Amtrak Acela Replacement Plan Creates Bombardier Rivalry

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Wow, these bombardier products aren't having any luck. the HHP8s, the locomotive versions of the Acela Power cars, are going to be first to go with the arrival of the new ACS-64 electrics. There won't be anything Acela left a couple years from now.

Didn't hear about the ACS-64's - When are they due to be put in use???

They announced these a while ago. They're supposed to go into production in Germany either this year (2013) or the next. They're based off the "Eurosprinter" locomotive in service on the other side of the atlantic. The "DC" AEM7s and HHP8s will be the first to be retired. the AEM7-ACs will probably be the last of the current generation to remain in service by the end of the decade.

Amtrak is actually getting rid of a lot of stuff lately. They have already put into service "Viewliner" diners and i think there are more car types planned using the "viewliner" body shell. These will bump off the last remaining budd diner cars on Amtrak. Those I can understand needing retirement, but the HHP8s and Acelas only went into service 12 years ago. They aren't brand new, but they certainly aren't old.

The HHP8s i hear are problematic, but the Acela Express trainsets i'm told were incredibly successful. Its weird that they are retiring them so soon.