I’ve enjoyed my past Amtrak trips. From Florida to New York. The running in the Northeast was my favorite as the Silver Meteor was hitting 110mph. [:D][8D]
I’ve read that up until the mid 1960s, passenger trains in the U.S were hitting 90-100mph on certain sections, even in the south. [:)][:D]
Does Amtrak do this, or are speeds over 79 m.p.h confined to just the Northeast Corridor. I plan on traveling by train for future vacations and would like to hop on some of the faster runs, if any. [;)][8)][:p]
(I did read a while back that a rail line in Michigan was being upgraded so Amtrak could hit high speeds- don’t remember which thread though)
I don’t know about all of the railroads Amtrak operates on but do know that on some sections of the BNSF 90mph is permitted. This is true for many parts of the SOUTHWEST CHIEF route and the SAN JOAQUINS. Rode Amtrak EMPIRE BUILDER on the former Milwaukee Road at 90mph down the Mississippi from Minneapolis across Wisconsin and into Chicago. Speed is restricted to 79 mph on former SP lines such as the Sunset Route and Coast Starlight route. When the UP operated the CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR across Wyoming 90 mph was permitted. Former CB&Q route across Illinois, and Iowa permit CZ to operate at 90. I have no information on routes in east or southeast U.S.
I thought I once saw a Trains piece on train watching on a stretch of BNSF ex-Santa Fe in Arizona that reported the Southwest Chief passing at more than 79 MPH.
Part of the Chicago to St. Louis line between Joliet and Springfield, IL is being up-graded for 110 MPH for a “high speed” service, but I don’t think all the work is finished. I assume the Texas Eagle would be set up for 99 MPH on that stretch, but I am not sure.
Right now I forget the points, but Amtrak does own some track in Michigan, I think used by the Detroit and Port Huron trains, and I think they are running 100MPH on that stretch now.
Actually Amtrak is slow compared to the Europeans… If you really want to ride a fast train, I suggest you ride the French TGV… or the German ICE especially on the new track recently laid betwween Bonn and Frankfurt… 186 mph is a whole lot faster than 100 mph…
No, we can’t compare to the Europeons, but hey let’s work with what we got!
I’m glad to know that there are some spots in the U.S where passenger trains still run like passenger trains, even in this Amtrak era!
A suggestion: If any of you reading this happens to live near one of these high speed lines, video tape it and put the footage on this forum! Amtrak trains running at or over 90 mph would be a very impressive sight!!!
If you want to see a train over 90 mph, go to the south of massatucets at the rhode island boarder. THe ACELA EXPRESS hits 150 mph for about 40 miles in that region. Unfortunatley thats the only spot it goes that fast. One day, they need to get trains that go out side the NEC to hit thoes speeds.
Forgot to mention: (I apologize to our Canadian friends)
How about Canada on VIA Rail? From the pictures I’ve seen on www.Railpictures.net there are some very nice looking mainlines with long stretches where some VIA trains run.
The CNR Oakville sub in Ontario Canada allows 95mph for passenger trains, Amtrak runs on this line, the Maple Leaf. But I dont know if this means that Amtrak actualy goes 95 there.
Montreal - Toronto track set up for 90mph running and in some sections 100mph is permitted. This has been in effect since CN operated the Rapido’s and later the Turbo’s. VIA operates trains in this corridor at 90+ mph.
Good to know that trains “still fly”. I just find it rather odd that we don’t see this on t.v more often. Usually when passenger trains are shown on a television special or documentary, American or Canadian, the varnish is usually “cruising by” at a lesurely pace!
On the West Coast, Amtrak trains end up running more like a way freight–it seems like they have to take siding at every opportunity, and every UP freight has higher priority…
The Hudson line has 110 mph in stretches from Schenectady (actually a bit west of there, CP169 where Amtrak owned portion of NYC Chicago line connects with CSX frt line from Selkirk) through Albany/Rensselaer down to Poughkeepsie. Turboliners regularly hit 110 as far back as the late 1970s. FL9 hauled trains were limited to 90 and F40s to 100 mph (I think).
Those places that allowed 79-90 mph running, like on the old ATSF (Southwest Chief & San Diegans) still have their ATS inductors. As these things get phased out and not replaced, district speed falls back to 79mph…Stand on the now unused platforms at Holly, CO…Las Animas, CO…Syracuse, KS…Charleston, KS and you can see #3 and #4 still sail-by at 90mph…
Between Syracuse, KS and Las Animas, CO thats 90 MPH on 132# JOINTED rail!
Face it people, the railroads that we(Amtrak) have to contract in order to run our trains over, don’t want us there. If it was up to them, there would be no passenger trains outside of the heavily populated metropolitan areas across this country. So there would be no need to keep the tracks in pristien condition for us to run at the speeds we should and can be running. Amtrak own a stretch of track from Indiana into Michigan in which they are allowed over 100 mph. They’ve recently upgraded some of the switches on this route, so they can go through them at a higher speed. Most of the route is single track with long passing sidings. Also, there will be a more sophisticated signalling system or traffic control system coming soon. Plus, in case you haven’t noticed, most of our Northeast Corridor trains are now being allowed higher speeds along most of the mainline. Much of the mainline between Washington, DC and New York City are getting much needed improvements to the infrastructure. Currently, many of the trains are being allowed 135 mph running. Yes, I’ve sat in the cab on some of these trains, and we’ve come close to 135. Hopefully, in the near future, we’ll be cruising at the speeds that the other high-speed trains are running. When they were testing our high speed trainsets, they topped out at approximently 164 mph in and around Princeston Junction in New Jersey. Much needed capital($$$) will bring this(our) mainline and maybe others up to the standards that have eluded us for four decades and that other countries are enjoying right now.