Amtrak's Cascades service is known for their use of the Talgo equipment. However, is it time to say goodbye to those unique cars?
According to an article published by Bloomberg, the Talgo sets used by Amtrak do not conform to safety standards set in 1999. While federal regulators were comfortable with the cars at speeds not in excess of 50 MPH, they had concerns at speeds above 50, yet grandfathered the cars in any way because the FRA felt that the main goal of the safety standards had been met.
The FRA has also released its preliminary report on the 501 accident. Both operating crew members (the engineer and qualifying conductor) still have not been interviewed due to their injuries.
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RRD18MR001-prelim.aspx
https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/2018/07/10/amtrak-rail-cars-in-fatal-crash-didn-t-meet-current-standards
According to an article published by Bloomberg, the Talgo sets used by Amtrak do not conform to safety standards set in 1999. While federal regulators were comfortable with the cars at speeds not in excess of 50 MPH, they had concerns at speeds above 50, yet grandfathered the cars in any way because the FRA felt that the main goal of the safety standards had been met.
The FRA has also released its preliminary report on the 501 accident. Both operating crew members (the engineer and qualifying conductor) still have not been interviewed due to their injuries.
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RRD18MR001-prelim.aspx
https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/2018/07/10/amtrak-rail-cars-in-fatal-crash-didn-t-meet-current-standards