From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 04-Jun-14 19:57, Jishnu Mukerji wrote:   
   > On 6/4/2014 6:36 PM, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   >> 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   
      
   Okay, thanks for that clarification; I hadn't heard of "modified Tier I"   
   before, just Tier III.   
      
   > 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.   
      
   So when mixed with Tier I or Tier II equipment, that Tier III equipment   
   is essentially just "modified Tier I" equipment, with the same 125mph   
   limit, so "Tier III" is only relevant on Tier-III-only tracks?   
      
   > 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.   
      
   I thought the plan was to scrap Acela and replace it with new Tier III   
   equipment?   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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