Southbound Acela high speed

[carpetime]

Holy Honkin

[marky456x]

One word: wow!

[DeltaPhi79]

I can't tell the difference at such high speeds, but I saw another video showing an Acela at 150. This looks to be the same speed.

[budd2200]

1.2 billion to play with now they can construct new cantenary and hopefully some bypass routes. if that happens northesterners say good bye to 6hr travel times from boston to dc it'll only be 4hrs hopefully the midwest will see something soon

[Balefan83]

does that mean a whole load of upgrading will be done...i always thought the problem was speed restrictions in CT will they be upgrading the metro north aswell?

[budd2200]

well maybe but more than likely it will happen but the question that stands where will the bypasses be located? as for the mnrr im not sure whos operates or what railroad .

[Balefan83]

Did you hear what Obama said today? fantastic news...really amazing

[cttrainguy]

All of the catenary in CT is owned by the state DOT and it is completing upgrades now. Problem is 300,000+ people per day ride MetroNorth into Stamford & NYC so congestion is the cause for the low speed limits in Fairfield County (80 mph). It is 4 tracks into NYC. It is a stated goal to get Acela up to speed thru this section.

[musthavejava]

I hope we get high speed trains in the midwest, but I won't hold my breath. The government sucks when it comes to funding Amtrak and it really pisses me off.

[tornadoexe]

When are California's high speed trains starting to operate.

[BoomerNavy70]

One of the reason you have issues with high speed rail is because in the South they could not afford to build overpasses so they built only crossings. Where as in the Northeast they built overpasses which allows the trains to run much faster.

The South needs to get with the program.

[gaycowboy31]

that is a hell of a rush standing on one of these platforms and photograpihin those passsing I have had two pass between me a speen before..it literly feels like yo will be sucked right off the platform WOW what a rush

[waldron728]

I agree! I used to take SEPTA all the time coming home from Penn State and I used to LOVE watching the Acelas whizz by me at like 100 mph. It really is a rush.

[gaycowboy31]

cool man I love photographing those at speed what a rush but I have never rode SEPTA before when I was in Boston both times i was in the Amtrak railyard with a private railcar but I have been in the cab of one of those Acelas

[sammydenyc]

This looks faster than 135

[cttrainguy]

Seeing how American trains are 2-3 times heavier than European ones, and it uses existing track with endless curves and hills, yes it is pretty fast.

[BoomerNavy70]

Anyone in America that believes that it is not time to resurrect our railroad passenger service has to be a complete idiot.

Do you realize that if we had trains like this between Atlanta and New York City at 150 miles per hour you could make the trip in approximately 7 hours, and that is allowing for stops that would total 1.5 hours. Otherwise you could do it in 5.8 hours. That is less time than going to the airport, parking your car, and flying.

America needs to get with the program.

[trooper40below]

I would agree with that as well and I understand where you're coming from, but you have to understand that america and canada both are huge countriee geographically while europe is small geographically. America has 2300 plus miles of rail. This is why you don't see a lot of speed trains except on the east coast where its the busiest. I prefer a nice relaxing ride with all the scenic beauty america has over europe anyway.

[BobWeaver112]

2300 miles of rail? Try 150,000+.

[Blue387]

Tell that to John McCain, who is bitterly opposed to expanding our rail network.

I believe the train seems slow as it is going past a station.

[cttrainguy]

John McCain is a dinosaur who fortunately didn't get elected.  Stick him on I-95 outside of NYC at rush hour and see what he thinks then. Biden takes Amtrak from Delaware every day!

[OettingerCroat]

God bless Biden (my current American political hero) and God bless the rails! Obama's infrastructure plan will certainly help us railfans, but more importantly, our ECONOMY, out. :-)

[kirby4d]

If there wasn't this bloody recession, Biden would have us choking on railroads in two years. <333

[OettingerCroat]

I would love to get smothered by passenger rails services here in America!

[totorofusion]

just like the old days :D it'll be nice to see trains like this everywhere, its where we should have been in the 50s-60s

[OettingerCroat]

TO-TA-LLY

[tristar18]

It WAS built at I believe the Bombardier Plattsburg facility, and the motor and power equipment was manufactured in the Alstom Hornell, NY facility. Please anyone, correct me if I am wrong.

[growingup15]

omg that is fast i wonder if they can call that a american bullet train!!!

[soundseeker63]

That is very faaaaaast!!! One question though, why dont they have more coaches per train? Even our newer (if slightly slower) pendolinos have 9 cars per set....?

[cttrainguy]

Not sure why. Ridership in the NE Corridor is very strong but with the higher fare price ($102 one-way New Haven - Boston) maybe they didn't expect overwhelming ridership. They've gained riders in double digit percentages for several years now, perhaps they will lengthen or order additional sets. They've taken a lot of fliers off of commuter flights in the northeast since they started this.

