There is an article in the Bloomberg news on Amtrak's plan for the Acela II order with comments from Joe Boardman titled "Amtrak Seeks Safety Changes to Allow US Bullet Train". The article covers much of is already known here, but confirms that the plan is to add 10-12 new trains before beginning to replace the Acela Is. The article does venture a bit into the funding and political situation and the upcoming re-authorization for Amtrak (which could have significant effects). Anyway, some excerpts from the article:
So, has Amtrak had conversations with Xpress West on a possible combined purchase?Boardman, in the interview, said he’d like to add at least 10 to 12 trains before beginning to retire the current Acela fleet. The cost, for which Amtrak said it will seek information from potential suppliers in early 2013, may be $30 million to $40 million per trainset, Boardman said.
It depends on how many we actually would purchase and whether anybody else in this country is going to move forward with high-speed trainsets,” he said.
Boardman, who was FRA administrator from 2005 to 2008, said he’ll also challenge Congress this year to commit to maintaining taxpayer funding for long-distance train service outside the Northeast Corridor, so it can get the best value on equipment purchases.