ACELA: The Correct Way to Upgrade Crumbling NEC Infrastructure

Amtrak's Acela is the first currently the only high-speed rail service in the United States. The Acela is bringing major improvements to the Northeast Corridor (NEC), including major upgrades to the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnels (Frederick Douglass Tunnel Project), Baltimore Penn Station, Gunpowder Bridge, Bush River Bridge, Susquehanna Bridge, and Wilmington Station. Even with it's many setbacks, it led the way for high-speed rail in the United States. Will California High Speed Rail and BrightlineWest learn from it's mistakes? Join us on this depressing journey of Amtrak's Flagship Service, the Acela.
If you like the video, make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!
This is the only way I know that people are really interested in the topic. Plus it would mean a lot.
It would also mean a lot if you became a patron on either Patreon or KZbin. I'm a struggling college student. It would definitely help ya boy out.
/ banksrail
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at:
pCqZbfxVMp...
www.tiktok.com/@banks.rail?is...
Copyright Disclaimer: Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses-such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, transformation, scholarship, and research-as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use
"Fair Use" guidelines: www.copyright.gov/fair-use/
As KZbin says, "Not all reuse is copyright infringement
A channel that transforms original content for commentary, criticism, or parody may be protected under the doctrine of fair use."
The content on this KZbin Channel, 'Banks Rail', is transformative in nature, therefore falls under fair use. Because of this, I ask you to NOT strike or claim this content.

[@jamesr7906]

You're starting a war with architects but earning the respect of engineers by mentioning the energy efficiency of glass, good job.

[@CallMeInfinite0000]

RCE would be very proud

[@jasonreed7522]

As an engineer i agree, although i suspect that the 3rd faction, clients aka business people, are also major pushers for "modern looks, but cheap". After spending 2 years in the industry not 1 major building renovation bothered with replacing the 1950s windows with modern ones, or any other building envelope upgrades that would be cheaper overall vs replacing the boiler with heatpumps on the roof. People aren't serious about resolving climate change, only with looking like they are trying to do the right thing.

[@Pensyfan19]

As an engineer in training, I also agree

[@gary6576]

In Baltimore a building like that makes no sense from an efficiency standpoint, but I will say double or triple glazed glass can have a very low U value while allowing for passive solar heating. That only really makes sense in cooler climates though. I do love me some reinforced concrete tiny windowed Brutalism tho :)

[@Kaigotitright]

Forgetting that we in architecture have to watch great our ideas die at the hands of developers :,)

[@himbourbanist]

that MARC render brings new meaning to "Diesel under wires"

[@TohaBgood2]

Hey, maybe they're planning to plug the electric motors on that diesel-electric directly into the catenary! The freight railroads were doing these types of mods in the 60s and 70s. It's definitely doable. We don't know what they're planning. (We do, but still fun to think about :)

[@banksrail]

😂 sure does

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

That is a certified MBTA moment as well

[@romanrat5613]

6-7 billion dollars for a tunnel less than 2 miles long plus a station upgrade and a short realignment, and acquisition of a couple rowhouses is utterly insane

[@justsamoo3480]

Also acquisition of a couple row houses in BALTIMORE. It’s not like we’re building this in NYC:

[@banksrail]

Yeah, a part of me feels like Amtrak is highballing estimates in order to receive as much funding as they possibly can.

[@Joesolo13]

@@banksrail Wouldn't surprise me if it was budgeting for rail work nearby too.

[@jayell1761]

2 miles long and it's gonna take 10-12 years to complete 😏

[@justsamoo3480]

BBL Drizeeeey 🗣️🗣️

[@banksrail]

🎶BBL Drizzeyyyyy🎶

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

BBL Drizzy

[@todgod]

Love the point about making sure that TOD around stations doesn't lead to exclusion, and that these buildings can serve to connect people in the community to their station. Good work as always, Banks!

[@banksrail]

Yeah, I wish the TOD was a little more similar to what we see in your BART series. Unfortunately, Amtrak seems like they’re just trying to ball out on the little property they have rather than actually helping out the community.

