Railroad Forums
Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman
gokeefe wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 6:28 amI think it's 3:45 for Cascade Seattle to Portland and 4:10 for the Starlight. So yes it is faster by 25 minutes, but I think a traveler on either train mentally rounds that to a four hour trip.daybeers wrote: ↑Thu Aug 22, 2019 11:52 pm I'm all for new cars but doesn't the current articulating equipment save a not-so-significant chunk of time?It's the passive tilt system that allows for increased speeds.
We continue to meet bi-weekly with Sound Transit, Amtrak, ODOT and Federal Railroad Administration to move forward on the return to the Point Defiance Bypass between Tacoma and DuPont. As the track owner, Sound Transit is leading those discussions and managing the schedule and next steps.
Currently, Sound Transit is developing its Rail Activation Plan related to safety criteria, outreach activities and processes they need completed before they will approve track testing and Amtrak crew qualification. Once those activities are underway, Sound Transit will determine a date for returning passenger rail service to the Point Defiance Bypass.
Washington State Department of Transportation has withdrawn its 1998-built Talgo VI trainsets used to operate the Amtrak Cascades services between Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, ahead of the procurement of replacement rolling stock.The article mentions stopgap Horizon equipment and the Point Defiance Bypass too.
Withdrawal of the Talgo VIs was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board following the December 2017 Du Pont derailment in which several vehicles were destroyed. The cutting back of services during the coronavirus pandemic enabled the two remaining 12-car trainsets to be taken out of service in June, and these have now been put up for sale. The two Talgo Series 8 trainsets owned by Oregon Department of Transportation, which have improved crashworthiness, will continue to operate in the corridor.