From: jishnu@nospam.verizon.net   
      
   On 6/5/2014 11:01 AM, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   > 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.   
      
   I learned of it last year at a presentation from the NEC HSR team. The   
   lady who is in charge of putting together the safety case for the speed   
   enhancement to 160mph and for the Acela II program was one of the   
   presenters. She was actually very good at explaining the complex issues   
   ranging from FRA to track center spacing etc.   
      
   >> 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?   
      
   As far as I understand from what I have heard, the plan is to order a   
   first tranche of 8 Acela IIs to augment the Acela fleet to enable half   
   hourly service between New York and Washington and some service   
   enhancement to Boston. The total number of trains that can run on the   
   Shore Line is restricted by maritime issues.   
      
   Then in the second tranche there will be upto 20 additional sets, and it   
   is at that point that the Acela Is will be decommissioned. The current   
   plan is to fund the first tranche entirely from internal resources (read   
   surplus revenues from NEC) used to underwrite an RRIF loan.   
      
   That is all that I have been able to piece together talking at various   
   time to various folks involved in the project office.   
      
   As usual, all this should be treated as hearsay and any of this might   
   change in unpredictable ways at any time.   
      
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