[@daveharrison84]

As someone who recently had to fly from DC to Boston, I really want this.

[@davidjackson7281]

You are so right about work not being done until 2036 and not being fully funded.

[@banksrail]

Yeah it’s pretty unacceptable

[@jfmezei]

On Washington Union Station: It would cost a lot less overall to just let Amtrak take back the station from the shopping mall owner and use the original station as it was intentded: a train station, as opposed to building something totally new behind it. Build the shopping mall behind the old original station, over the tracks.

[@ojsimpson1234]

That's what they're doing I think w their eminent domain of it

[@jfmezei]

@@ojsimpson1234 Nop. The shiopping mall that was formerly Union Station remains as it isn't owned by Amtrak. Union Station formerly closed in the 1970s with Amtrrak using a small shack as a station when it inherited the passenger rail. There was a short re-opening for 1976 where they used it as a movie theatre to show centenial USA movies. And eventually the station was redevelopped into commercial shopping mall with just a small spot for Amtrak in the back. The current plan is for Amtrak to develop a new station over its platforms instead of converting Union Station back into a train station. Ironically, if the new station ever gets built and gets a direct connection to the Metro, the number of people passing through the shopping mall may drop significantly and the building might become cheap enough to trun back into a station.

[@TohaBgood2]

Yay! New BanksRail video!!! Let's go!

[@banksrail]

🎉🎉🎉

[@AugustGreen_]

Awesome that these projects exist but not awesome that they all have insane prices and insanely long construction timelines

[@banksrail]

Yeah, I think Amtrak is being brutally honest about their confidence on constructing these projects, especially with the lack of funding. If USDOT fully funded these projects we would probably see all these projects completed by the end of this decade.

[@TheRailwayDrone]

The fact that it took about 6 years to build the Channel Tunnel but it's going to take almost 10 years to build bridges and tunnels in this country shows we really haven't come that far in infrastructure construction.

[@banksrail]

Luckily France pushed the UK to actually fund the project. A project solely left to the devices of the UK/US turns into a 15+ year project due to the reluctance to invest any sort of money in ourselves.

[@jamalgibson8139]

My comments on this upgrade are: 1. Why are the bridge upgrades only going to 125 an hour? We're buying trains that can go way faster, why not build the infrastructure to support those speeds? 2. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the redevelopment of the parking lot. Those buildings look nice in renders, but they will never look that nice in reality. I don't know why we can't build new buildings in a style that syncs with the community, rather than tries to stand as a monument to their own greatness.

[@banksrail]

The bridges will be 125mph+. Amtrak didn’t say the exact speed, but I’m assuming it’s going to be around 135-140mph.

[@Pensyfan19]

Great video once again! I'm especially intrigued that the new Gunpowder River Bridges will remain at about the same height as the existing bridge. Do they plan to install a drawbridge on the new spans? Also *shoutout Fredrick DougleeEeEèęĔëəèĒẸooOœòØöõŒ*

[@jetfan925]

Yeah, but maybe you should bring back the least used rail line series with Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles (Sorry Bay Area.)

[@banksrail]

The new spans will higher than the existing ones so they won’t be movable. Basically they’ll just be high enough to get small boats from the marinas past. Frederick Dougulèêěëėş

[@G-546]

I know not fully funded bridges and projects should bad. But sometimes you just have to start. As the original BART system staff said, start building it now because it will never be cheaper. The best time to build anything new was always 10 years ago and the second best time is now.😊

[@banksrail]

😂 I’m definitely not telling them to not start building, but the sooner the project is fully funded, the faster it’ll get built. Amtrak, CAHSR, and BrightlineWest are all in the same boat now.

[@maestromecanico597]

The PRR proposed a four-track replacement for the B&P tunnels about a century ago that would also have accommodated the B&O. The new West Baltimore station is WAY overdue as it is inadequate like many MARC commuter rail stations. And speaking of commuter, I will take exception about the commuter trains being "slow," I've done over 114 mph on those. The extant B&P tunnels need to simply go away once the alternative is built.

