From: jishnu@nospam.verizon.net   
      
   On 6/4/2014 6:36 PM, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   > On 04-Jun-14 16:42, Kurt Hackenberg wrote:   
   >> A while ago we heard news quoting the head of the FRA (Szabo?),   
   >> saying the FRA was rewriting its safety rules, and saying something   
   >> like "we won't be building tanks anymore".  Naturally we all hope   
   >> that means an end to the buffer strength rule, and the possibility of   
   >> the US having light, low, fast passenger trains, like the rest of the   
   >> developed world.   
   >>   
   >> I haven't heard anything lately.  Is there news?  Is there hope?   
   >   
   > AFAIK, they're still working on them.   
   >   
   > DCTA's Standler GTW, which is the first non-FRA design allowed in mixed   
   > service, may provide a preview of what's coming, though it was approved   
   > via a waiver since the new "Tier III" rules weren't complete in time.   
   > Hopefully, we'll see a lot more of this soon, which will help motivate   
   > the FRA to actually finish them.   
      
   Stadler GTW does not travel faster than 125 mph so Tier III is   
   irrelevant for it. It falls under the modified Tier I that FRA has   
   published late last year which allows use of Crash Energy Management   
   instead of the non-deformation of the entire carbody as required in   
   classic Tier I.   
      
   Tier III requires that the same specs as for modified Tier I are met and   
   with certain additional relatively benign (supposedly) requirements Tier   
   III compliant are allowed to operate at upto 200mph on dedicated tracks   
   provided they are not commingled with with Tier I. When commingled with   
   Tier I they are limited to 125mph. They are not allowed to operate   
   commingled with Tier II above 125mph. Amtrak is working on a waiver of   
   that restriction since they do want to operate Acela Is and IIs   
   commingled on same tracks operating at above 125mph. I don;t know where   
   that stands at this time, since I have not had a chance to the guys   
   working on it recently.   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
    * Origin: LiveWire BBS -=*=- UseNet FTN Gateway (1:2320/1)