Passenger Trains > Amtrak Test Train

Amtrak test train working south out of Ridgely, IL the last couple of days.

A little more details.

Ridgley is a point in Springfield, Illinois where two U.P. Subdivisions meet along the proposed Chicago to St Louis high speed rail corridor.   The past week, Amtrak has been running test trains between Springfield and Alton for the long delayed high speed rail line from Alton to Joliet, Illinois.  They are testing the signals to go from the current 80 MPH limit to 90 MPH (wow!), with the hope to SOMEDAY be able to run 110 mph on the entire route.

Implementation of high speed rail has been so delayed that Amtrak and the Illinois DOT won't even give out projected completion dates anymore.
 

Don't count on ever seeing a Charger on an LD train; note that it is being tested in areas where Delta Dick and company want to replace the LD's with regionals. The order for 75 locos tells the story; if you do the math, that doesn't come close to a sufficeint number to equip the LD's and have any left over for maintenance, spares, wreck replacement,or additional services.  I would predict that Auto Train might be the only one, and that alone would take six out of the pool.

75 locomotive order is for the long-distance trains. 

https://media.amtrak.com/2018/12/amtrak-to-improve-national-network-with-new-locomotives/

"Delivery of the new locomotives will begin in summer 2021, with passenger service beginning in fall 2021. They will power trains used on the Auto Train, California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder, Lake Shore Limited, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle. All locomotives are expected to be in service by 2024. Maintenance activities across the network will be supported by a supplemental multiyear Technical Support Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA)."

They also have an option for an additional 100 locomotives, which would replace the P40/P42 locomotives in regional service.


PRR1361 Wrote:
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> Don't count on ever seeing a Charger on an LD
> train; note that it is being tested in areas where
> Delta Dick and company want to replace the LD's
> with regionals. The order for 75 locos tells the
> story; if you do the math, that doesn't come close
> to a sufficeint number to equip the LD's and have
> any left over for maintenance, spares, wreck
> replacement,or additional services.  I would
> predict that Auto Train might be the only one, and
> that alone would take six out of the pool.

Instead of drinking the Amtrak Kool-Aid, do the math.  It does NOT add up to enough locos.  Example: CZ: 2 nights out, two units, four train sets, 8 units total. Builder with three units, 12 total. There's 20 for just two trains.  Keep going, and don't forget spares, maintenance downtime, and wreck replacements. Do you think Amtrak would come right out and say that they are NOT for the LD's? Of course not. But the Chargers are essentially built for regional use. 

For just the LD trains alone, including Auto Train, they require nearly 100 diesel locomotives. That includes using diesel units over electrified NEC portion of the LD route, but I don't think there's that many efficiencies achieved here. 

 

This announcement was made a while ago about the Chargers being sought for replacement of the P42/P40s. Looks like NARP or ARP or whatever they call themselves were RIGHT ON TOP OF IT!!!!
 

Well since passengers are abandoning Amtrak in droves due to changes in the diner, there will be no need to order more than 75.

Posted from iPhone

Good thinking; that's the whole point of not just eliminating dining service, but of severely limited consists, especially at peak travel periods.  I'm glad some of you out there are awake and not swallowing Anderson's Kool-Aid.

JohnM Wrote:
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> Well since passengers are abandoning Amtrak in
> droves due to changes in the diner, there will be
> no need to order more than 75.
>
> Posted from iPhone

This is news to me.  Could you please provide a source for that info?