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Looks like Talgo has finally found that Nigerian Prince.

The state of Wisconsin ordered 2 Talgo trainsets for an extension of the Hiawatha, but they were never used. Now the Government of Nigeria will purchase them for use on the new Lagos Blue Line commuter service.

https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2022/01/18/talgos-wisconsin-trains-find-home-in-nigeria/

Quote

 

Talgo’s Wisconsin Trains Find Home In… Nigeria
Intended for high-speed Midwest line, they'll be used on metro line in Lagos.
By Jeramey Jannene - Jan 18th, 2022 07:01 am

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After more than a decade and a twisted legal saga, Talgo has found a buyer for its trainsets originally built for a high-speed rail line between Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and the Twin Cities.

The Spanish train manufacturer will sell the two Milwaukee-made trains to the Nigerian government.

In 2010, Governor-elect Scott Walker refused a $823 million federal grant to build the high-speed Hiawatha extension, but the state was still on the hook to pay for the trainsets ordered by Governor Jim Doyle. Rather than invest in a maintenance facility to put them into use on the existing line, Walker and the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature had the state default on the contract.

Wisconsin ultimately settled with Talgo, a move that cost the state $59 million and allowed the manufacturer to maintain ownership of the equipment.

Talgo’s USA CEO Antonio Perez told Urban Milwaukee in 2019 that he was seeking to sell the trainsets to Oregon and Washington or a coalition of Gulf Coast states. But those deals never came to fruition, nor did a rumored lease to a California agency or to Michigan. Amtrak, meanwhile, ordered new equipment that is expected to enter service in phases starting in 2024.

But Talgo didn’t give up. In addition to its international business, it has landed two major rehabilitation contracts in the United States. It is restoring subway and commuter rail equipment from California at its Milwaukee plant in Century City.

Now it’s selling the trainsets to a new Nigerian rail line serving the Lagos metro area. The 23-mile, 11-station line is the first in a city of 27 million.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will join Perez and Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

According to a press release, the new line is expected to open in late 2022 with a capacity of 500,000 passengers per day. The Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago, with seven daily roundtrips, has never served more than 883,000 passengers in an entire year.

The two Series 8 trainsets Talgo will sell are 14-car trainsets with capacity for up to 420 seated passengers. It is unclear how the trainsets will be modified for use in Nigeria.

Talgo made two additional Series 8 trainsets in Milwaukee for use on the Amtrak Cascades Service between Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, CA. Those trainsets remain in service.

 

 

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On 11/19/2021 at 1:22 PM, Oc4526 said:

From Amtrak.com re the Maple Leaf & Adirondack & Cascade service.


Maple Leaf and Adirondack Cross Border Service Resumption Plan

Effective Early 2022

Amtrak is working with federal agencies to resume cross border service on the Maple Leaf to Toronto and Adirondack to Montreal.

We hope to resume passenger rail service between our two countries in early 2022. More details to come.

 

PSN 1121-115

It's already well into 2022, and there's still nothing new on their website beyond this. "Early 2022" is somewhat vague, and at this point you'd think they'd have at least another update and/or a specific date for resuming service.

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On 3/12/2022 at 4:40 PM, 81-717 said:

It's already well into 2022, and there's still nothing new on their website beyond this. "Early 2022" is somewhat vague, and at this point you'd think they'd have at least another update and/or a specific date for resuming service.

Maple leaf is due in June 27th
AmtrakServiceUpdates.jpg

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1 hour ago, KenrichYT said:

Maple leaf is due in June 27th
AmtrakServiceUpdates.jpg

Not sure if there would be any purpose to extend the Ethan Allen Express further north than Burlington (for example Montreal) as that area already has daily Amtrak service to Montreal via the Adirondack using the former Delaware & Hudson. In fact, I would hope that Amtrak would show a seasonal connection to the Adirondack at Burlington for ferry service to Port Kent where the Adirondack stops in the summer. 

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On 5/17/2022 at 11:13 PM, Viafreak said:

Not sure if there would be any purpose to extend the Ethan Allen Express further north than Burlington (for example Montreal) as that area already has daily Amtrak service to Montreal via the Adirondack using the former Delaware & Hudson. In fact, I would hope that Amtrak would show a seasonal connection to the Adirondack at Burlington for ferry service to Port Kent where the Adirondack stops in the summer. 

Current plans call for the extension of the Vermonter. The main issue is customs preclearance at Gare Centrale.

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At least 50 people are hurt and multiple fatalities reported after a Amtrak Train derailed after hitting a dump truck in Kansas City Missouri, causing the train to flip over on its side.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/entire-amtrak-train-topples-over-in-missouri-derailment

 

Also, three people killed after an Amtrak train hit a car in Northern California yesterday.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-injured-amtrak-collision-report/story?id=85761564

 

All horrible accidents.

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4 hours ago, DCTransitFilms said:

At least 50 people are hurt and multiple fatalities reported after a Amtrak Train derailed after hitting a dump truck in Kansas City Missouri, causing the train to flip over on its side.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/entire-amtrak-train-topples-over-in-missouri-derailment

 

Also, three people killed after an Amtrak train hit a car in Northern California yesterday.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-injured-amtrak-collision-report/story?id=85761564

 

All horrible accidents.

There needs to be more accountability for truck drivers to obey rail crossings. More fines, stricter enforcement since right now safety is not a priority for them. 

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On 6/27/2022 at 5:39 PM, DCTransitFilms said:

At least 50 people are hurt and multiple fatalities reported after a Amtrak Train derailed after hitting a dump truck in Kansas City Missouri, causing the train to flip over on its side.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/entire-amtrak-train-topples-over-in-missouri-derailment

 

Also, three people killed after an Amtrak train hit a car in Northern California yesterday.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-injured-amtrak-collision-report/story?id=85761564

 

All horrible accidents.

Another Amtrak train crashed into a car near oakland. 

Are passenger trains more susceptible to getting into a collision with a vehicle because they travel at higher speeds and people don't take that into account? It can't just be co-incidence that all 3 out 3 major railway collisions are Amtrak.  And there are probably 10x as many freight trains per day. 

There must be some reason other than co-incidence. 

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16 minutes ago, Shaun said:

Another Amtrak train crashed into a car near oakland. 

Are passenger trains more susceptible to getting into a collision with a vehicle because they travel at higher speeds and people don't take that into account? It can't just be co-incidence that all 3 out 3 major railway collisions are Amtrak.  And there are probably 10x as many freight trains per day. 

There must be some reason other than co-incidence. 

again? What is even going on with Amtrak.

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