[@banksrail]

MARC is certainly fast, but if a train is scheduled to stop at West Baltimore and the corridor is busy, the train can use the slower B&P tunnel.

[@maestromecanico597]

@@banksrail My then employer delivered new locomotives to MARC and I hung around for a year as the field rep. As such I’ve been through the B&P tunnels MANY times and each time was a crawl. As with the rest of the NEC the overwhelming majority of passengers are commuters of the various state agencies. MARC is no different. As the majority should rule then MARC trains should get unfettered access to the new tunnel. Remember, due to proximity this flavor of commuter has more “influence” than most. I got to see that in person.

[@michaelvelik8779]

The current Baltimore tunnel absolutely must be replaced and keeping the old one and fully re-building/re-furbishing it makes a lot of sense, especially if they are not making the new tunnel a four bore one. The new station design ... looks generic modern. There is no hint that it's a railway station, there is nothing about it that says Baltimore, sticks out like a sore thumb in its setting.

[@MrBaskins2010]

i pray they find funding. love that outro

[@cornkopp2985]

On the subject of the new tunnel in baltimore there's been a lot of local mixed feelings about the new tunnel. A lot of people are concerned about the tunnel going under a historically black neighborhood vs the current tunnel which goes under a wealthier whiter neighborhood. The main concerns seem to be the ventation facilities being built in the neighborhood, as well as the potential for tunnel boring machines to damage the foundations of peoples houses. I don't live in the neighborhood, but from reading the local articles and amtrak documents on it, I think the main issue for me is that documents from 2022 say that there was a planned phase two which would build a second set of tunnels to be used for diesel commuter and freight services, which would probably pump a lot of pollution into the surrounding areas. However it's kinda uncertain if that phase two is actually happening, I thought it was scrapped but I can't tell because there aren't any newer documents

[@banksrail]

Yeah from what I read, the problems the community has with the new tunnels are the fact that the tunnels will cause disruption when being built and possible damage to the foundation of current structures. Amtrak’s argument is the fact that they want to get it built as fast and as soon as possible to minimize disruption and in their documents the tunnel is so deep that it avoids most existing infrastructure. However, if there is damage, they’ll take 100% responsibility and pay for it. I doubt there will be much damage as the community is built up on a hill, and the tunnel naturally dips underneath it and comes back up right before Penn Station. The plan for the 2nd diesel only tunnel has been scrapped. Amtrak says the existing B&P tunnel will be used for freight. Obviously MARC isn’t quite “all-electric” yet, but Amtrak says that MARC is 100% committed to becoming all electric for this project. I don’t know why Amtrak is stating that for MARC instead of them stating it for themselves but who knows.

[@cornkopp2985]

@@banksrail good to know, I'm glad they really are committed to not building those freight tunnels. And MARC really needs to get on that electrification ASAP. It's annoying when I take the penn line and am riding behind a diesel train on the NEC lol

[@adityaln9361]

20th century amtrack : look i know our service isnt "high speed" but it gets to 160 mph in some stretches 21st century amtrack : were prettier now

[@TohaBgood2]

The Acela I only went 150 mph. And the NEC is objectively an HSR line both by the international HSR standard and actual EU legislation that specifies what an HSE line is.

[@thetrainguy1]

The plan for Bush and Gunpowder river bridges are to increase speeds to above 125mph. As the current bridges allow speeds of up to 125mph.

[@banksrail]

Yeah, the new bridges will be 125+ mph. I’m assuming 135mph to 140mph.

[@thetrainguy1]

@@banksrail I think their goal is to get them up to 160mph.

[@banksrail]

@@thetrainguy1 some of the adjacent curves don’t allow for 160mph so there’s no point of upgrading it that fast.

