10:52 2024.* I did until recently. But here in Staten Island, the R44s are starting to look quite beat up from the outside...
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by MainR3664* on Mon Jan 22 13:14:22 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by murray1575 on Sat Jan 20 19:35:48 2024.* Thank you for this information.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by BILLBKLYN* on Mon Jan 22 19:46:52 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by MainR3664 on Mon Jan 22 13:13:42 2024.* All those flat wheels as well.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s]
Posted by Chris R16/R2730* on Tue Jan 23 10:05:18 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold [R142s], posted by R46 5636 on Fri Jan 19 09:12:37 2024.* Tech can be upgraded.
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by 3-9* on Tue Jan 23 19:23:11 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri Jan 19 10:23:13 2024.* Better do it while they're still around!
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Re: Acela trains too old for the cold
Posted by Olog-hai* on Tue Jan 23 21:27:37 2024, in response to Re: Acela trains too old for the cold, posted by hhp664 on Sun Jan 21 10:44:43 2024.* That's true. And that's very sad to hear. I've always heard that European railroads are more tolerant of more frequent maintenance, but you've got the TGV Sud-Est outlasting the Acela I by an average of 12-15 years and I'm still left wondering.
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