Acela Express

The Acela Express [ əsɛlə ɪkspɹɛs ] is a high-speed train of the U.S. rail company Amtrak, since 1999 on the Washington route, DC - New York City - Boston wrong.

The name Acela is an English portmanteau of acceleration ( acceleration dt ) and excellence (German quality ).

  • 3.1 Route and stations
  • 3.2 offer

History

After the success of high-speed trains in other countries, the Federal Railroad Administration Department of Transportation began with the study of the introduction in the U.S.. On 18 December 1992 five transport corridors have been designated for high-speed traffic ( " Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 ( ISTEA ) ( PL 102-240 ) " ) including the Northeast Corridor. In October 1992, five other corridors have been designated and put 1993 on the U.S. government to support the development with a multi-billion dollar funding.

During this time, Amtrak high-speed trains for use in the Northeast Corridor began to investigate. A Swedish Intercity type SJ X2000 was shipped and subjected to a test program from October 1992 to January 1993. Subsequently, this has been used by February to May and August to September 1993 at the Northeast Corridor. Siemens organized the ICE Train Tour North America, under which a German ICE railcar went in July and August 1993 in the Northeast Corridor. Both trains represented during the demonstration rides on American speed records. Also, a train set Talgo was shown in operation in the United States.

Based on the test drives a catalog of requirements was created and in October 1994, 26 high-speed trains were eventually advertised for use in the Northeast Corridor. The bidding competition won the Canadian provider Bombardier Transportation, together with Alstom in March 1996, the proposed approach based on the Bombardier LRC trains. ( For Light, Rapid, Comfortable, dt easy, fast, convenient ) which were operated at VIA Rail Canada and in a configuration were already approved for 200 km / h.

In autumn 1999 start-up delays have been reported. After test driving the delivery consortium admitted not being able to provide enough functioning trains to planned commencement of operations. The first vehicles should therefore be in the spring of 2000. The last minute cancellation resulted in an advertising campaign for the product launch in the amount of seven million dollars could no longer be stopped.

The Acela Express finally accepted on 16 October 2000 the service between Boston and Washington, DC, on. The trains initially had technical problems with the braking system and the attachment of the yaw damper, which led to a shutdown of trains at times. However, the train operation grew steadily, reaching by 2005 a share of 40 percent of the combined flight / train service between New York and Boston from previously 18 percent. Due to the popularity of the operation of the predecessor train Metroliner 2006 has been discontinued and replaced by further procured Acela trainsets.

Due to capacity constraints as of 2008 more units were ordered, which were delivered in 2012. It was also in 2010 started to explore new routes for trains to 350 km / h Northeast Corridor - in the southern part (Washington, DC - New York) parallel to the old route, which is busy almost continuously to 100 percent ( with regional trains and freight trains ), in the northern part (New York - Boston ) with new track alignment to halve the travel time. As part of the NEC -UP expansion program in the Northeast Corridor Amtrak wants 40 new trainsets buy an hour on the upgraded lines from Washington to Boston to realize.

Construction

Mechanical Part

The mechanical part ( car body, bogies and brakes) Bombardier reminds externally to the TGV, but based on the in the 1980s, Bombardier built for Canada LRC trains. An Acela Express consists of two power cars and six intermediate cars each. Unlike the TGV trains, cars have no Jacob bogies. Through the use of other bogies and tilting the cars are compared with those of a TGV 55 percent heavier.

The train offers with special crumple zones a passive safety, as the end of the nineties was not usual in European high speed trains.

Tilting

The tilting technology was acquired by the built in the eighties LRC trains. The superstructure of the intermediate cars could be tilted under computer control according to the curve position by four degrees to the right or left. Due to poor coordination between vehicle and infrastructure in the tilting Acela Express can not be used currently - the vehicles were in the inclined state violate the gauge by 10 centimeters.

Electrical Section

The electrical equipment Alstom is largely based on that of the TGV. The two power cars have a drive power of 9,200 kW, which can accelerate the train at a maximum speed of 265 km / h. In normal operation, 240 km / h can be achieved. The vehicles are more compatible with other systems and can therefore run under the following used on the Northeast Corridor voltage: 11.5 kV at 25 Hz, 12.5 kV and 25 kV at 60 Hz.

Passenger compartment

The interior of the train is reminiscent of an aircraft cabin. The two seating categories called Business Class and First Class. Usually consist of Amtrak trains from a business and a simpler Coach Class, First Class Acela is thus a superior offering that only exists in some other sleeper society. There are luggage racks available and in the pockets on the backrest of the front seat insert cards with safety instructions. The six intermediate cars provide 304 travelers place. Similar to the German ICE, there is a conference compartment and a bistro.

Operation

Route and stations

The Acela Express runs on the route or with possible stops in Washington, DC ( Union Station ) - Airport Baltimore - Baltimore ( Penn Station) - Wilmington - Philadelphia - Trenton - Woodbridge Township (Metro Park Station ) - Newark ( Penn Station ) - New York City ( Penn Station) - Stamford - New Haven - New London - Providence - Boston ( back Bay Station ) - Boston ( South Station ) and back. In some cases, however, only sections of this route are operated or omitted holding.

Offer

From Washington, D.C. to New York the trains run from Monday to Friday from 05:00 clock to 20:00 clock every hour. On Saturday, at only four pairs of trains. On Sunday there from 09:00 clock to 13:00 clock to 15:00 clock to 17:00 clock one hour clock, and a train at 20:00 clock (August 2008). From New York to Washington, D.C. the trains run every hour from 06:00 clock to 19:00 clock, an additional train follows at 20:15 clock. On Saturday, at only four pairs of trains. On Sunday drive from 09:00 clock to 12:00 clock three trains, from 15:00 clock corresponds to the clock to that of Monday to Friday (August 2008).

The Acela Express takes a ride from New York to Washington, DC but only 2:50 hours, is significantly more expensive than comparable European routes and sometimes only half an hour faster than much cheaper trains. A single trip New York - Washington, D.C. in business class will cost 139-209 dollars depending on the time of day. The first class will cost $ 105 extra charge (as of April 2011). The comfort of roughly corresponds to the same classes of aircraft within the United States. The train is popular with commuters and provides for the flight connections to destinations served by this train represents a competitive

The Acela brand

With the introduction of the Acela Express all Amtrak offers were made ​​on the North - East corridor under the brand Acela. Three different offers were initially provided:

  • Acela Express for high-speed trains
  • Acela Regional trains for inter-regional
  • Acela Commuter for regional trains between Philadelphia and New York City

Due to ongoing confusion of Acela Regional and Acela Commuter with the high-speed trains that offer had been renamed again in 2003:

  • From Acela Regional Regional was
  • From Acela Commuter was Clocker - the name that the trains had worn prior to 1999. The Clocker trains were abolished in 2006 and replaced by trains of the transport operator SEPTA and NJ Transit.

Locomotive-hauled trains

In addition to the Acela Express trains Amtrak continues locomotive hauled sets as a regional trains. In addition to the 46 based on Swedish licenses AEM -7 of ASEA and GM EMD from 1979, come since 1999, HHP -8 locomotives used. The latter reminiscent in color and form to the Acela Express power cars, but have cabs at both ends. The term HHP -8 stands for " High Horse Power with 8000 HP ". The 21 locomotives were also built by Bombardier - Alstom consortium.

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