Passenger Trains > New Acela on CBS

CBS News visited Hornell NY to see the new Acela trains. Several shells were visible, people were adding cabling, etc.

report from a current mostly full Acela, interview with Richard Anderson

Link to follow.

Posted from Android

Video is on cbsnews.com

Very positive video on the new trains and workers who are building them.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/first-look-inside-amtraks-next-generation-acela-train/

Thanks for posting this.  The video was well done.  How long has Alstom been in the U.S.  The video mentions locomotive/rail car building and rehab since the  mid 1800's.  Dis they buy out an America plant?  
Rich S

richs Wrote:
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> Thanks for posting this.  The video was well
> done.  How long has Alstom been in the U.S.  The
> video mentions locomotive/rail car building and
> rehab since the  mid 1800's.  Dis they buy out
> an America plant?  
> Rich S

Former Erie  Railroad facility

Cool...except for the nonsense claim that Amtrak expects to break even by 2021.

Dave

Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens...................Why can't a real American owned company run with the big dogs anymore?
Rich S

Hornell, in western NY, has a 150 year heritage of building locomotives and rail cars. 

I thought the local interviews were great.  American workers, often second and third generation, getting the job done.
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The interview with Richard Anderson was a little troubling.  I heard "northeast corridor".  I didn't hear anything else.

We all  know these interviews are scripted. Whether on CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN.  But, I would have liked to hear a little more about "America" in America's Railroad.

richs Wrote:
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> Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens...................Why
> can't a real American owned company run with the
> big dogs anymore?
> Rich S

Because we all but threw away our passenger trains nearly 50 years ago. We Yanks simply no longer have the expertise. That’s all there is to it.

Posted from iPhone

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> The interview with Richard Anderson was a little
> troubling.  I heard "northeast corridor".  I
> didn't hear anything else.
>
> We all  know these interviews are scripted.
> Whether on CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN.  But, I would have
> liked to hear a little more about "America" in
> America's Railroad.



That's because you now routinely dishonestly post by shrinking everything down to misleading simple sound bites that fit whatever urban myth of the moment you are telling.    

In the video Anderson never mentioned the Northeast Corridor.  Rather, he was asked, "How important to the future of Amtrak is the Acela?"  His answer:

"It is incredibly important.  It really lays out a clear vision for what short haul, intercity passenger rail transportation can do for this country.  And this country is going to need it in more and more corridors because Millennials don't want to drive, and you cannot add enough lane miles for a 100 million more people."

The narrator then explains some facts about the new Acela, and says it will cut at least 15 minutes off Boston-NY-DC.

Then a clip of Anderson - "We've got to position Amtrak to have a modern product that a Millennial wants to get on, with high speed WIFI, craft beer, and reliable schedules that beat buses, cars, and airplanes."

Then more narrator details about the new Acela, followed by, "Unlike the airlines, Amtrak will not shrink your seat."

Followed by the final clip of Anderson - "The space stays the same, I actually would like a little more space."

Those are the only things Anderson says in the video, and they are his exact words.
 

Thank you for a positive post!!

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

You forgot Kawaski, Stadler, and Hyundai.
Name one present day US passenger railcar manufacturer, and they might have won the bid.

<hint: there aren't any>

richs Wrote:
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> Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens...................Why
> can't a real American owned company run with the
> big dogs anymore?
> Rich S

Amtrak is already brreaking even. Has been for many years.
If you discount the infrastructure needs of the BOSWASH corridor.

79mph Wrote:
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> Amtrak is already brreaking even. Has been for
> many years.
> If you discount the infrastructure needs of the
> BOSWASH corridor.

Yep. Amtrak "breaks even" (considering all sources) each and every year. It doesn't spend more than it brings in from ticket revenues and government subsidies.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

DavidP Wrote:
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> Cool...except for the nonsense claim that Amtrak
> expects to break even by 2021.
>
> Dave

I have to agree with you Dave, the thing that it's possible, but keep downgrading services and all that's been going on, don't count on it!