Shore Line East speeds

Out of curiosity, what's SLE's top speed?

SLE trains can operate at speeds of up to 90 MPH (for non Acela, non Amfleet trains) between New Haven and Old Saybrook. The ex VRE cars are limited to 80 MPH on Amtrak territory.

And since SLE only has ex VRE cars left, the max speed is 80 mph.

Is there a speed restriction placed upon SLEs approaching Old Saybrook, because they approach the station exceptionally slow.

normal at a final destination , cause signal for leaving the station (north) is red.

Interesting, Thanks Dutch. I always wondered why SLE came in so slow, I always thought the equipment just didn't move that fast.

Thanks guys. & what's the MAS btn New Haven & New London?

unless they are going to drop off passangers on track 2 they start to know down the signals at brook and if they are going to track 3 the home board at os will be aproach

The MAS between New Haven and New London is 110 MPH at MP 81.7/82.4, 83.2/83.7, 103.7 and "VIEW" and "VIEW"/109.6 for mostly Acela trains.

Why are the VRE cars limited to 80? Could they operate at 90 somewhere else? What is the speed limit on the New Haven Line down to Stamford?

Cause cars are built for a certain speed, you can't take Yugo and race it in the Daytona 500.
For the cars to go faster, they would need other trucks with dual braking,(disk/tread) they would need bigger wheels, a longer wheel base etc.
And on a 35 mile commuter run, if say from 80 to 110 mph, it would gain you 17 seconds per mile, so for big expenses it will save you less than 10 minutes on current time.

I'm not suggesting it would make any sense to actually have equipment for 90mph (although when it gets M-8s they will be able to do some good speed) because you end up with so little running time at that speed, because of accel/ decel. I was just wondering, because the OP said they aren't allowed to "in Amtrak territory." If anything, the M8's will save more time on accel/decel since they are 25kV electric than they will on top speed.

you will not see the m8's east of new haven for a long time


as for speed the extra speeds would not really. help seeing how they is a long approach to guilford at reduced speed due to signals

M8 will begin testing on the shoreline in early 2010. Amtrak has not yet decided what speed they will be permitted to operate at. Since they will have the ACSES cab signal system, they could operate up to 90 MPH, but most likely they'll be restricted to 80 MPH.

capecodlocoguy wrote:M8 will begin testing on the shoreline in early 2010. Amtrak has not yet decided what speed they will be permitted to operate at. Since they will have the ACSES cab signal system, they could operate up to 90 MPH, but most likely they'll be restricted to 80 MPH.

Why 80? The current equipment is permitted 90mph on the New Haven between CP 217 & CP 223. Have the BL20's had the ACSES tested yet?