[pcmiler2000]

hahaha, train soo fast, couldnt turn the video camera faster enough. Thats a fast train, Ill might have snap my neck, trying to follow it through.

[cttrainguy]

No, I'd just been yelled at by the stationmaster so I was paranoid about looking too enthusiastic, or too obvious that I was filming!

[trainboy15]

that acela was fying

[rwboa22]

I've been down at the SEPTA R2-Marcus Hook/Wilmington/Newark train platforms before, and it is something to see this train zip on by you at 110 mph. Even when you on a Silverliner m.u. coach that when this train flies by that it is a miracle the SEPTA trainsets are not blown over.

[goldtoad55]

I saw my first one about two years ago in Westerly, heading northbound, and I was astounded at the speed (90 mph)and how close I was able to stand by the tracks! I consulted a map of the train line through Rhode Island and saw a long stretch of track running through Kingston. I drove there and witnessed the train at 150 mph! Since then the family travels there on occasion and I've even brought colleagues from work to experience the event. Nobody has ever left the station disappointed!

[nostromo74]

I ride the Acela b/t NY and Boston frequently and love it. It's FAR better than flying. I'll keep an eye out for this station on my next trip. I cannot wait until Bush is gone. He's been so hostile to rail. He's proposed killing AMTRAK for every budget he submitted. We need an administration that realizes the sound economic and social benefits rail travel offers over paving more roads. Go AMTRAK and Go Acela!

[cttrainguy]

Just for the record, McCain has come out against Amtrak a number if time in the last 10 years. He's obviously never driven I-95 at rush hour.

[dblissmn]

McCain is even more anti Amtrak than Bush -- he's been trying to kill it off for his entire Congressional career.

[cttrainguy]

Yes he is. Someone needs to stick him on I-95 at rush hour around NYC one afternoon and then see if we need Amtrak or not.

[phantomlord54]

Amen. This is absolutely the most despicable administration in the last 100 years, if not ever, on a whole range of issues

[rwboa22]

Amen! Hope Hillary or Barack are good friends of Amtrak, SEPTA, NJ Transit, and all other commuter rail programs, because were going to need them.

[Felt07]

I've got a problem: being obsessed with blaring horn blasts! This is the best one so far! CRIPES! That's dope as hell!!

[caraddict520]

OMFG!! i live in RI ive been to that station!! cooll!!

[Chafford1]

This is a seriously quick train, certainly quicker than the 125mph domestic trains in the UK (although we're getting 140mph domestic trains on the Eurostar line from late 2009). My only concern watching this is that the train runs past the platform edge.

However Amtrak should be commended for persisting in the face of a seemingly hostile Government in the USA.

Now have a look at its cousin running at 199mph (320kph) in France - type in 'Special TGV Duplex', run the video and enjoy!

[cttrainguy]

Yes, those who stand too close the first time (if the stationmaster doesn't yell at you) learn quickly to stand back the next time. The stations where Acela stops must be high-level platforms (Providence, New Haven). There's also a fence between the two tracks to keep folks from crossing, so they must use the crossover.

[KB1KOI]

I was never yelled at for being on the line of the times I've been there:

-Sept/Oct 06, checking out URI,

-June 12, 2007 watched the 2155 go though while killing time before the high School graduation reshersal at the Ryan center

-July 07, the half way point of a bike ride to/from Coventry

-July 22 07, The first recorded video (SB Acela)

-Jan 08, The second recorded video (Acela 2250)

funny how I remember each time I was down there.

[rwboa22]

Same here down in Philadelphia, where both Amtrak and SEPTA trains can hurl past you at speeds between 85 and 125 mph.

[trainboy15]

cool

[Draco677]

Wow great vid! I was just at this station. The Acela Express is amazing!

[superatticman]

A fine train indeed. And actually faster than anything thats running on the domestic services in the UK these days.

We often used to sneer at Amtrak and American railways in general in the past. But not anymore!!! The USA once led the way in speed and comfort. You were using diesels and electrics on long distance passenger trains whilst most of Europe was fannying around with Steam trains still. Maybe in a few years the USA will once again lead the way?

[KB1KOI]

With rising gas prices, maybe

[cttrainguy]

There are no fewer than 15 high speed proposals in the US right now, ALL proposed at the state level. The Feds are clueless about rail and prefer to subsidize airlines and highways instead. Perhaps this will change come November elections.

[cttrainguy]

And it did - thank God! Amtrak has $1.2 billion to play with now.

[ffairlane57]

Thank Joe Biden.

[Dkels219]

Let's just hope that Amtrak play it's cards right unlike the past in which we don't need. I do believe Amtrak has a fighting chance to survive.

[buggiecar]

Horn is roaring there

[buggiecar]

AcelaNEC Is this 135 mph or 150?

[trainriders1031]

150

[AcelaNEC]

Around 135-140 the zones 150 though but were never that fast coming out of providence.

