The Acela, a high speed premium train for the Northeast, is breaking down with great regularity.
"The Acela Express, the premium high-speed train that Amtrak has counted on to bring in badly needed additional revenue, is breaking down so often that the railroad may cut back on its use until the manufacturer can make numerous modifications."The extremely popular train is suffering from an average of one cancellation or en-route breakdown for mechanical reasons every day, and it has the worst on-time record on the Northeast Corridor .[Two personel comments: Amtrak employees I talked to years ago really liked the Swedish X2000 train when it was here for tests. And the original Metroliner trains, also designed for high speed operations had many problems, eventually resulting in their banishment to commuter service. -- Ken Firestone]
Thanks to Ken Firestone
FULL STORY: Acela Rapidly Disappoints New Amtrak Trains Fast but Unreliable

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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