Matt Johnson wrote:My question is, will Amtrak give up the active tilt feature (perhaps the acceleration of an EMU makes up for lack of active tilt), will California's trains perhaps include tilt, or will there be two separate variants for each market?
What's the downside of having tilt you don't use? Seems to me there are three:
1) Acquisition costs (offset by order size)
2) Operating costs (weight, parts, training, complexity)
3) Reduced number of bidders
The upside of requiring tilt are:
4) order size and future parts/procurement economies.
5) Possibly saving money on the right of way (fewer bridges, tunnels / less land-acquisition)
I'd guess it only gets really expensive at #3-- if it reduces the number of manufacturers that can bid. Seems to me if you have tilt, you'll figure out places to use it (on SF's existing commuter lines and in the LA area and branches off the HSR trunk) and end up being happy you had it.
Are there any manufacturers who *don't* make a tilting 220mph train "off the shelf"?