[AcelaNEC]

Thanks For enhoying me Acela! I operate 2158 2217.

[cttrainguy]

Anytime. We took one up last Monday, I think it was 2150. Out of New Haven at 9:30 AM. Anyway, it went into emergency shutdown twice on the ride to Boston. They're not skipping maintenance or experiencing more problems with the trainsets are they?

[AcelaNEC]

My friend operated 2150 I'm fairly sure. I heard that it was because of a power surge that rendered a bunch of track sections along 42 useless. The Acela's are designed to shut down at any point where we get too much energy or abnormalities in circuits. It's just a saftey messure, sorry about that. We do routine maintance don't worry.

[tristar18]

The Acela Express is one of the most advanced electric trainsets in the world. You are correct, it is standard in them to shutdown if there is a abnormality in the current or surge of power. They are designed to handle 4,474 kW.

[trainriders1031]

Man, that train goes so fast. The ride in it is great. Better then an airplane!

[pahogger]

My only concern is Amtrak allowing NS to run freight trains on the corridor. Freights are hard on the rails and can make flat spots which translates into bumpy rides for the Acela trains. Not a good idea!

[cttrainguy]

NS does not operate north of NYC. In CT the track is owned by the state DOT and only Providence & Worcester operates there with limited freight service, mostly in the evening or night. There are also long sections of third nonelectrifed track for the freights to operate on.

[phantomlord54]

These trains run so smoothly now on the Corridor with all the new concrete ties and welded rails

[whl11]

High speed trains in Britain run close to the platform at full speed too. As long as people on the platform stand behind the yellow line there really is no safety concern.

[cttrainguy]

Apparently our Acela videos are being commented on in Europe and asking how safe it is to be so close. All stations along this line have pedestrian crossovers and the platforms are completely fenced in, including down the center between the two tracks. The audio warnings help also. The stationmasters do keep an eye on the tracks also, and I've been yelled at several times, even when standing at least 10 ft from the track.

[buggiecar]

Dang that thing flies!

[cttrainguy]

I hear Schwartzy vetoed it as too costly and unnecessary. A European of all people!

[phantomlord54]

they're talkin' now about future California trains maxin' out at 220

[pcorf]

Thats a damn fast train. But the TGV in France is even faster. Expresses also do not run through the platform.

[cttrainguy]

South of New Haven there are four tracks to Washington and they do run on the center two tracks away from the platforms at stations where they don't stop.

[GoofyNewf]

The best place on the entire line to see the 150 mph zone is Mansfield station in MA. A lot of these vids are from the station.

[wastechart]

I live in Attleboro (one stop south of Mansfield) and the trains have been going MUCH slower recently, not to mention yesterday's incident of the Acela which hit an abandoned SUV at 125MPH...

[cttrainguy]

I didn't hear about that one. We had a car get hit in Waterford at one of the grade crossings. There are supposed to be sensors at each grade crossing which signal the train to stop if the crossing is blocked.

[alx2925]

Usually, they would be going quite fast if they are going northbound, southbound, they're speeding up, doing about 130 or so

[DHMwithT]

If this train is southbound, he is probably doing about 145-147 as he hits the station hitting 150 by the time he clears the station or a little more south. I know this because I used to work this district and ridden the cab in my line of duty many times. Facinating piece of railroad.

[m173627]

I think its hillarious that directly after the announcment finishes, the horn sounds and the train whooshes by.

[cttrainguy]

most of the time the announcement is still going on while the train passes

[m173627]

Yeah ive seen another video like that. "Train approching, please stay..." SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHOOOOOWWWWWWW!

[bwitchedfan1221]

i saw one of those trains pass me when i was a kid. i think it was when they were gaining popularity. cool vid.

[nrgeorge]

cool horn

[milotacsbil]

That train is doing more like 150. That's the speed limit at Kingston Station, RI. And, yes, it's very windy standing on the platform when an Acela passes by.

[alx2925]

actually, its 135mph, I've been in the cab of the Acela Express goin through Kingston. Its 135MPH.

[milotacsbil]

Before or after the catenary upgrade?

[alx2925]

Before

[milotacsbil]

Since the catenary upgrade, Acela can now go as fast as 150 MPH to the curve near mile post 154. I've tracked it on my GPS on the way to NYC and on the way back to Providence.

[cttrainguy]

According to the Amtrak site the 150 mph zone is 2 miles north of the station, this southbound is probably riding the inertia on his way down to 135 again.

I don't know what speed limit was before they electrified the NH-BOS section in 2000. Acela Express didn't exist before then. The line was built on concrete ties and in CT they installed a few 80 mph crossovers.

[milotacsbil]

Going south, after the curve at MP 160, the maximum speed is 150 again to the next curve at MP 154. Kingston station is at MP 158. I've used my GPS to measure this on the way to New York several times.

[redbeast2]

wow, what about the wind the train makes?