News   Apr 01, 2026
Transit Progress and Tall Towers Made Headlines in March, 2026
 127     0 
News   Apr 01, 2026
News Roundup for April 1, 2026
 286     0 
News   Apr 01, 2026
Lombard Canyon
 479     1 

VIA Rail

Urban Sky said:
We should be clear here that what drives maximum commercial speeds are not the performance characteristics of individual rolling stock types, but whatever tiers the responsible regulator defines. As we’ve already discussed in February, the nominal increase in maximum operating speed for the Acela Express merely reflects that the FRA has increased the maximum allowable speed for its “Tier II” from 150 to 160 mph…


c5d2809b-8866-4cdb-88e4-e9fe0fcafecf-jpeg.453770

Source: FRA (2017)
Click to expand...
While you are absolutely correct regarding the regulatory environment, sometimes there can also be a little bit of the tail wagging the dog. And that is definitely the case regarding the increase in maximum allowable speed for Tier II equipment, which is being spearheaded by Amtrak specifically to allow them to better utilize their new trainsets.

Dan
 
smallspy said:
While you are absolutely correct regarding the regulatory environment, sometimes there can also be a little bit of the tail wagging the dog. And that is definitely the case regarding the increase in maximum allowable speed for Tier II equipment, which is being spearheaded by Amtrak specifically to allow them to better utilize their new trainsets.

Dan
Click to expand...
My point was that the increase in maximum operating characteristics was less due to superior performance characteristics of the new trainsets, but to an update in the regulations governing maximum operating speeds. Operators, industry and politicians may induce pressure on the regulator to modify the regulations, but ultimately, the regulator defines what speeds are possible when which set of specific prerequisites is followed…
 
smallspy said:
While you are absolutely correct regarding the regulatory environment, sometimes there can also be a little bit of the tail wagging the dog. And that is definitely the case regarding the increase in maximum allowable speed for Tier II equipment, which is being spearheaded by Amtrak specifically to allow them to better utilize their new trainsets.

Dan
Click to expand...
Yes I believe this even happened here with the LRC trainsets. They were given a special exception to travel at faster speeds. But ofc Transport Canada had to approve this.
 
innsertnamehere said:
Can anyone decode that for us regular folks and say if we can expect the new trainsets to be making regular appearances in Toronto yet?
Click to expand...
Even with the rumored deployment, every single revenue trip will still either originate, terminate or pass through Montreal, while never venturing further away from Montreal as Ottawa or Quebec City. Once the performance has stabilized, the next step would presumably be to have trains visiting Toronto during the day (M-T-M, M-O-T-M or M-T-O-M) and later also overnight. Once the Siemens facility opens at TMC, Ventures should become a much more common sight in the Golden Horseshoe…
 
Last edited:
Urban Sky said:
Even with the rumored deployment, every single revenue trip will still either originate, terminate or pass through Montreal, while never venturing further away from Montreal as Ottawa or Quebec City. Once the performance has stabilized, the next step would presumably be to have trains visiting Toronto during the day (M-T-M, M-O-T-M or M-T-O-M) and later also overnight. Once the Siemens facility opens at TMC, Ventures should become a much more common sight in the Golden Horseshoe…
Click to expand...
How does it make sense that they started construction on TMC after the new fleet was being delivered?
 
Bordercollie said:
How does it make sense that they started construction on TMC after the new fleet was being delivered?
Click to expand...
Why would they build two facilities in parallel if the same people building one can build the other one once they are finished with the first? Also, any peoblems identified while building the first facility can be rectified before building the second facility…
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top