Here is the mention in the article:
“Oregon’s new Talgo trainsets are undergoing rigorous dynamic testing in Pueblo, Colo. in December. The trains traveled from Wisconsin to Colorado…” (black letters added)
But I did not realize Talgo has a manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. I really don’t know if these are the same trains the State of Wisconsin is trying not to buy.
The solution to the two trains will depend on the courts. If the courts say Talgo has a case, and the State has to pay up, then the wise thing for the State to do would be either to put them into Hiawatha Service with whatever speed limitations apply or work out a straight lease with Amtrak, which could use the extra capacity for increased revenue, on the rental costs of Amtrak paying the State 90% of the PROFIT (revneue minus avoidable costs) the extra capacity brings to Amtrak. This should at least be a lot more than scrap value.
If the courts say Talgo does not have a case, then the same deal should be worked out by Talgo.
But why wait? Talgo or the State plus Amtrak would benefit by starting this deal now, and let the courts decide who owns the trains, with the Amtrak rental fees put in escrow until the courts decide.
Given Wisconsin’s political situation right now I doubt it will be that simple. Or sensible.
II would love to see Talgos used between Albany to Montreal. The route is curvy and scenic similar to the route Seattle to Vancouver. My idea is to send the two new talgos to the Northwest, and get in return two talgo sets that are pulled by conventional locomotives. These could be maintained in the A-R shops. With tilt equipment the schedule might be tightened, and from comments by passengers who use talgos in the NW. the trains might draw more passengers on this scenic route. Recently Canadian cars were used on this segment, with an across the platform transfer at A-R. With talgos a similar arrangement could be done.
Lets review what really happened here since from my read of the thread many do not know the issues involved.
First and foremost, Illinois is not going to take the trainsets. They have already agreed to the Amtrak “standard corridor car” concept and awarded a contract to Japans Shipiro (spelling?) to build corridor cars based on the Pacific Surfliner design for Illinois, Missouri, California and I think there was one other state and I want to say Michigan but I am not sure.
Second, former Wisconsin Governor Doyle rammed through this agreement with Talgo in the last days of his administration. It was controversial because it was not a product of compromise between both sides of the aisle nor was it handled according to past State procedure concerning such contracts. In fact, it was a no bid contract handed to Talgo. A significant Milwaukee manufacturer (Super Steel, Inc) was completely excluded from the process. Further, Doyle presumed wrongly that the Midwest HSR compact would settle on the Talgo if he first established a Midwest base for them using taxpayer money…whats more he could use it politically and state that he “created” jobs. This was the stupid part because Governor Doyle had nothing in writing from the other states that they would agree to use the Talgo trainset…it was pure assumption on his part. To be fair, Doyle thought he could hide all this in the larger $800 million stimulus package that Obama was offering. The problem with the stimulus offer and specifically why Governor Walker balked was that Ray LaHood stated in the grant of money that the money had to be paid back in full and would become a loan NOT a grant if the state did not achieve a 110 mph rail system as a end result. In my view Walker was correct in rejecting the money on that basis because $800 million is simply not enough to fund a Chicago to Madison
Thanks for a good analysis. Needed that!
[quote user=“CMStPnP”]
Lets review what really happened here since from my read of the thread many do not know the issues involved.
First and foremost, Illinois is not going to take the trainsets. They have already agreed to the Amtrak “standard corridor car” concept and awarded a contract to Japans Shipiro (spelling?) to build corridor cars based on the Pacific Surfliner design for Illinois, Missouri, California and I think there was one other state and I want to say Michigan but I am not sure.
Second, former Wisconsin Governor Doyle rammed through this agreement with Talgo in the last days of his administration. It was controversial because it was not a product of compromise between both sides of the aisle nor was it handled according to past State procedure concerning such contracts. In fact, it was a no bid contract handed to Talgo. A significant Milwaukee manufacturer (Super Steel, Inc) was completely excluded from the process. Further, Doyle presumed wrongly that the Midwest HSR compact would settle on the Talgo if he first established a Midwest base for them using taxpayer money…whats more he could use it politically and state that he “created” jobs. This was the stupid part because Governor Doyle had nothing in writing from the other states that they would agree to use the Talgo trainset…it was pure assumption on his part. To be fair, Doyle thought he could hide all this in the larger $800 million stimulus package that Obama was offering. The problem with the stimulus offer and specifically why Governor Walker balked was that Ray LaHood stated in the grant of money that the money had to be paid back in full and would become a loan NOT a grant if the state did not achieve a 110 mph rail system as a end result. In my view Walker was correct in rejecting the money on that basis because $800 million is simply
unfortunately, these trainsets can not be touched until the LAWSUIT is settled between Talgo and Wisconsin