[@thetrainguy1]

@@banksrail True but The stretch between curve North of Gunpowder river bridge and Aberdeen. You can definitely upgrade that section to 160mph. And south of Gunpow as of right now the max would probably be 145mph without straightening out the curve.

[@Joesolo13]

@@thetrainguy1 it's only a few miles though, you wouldn't be able to hit 160 for long, if at all.

[@escondidofilms]

Completion dates are insane. Every project should take 4 years or less because the next president or Congress could defund it too

[@banksrail]

Yeah I think Amtrak is well aware of how these projects become political chess pieces, hence the long estimated construction time. The speed of these projects relies on the funding, but starting without full funding means you’re completely at the mercy of each administration in office.

[@AutumnBosco]

Happy to see you back! Great vid and fun outro!

[@banksrail]

Thanks 🙏🏾

[@anonym0usplatypus]

ur one of my favorite transit youtubers, great work !! 💙💙💙

[@banksrail]

Thanks! 😁🙏🏾

[@dallasnickels744]

Love your videos

[@banksrail]

💪🏾💙

[@saladman8745]

idk how ive never come across your channel before, but u just gained a new sub, this video was highly entertaining

[@banksrail]

😁🙏🏾

[@CharlesGorby]

banger video as always

[@banksrail]

💪🏾💙

[@CubeAtlantic]

Acela is dead-on relaxin' & great when they're in Florida even doe i'm rarely on it.

[@yung_cashregister]

That rendering was beyond cursed 😭

[@banksrail]

😂

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

BBL Joey🎶 BBL Joeeeey🎶

[@wesleytuel]

BBL Drizzzzyyyyyyy 🔥🔥🔥

[@banksrail]

🎶BBL Drizzayyyyyy🎶

[@JJRol.]

This is the render I commented about last video! Is MARC trying to tell us something?

[@banksrail]

😂 yeah I remember

[@LucasDimoveo]

Bro the first few seconds of this made me think I was watching another Kendrick v. Drake breakdown. Sheesh 🤣

[@banksrail]

😂

[@jfmezei]

Renderings NEVER lie ! MARC will be spending to convert those F59s to b hybvrid diesel-electric, and as Amtrak has begun process to replace long distance trains, ARC will end up buing the old superliners for realy cheap and converting them to commuter trains. (complete with dining car, observation lounge for your commuter trip back hoe every night 🙂 Note that the original project was to support diesel trains, so MARC could continue to use 1950s diesel technology on its commuter trains running in electrified territory. One large aspect that unlocked the current project was a decision to make tunnels electric-only which removed huge environmental/regulatory issues with having tunnel vent diesel exhaust in residential neighbourhoods above and the greater cost of supporting such. But moving to electric-only tunnels meant that MARC would have to convert to electric. May explain why pantograph magically appeared on diesel loco if that rendering was already done from before decision to move to electric-only. (but such renderings predate Amtrak's decision to renew long distance fleet so cannot explain why MARC would be operating superliners 🙂 The move to electric-only tunnels has implications on the old B&O tunnel because it can't be shut down for renovations as it will be used for freight. So curious how they will stage the work programme on the old tunnel. (or if Amtrak electric locos will haul the old diesel trains through the new tunnels during reconstruction of old).

[@banksrail]

😂 that would make for one crazy consist. But yeah, them slapping a pantograph after the decision makes the most sense. The old B&P tunnel sees around 2 freight trains a day. So assuming they can shift the project to solely night services, they can shut it down for a large portion of the day for renovations. And Amtrak said that MARC is committed to electrifying their fleet. Which sounds more like Amtrak is holding MARC at gunpoint to do at this point.

[@RailMan102_Productions]

I like the points you make dude, Mike Railway infrastructure project starting before they even get funded. they should pass that high-speed rail act bill to fund all these projects,

[@banksrail]

Yeah, there are so many ways to effectively fund these projects, it’s pretty annoying that the federal government doesn’t just choose one.

