^ I think their is more to the $2 billion than it bought us little. They pretty much rebuilt the entire right of way, infrastructure and associated equipment upgrades to the point that pretty much makes 110 mph very feasible and doable. I believe their is some additional double track to do but more for increasing capacity then speed and work to rebuild & reorganize rail traffic through Springfield is progressing & will be a plus.
From what I read periodically and what I understand is that the upgrades to get the PTC & grade crossings/protections in order which has a lot to do with multiple electronics & varying software has pretty much been mess. Probably in part to uneven funding commitments, Amtrak not owning the route outright like they do for Northeast corridor or say even most of the Detroit line where things have progressed, Illinois not showing any great ability to manage things either in my opinion (you can add the bilevel passenger car order boondogle between Cali & IL), the rail line features everything on rail outside of a dinner train (manifest freight, to local service, terminal rail ops, to corridor passenger rail to national passenger train running over multipe railroads) and of course, host railroad & dispatcher for terminal railroad(s) not much help. Throw in probably the biggest factor in that FRA having some very difficult expectations because at end of the day their is not many rail corridors in the US including Chicago to St Louis that are truly grade separated. So I'm sure they are probably asking for 100% operational success on any possible condition or situation they can dream of...when taking to next level. I can't speak to what is FRA is actually asking for in their testing but assume to this point it has been nothing less.
Still hope full that an infrastructure bill passes and some much needed emphasis & funding flows into Amtrak. On same note, Amtrak does seem to making some headway in finally looking to reinvest. Article on new deal for more railcars to replace Amfleet. Includes update on cars for Midwest and California corridor service. Might finally seeing some new cars behind the new Siemen locomotives.
https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... equipment/
Siemens is currently in the midst of building a 137-car order of Venture cars for use on state-supported trains in California and the Midwest. Various issues have delayed the introduction of those cars in service, although an Amtrak official said in June that the cars could begin operation as early as late this month.
From what I read periodically and what I understand is that the upgrades to get the PTC & grade crossings/protections in order which has a lot to do with multiple electronics & varying software has pretty much been mess. Probably in part to uneven funding commitments, Amtrak not owning the route outright like they do for Northeast corridor or say even most of the Detroit line where things have progressed, Illinois not showing any great ability to manage things either in my opinion (you can add the bilevel passenger car order boondogle between Cali & IL), the rail line features everything on rail outside of a dinner train (manifest freight, to local service, terminal rail ops, to corridor passenger rail to national passenger train running over multipe railroads) and of course, host railroad & dispatcher for terminal railroad(s) not much help. Throw in probably the biggest factor in that FRA having some very difficult expectations because at end of the day their is not many rail corridors in the US including Chicago to St Louis that are truly grade separated. So I'm sure they are probably asking for 100% operational success on any possible condition or situation they can dream of...when taking to next level. I can't speak to what is FRA is actually asking for in their testing but assume to this point it has been nothing less.
Still hope full that an infrastructure bill passes and some much needed emphasis & funding flows into Amtrak. On same note, Amtrak does seem to making some headway in finally looking to reinvest. Article on new deal for more railcars to replace Amfleet. Includes update on cars for Midwest and California corridor service. Might finally seeing some new cars behind the new Siemen locomotives.
https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... equipment/
Siemens is currently in the midst of building a 137-car order of Venture cars for use on state-supported trains in California and the Midwest. Various issues have delayed the introduction of those cars in service, although an Amtrak official said in June that the cars could begin operation as early as late this month.
