ABOUT AMTRAK As for Amtrak, I believe what happened is the cash strapped Federal corporation, the State and the Florida East Coast merely changed the approach when the ill-advised Florida HSR bit the dust.
All Aboard Florida/Brightline is effectively completely overhauling the entire railroad. Double track (once one of the nations only completely double track routes) is going back down. Work is now breaking out of the Miami - West Palm area and into Martin County, Brevard and Orange. New signaling, new rail, new ties, new track, new right-of-way (Cocoa-Orlando) and it's just a matter of perhaps 2-3 more years until this breaks into the Cocoa-Jacksonville region. New Stations are already well on the way in downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando and about to break ground in Cocoa Beach. Expect the same to happen in either Daytona or New Smyrna, St. Augustine and ultimately Jacksonville.
Once this system is up and running as an intrastate corridor service, Amtrak long-distance trains such as the Silver Meteor and Silver Star can move in at a fraction of the cost that they originally anticipated. Huge savings, new stations and a complimentary corridor service.
*All photos from the Brightline executive tour of the Siemens plant
Type and originPower type Diesel-electric
Builder Siemens Mobility
Performance figuresMaximum speed 125 mph (201 km/h)
Power output At alternator:
4,400 hp (3,300 kW) Short-Time
4,200 hp (3,100 kW) Continuous
At wheel (HEP dependent):
~4,000 hp (3,000 kW)
to
~2,900 hp (2,200 kW)
Tractive effort Starting:
290 kN (65,000 lbf)
Factor of adh 4.07 (24.57%)
Performance figuresFuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 1,800 US gal (6,800 l; 1,500 imp gal) (Standard)
Larger tanks available up to
2,200 US gal (8,300 l; 1,800 imp gal)
Prime mover Cummins QSK95
RPM range 600-1800
Engine type 45° V16, four stroke cycle
Aspiration Turbocharged
Displacement 95 liters (5,800 cu in)[1]
Traction motors Siemens AC Traction Motors
Cylinders 16
Cylinder size 5.9375 liters (362.33 cu in)
Transmission AC-DC-AC
MU working Yes
Train heating Locomotive-supplied head-end power; 1,000 kW (1,300 hp) 3-phase, 60 Hz, 480 VAC, 1000 kVA
Loco brake Dynamic / Regenerative / Electropneumatic
Train brakes Electropneumatic
Safety systems FRA standards
Performance figuresMinimum curve 250 ft 0 in (76.20 m)
Wheelbase 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m) (between truck centers)
Length 71 ft 6 in (21.79 m)
Width 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
Height 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Axle load 67,500 lb (30,617 kg)
Adhesive weight 100%
Loco weight 264,556 lb (120,001 kilograms)
Performance figuresSpecifications
AAR wheel arr B-B
UIC class Bo′Bo′
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Trucks Siemens model SF4
Wheel diameter 44 in (1,118 mm)
Passenger car sides for Brightline
Brightline, All Aboard Florida, Florida East Coast and Siemens officials at the roll-out of the first Brightline passenger car.
The DDA's 1984 era, 'Nation's First Heritage Streetcar' system could easily be added to the list.
