Passenger Trains > Wisconsin Public Radio Series on Talgo train project

https://www.wpr.org/derailed/years-after-rail-saga-wisconsins-talgo-trains-sit-idle
 

Don't forget, Wisconsin is also the state that agreed to spend $5 billion or so on Foxconn, a company that neither builds nor does nothing except happily take the $5 billion.
Foxconn got a better deal than Talgo.

I think this is the winning quote in the story:

"Under the terms of that settlement, Wisconsin would pay Talgo about $50 million, the full cost of the trains. And Talgo would get to keep the trains, too"

One hell of a way to business!

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> I think this is the winning quote in the story:
>
> "Under the terms of that settlement, Wisconsin
> would pay Talgo about $50 million, the full cost
> of the trains. And Talgo would get to keep the
> trains, too"
>
> One hell of a way to business!

I don't know that the trains need a waiver as the article states. The Series VIII trains comply with all applicable regulations. However, the trains were indeed customized for Wisconsin. Talgo has been unable to lease or sell them partly for that reason (the issue is much more thnan the colors). Thus it seems reasonable that they be paid for the custom work and keep the trains too.

TAW

What would it take to "un-customize " them for the PNW ? 

TAW Wrote:
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> I don't know that the trains need a waiver as the
> article states. The Series VIII trains comply with
> all applicable regulations. However, the trains
> were indeed customized for Wisconsin. Talgo has
> been unable to lease or sell them partly for that
> reason (the issue is much more thnan the colors).
> Thus it seems reasonable that they be paid for the
> custom work and keep the trains too.
>
> TAW

If I recall, Wisconsin took the sardine can option. Are there other problems?

Can't believe one of the public officials said he designed the Talgo.  It's like Al Gore stating that he invented the internet

What a waste.  These trains need to be used somewhere.  If these get scrapped I give up!

Well. I am hearing there is interest to create train service to maybe link Boise to the Cascades Service.

Many the two Talgos can be used there?

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

ts1457 Wrote:
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> If I recall, Wisconsin took the sardine can
> option. Are there other problems?

If I remember correctly, no food service. That is really popular on the Cascades...largely because the food for sale isn't AmFood.

TAW

amtrakbill Wrote:
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> Can't believe one of the public officials said he
> designed the Talgo.

What he meant was, if he actually did it, was design the interior configuration...which nobody else wants.

TAW

amtrakbill Wrote:
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> Can't believe one of the public officials said he
> designed the Talgo.  It's like Al Gore stating
> that he invented the internet

I realize that the article says that WDOT secretary Frank Busalacchi said he helped design the trains, but in the actual quote immediately following, he only says he picked the colors.  Maybe he said something more that was either misstated or misunderstood, but I would be willing to bet that if asked to clarify he would say he was involved in the customizable aspects of the trains, like seating capacity, food service areas, etc.  Similar to how Al Gore is widely believed to have said he invented the Internet, when in fact he told Wolf Blitzer that “in Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet”, which in reasonable context is understood to mean that he sponsored the legislation which opened the previously DOD-run network to private use.  It’s a good lesson in focusing on politicians’ actions over time vs. a single quotation making its way around popular culture.

Dave

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> amtrakbill Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Can't believe one of the public officials said he
> > designed the Talgo.  It's like Al Gore stating
> > that he invented the internet
>
> I realize that the article says that WDOT
> secretary Frank Busalacchi said he helped design
> the trains, but in the actual quote immediately
> following, he only says he picked the colors.
>  Maybe he said something more that was either
> misstated or misunderstood, but I would be willing
> to bet that if asked to clarify he would say he
> was involved in the customizable aspects of the
> trains, like seating capacity, food service areas,
> etc.  Similar to how Al Gore is widely believed
> to have said he invented the Internet, when in
> fact he told Wolf Blitzer that “in Congress, I
> took the initiative in creating the Internet”,
> which in reasonable context is understood to mean
> that he sponsored the legislation which opened the
> previously DOD-run network to private use.
>  It’s a good lesson in focusing on
> politicians’ actions over time vs. a single
> quotation making its way around popular culture.
>
> Dave


Yup. No Matter How Many Times I Point This Out to Folks . . .

Next week they repeat the same garbage.

Brian

There did seem to be serious interest in running these between Chicao and Detroit at one point.  I thought that was a great idea.

amtrakbill Wrote:
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> Can't believe one of the public officials said he
> designed the Talgo.  It's like Al Gore stating
> that he invented the internet

He never said he invented the internet. What he did say is that he was a early supporter of funding for development of the internet and other IT innovation.