[@RailMan102_Productions]

@@banksrail I agree, they should use taxpayers money for these projects and not send it to Ukraine and so-and-so. I would be much happier if they use taxpayers money for this

[@jayell1761]

Great video. One point to clarify regarding redevelopment of the Baltimore Penn Station parking lot. The neighborhood, Midtown/Station North, isn't in West Baltimore or historically black; you are probably thinking of the West Baltimore MARC Station. That said, the buildings aren't actually out of place with or sending the wrong message of exclusion to the local neighborhood because they are similar in style to the University of Baltimore Law School building one block over south of Penn Station.

[@banksrail]

The neighborhood of Greenmount West where the redevelopment will take place is 52.8% Black, so definitely historically black, it’s just been gentrified over the years.

[@jayell1761]

@banksrail It's not Greenmount West. It's Charles North. Both are small sub‐neighborhoods of Midtown, which is only 31% black, and located within a stretch of the city containing Baltimore's historically majority white-populated neighborhoods (the "White L").

[@sergeykuzmichev8064]

Great video I completely agree about ur criticism of modern architecture And the greenwashing associated with it And especially the green roofs I live in a brand new building with a green roof on the second story and of course even from day one it never looked anywhere as good as the renders And only gotten worse since due to highly predictable neglect I have been tempted to do some guerrilla gardening there in the past but my efforts are better spent elsewhere honestly I think companies do this on purpose to better sell their projects and themselves, and that the following neglect is inevitable (unless u got crazy strata fees that pay for gardeners i guess), and architects who do these lush green renders are either gullible, up themselves and their *creation* or just powerless in a system where this behaviour is awarded with money

[@portdouglassrailfan]

1:40 💀

[@Yhk660]

😮

[@jfmezei]

on Wilmington Station. (The Joseph R. Biden Jt Railroad Station). It was designed by Furness, Evas & Company, opened by Pennsylvania Railroad Compay on January 28, 1907. It was renovated between 2009-2011 and redicated to Mr Biden on arch 19 2011 (thanks to all the work by then VP Biden. (this is from the plaque at the French St south entrance). Not sure of its historical status, but it is one of the remaining original PRR design for rail stations. Not sure you could add a 4th track wothout changing the stations's historic look/feel.

[@banksrail]

Yeah, it’s probably protected as a landmark. The only way to get around this case is to carefully dismantle part of the station to widen it by a couple of feet and then reassemble the parts, which would certainly cost $$$. Certainly not ideal.

[@chrispontani6059]

You can’t quad-track Wilmington without partially destroying the historic structure. With increased service you need to get creative with the scheduling.

[@banksrail]

Yeah, they would need to carefully dismantle the station and put it back together. Expensive and not ideal. But yeah, scheduling needs to be a huge part of this.

[@ix.cryo1]

I wish MARC trains went to/from Newark, DE

[@banksrail]

Facts‼️ then we can ride NY to DC with just regional rail.

[@ix.cryo1]

@@banksrail Thisss ^ I hate how there's just that ONE missing link, ugh 😭

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

BBL Joey BBL Joey

[@scottydude456]

FREDRICK DOUGLAS (aye) 🗣️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@banksrail]

Douglaäàāsșś

[@spencerjoplin2885]

Assuming people care more about housing than transportation, these projects should be pitched as a big apartment complex with a bonus train/bus depot.

[@banksrail]

I assume the project gets pitched both ways depending on the audience. To us, it’s the train station that’s the centerpiece, to the local community, it’s the new office and residential building.

[@absolutezeronow7928]

Acela could definitely do worse than copying the French. Connecticut basically stopping Acela from reaching its full potential though.

[@u.s.6909]

They should have gone with 4 tracks. ugh

[@LaHypeDuTrain]

French TGV are the best, sorry not sorry 😂 I really like your views otherwise ❤

[@banksrail]

I love them too😂 but I don’t remember Amtrak ordering TGV Duplexes. The people making these renderings just put anything on the rails.

[@orlandoracer407]

Drake won the rap battle against Kendrick Lamar

[@banksrail]

👀