Boston-Washington D.C.: New high-speed trains run more smoothly but are still slow

[Redaktion]

The Acela Express will be equipped with new high-speed trains from Alstom at the end of August. These are designed to be smoother, especially on curves, as high-speed sections are rare on the US East Coast.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Boston-Washington-D-C-New-high-speed-trains-run-more-smoothly-but-are-still-slow.1083987.0.html

[heffeque]

1980s speeds, uses old USB-A connectors... Still good to see that the US is slowly embracing 1st world public transportation.

[Oldfogey]

...plus in the quiet car, loaner laptops with Windows ME.

[Ira Gershenhorn]

"only USB A" who has anything but USB A to C?

[heffeque]

"only USB A" who has anything but USB A to C?

Maybe in the US people still use USB A, but in Europe all new USB devices/chargers (including laptops) have to come with USB C.

[ROBERTO66]

I took the Boston to NYC Merchants Limited as a student in the 1960s.  It was 4 hours and 15 ninutes.  Sixty years and hundreds of millions later it's maybe 30 minutes faster.  What a sad case that we have the worst, slowest, passenger rail service in the world (exceot for 3rd world countries). But if you're a freight by rail uaer, it's great.

[oopq]

"only USB A" who has anything but USB A to C?

Maybe in the US people still use USB A, but in Europe all new USB devices/chargers (including laptops) have to come with USB C.

I live in the US in the NE and take the Amtrak about once a month. I haven't used a USB A cable for charging a device in 5+ years. I would have to go out and buy a USB A to C cable just to use on these trains. I'll stick to the AC outlets.

Anecdotally, everyone I know in the US has been using C to C at least since apple switched.

[WeAre TheBorg]

Whatever embarrassment the US passenger railroad is, the nonsense about USB A vs. USB C is ridiculous.

Think of this as 5v DC. There's also 120 AC available. You want to use your fancy 240W PD fast charger? Great. You can. You want to keep your phone topped up with a tiny patch cable from your pocket? You can do that too.

The USB A connector is SIGNIFICANTLY more robust than the type C connector. It takes greater mechanical loads and more insertion cycles on its much larger pins. If you're maintaining a large fleet with hundreds of outlets designed to be in service for decades... You'll engineer around the connector that's going to give you basic functionality with the most robust mechanical design possible. That's USB A hands down.

[Worgarthe]

If you're maintaining a large fleet with hundreds of outlets designed to be in service for decades... You'll engineer around the connector that's going to give you basic functionality with the most robust mechanical design possible. That's USB A hands down.

USB A (same as USB C) are both going to be comically obsolete in those upcoming decades.

[spuwho]

1980s speeds, uses old USB-A connectors... Still good to see that the US is slowly embracing 1st world public transportation.

Because the US puts more first world effort into flying, though the race to the bottom is pushing that concept to the limit.

[BrokenCables]

He has a point tho about USB-C cables being flimsy. I don't think I have ever had usb-c last more than a year or 2 at most without having to replace them. They maybe modern but they aren't very durable at all. Then again, usb-c cables do go under a lot more stress as they're constantly being unplugged and used in mobile environments. Whereas the last time I used USB-A was with a desktop keyboard and mouse, which remain stationary and tethered 24/7.

Wish they would replace usb-c with something way stronger but I guess that would go against the planned obsolescence agenda and reducing environmental e-waste which is a big no no I guess?

[h8WGB]

everyone is focused on the USB ports

Meanwhile, no one talks about speeding up the slowest parts of the NEC that would do the most to decrease travel times.

[Farbridge]

I find it amazing the focus of most of the comments jere is in the ability to charge electrinics. Meanwhile, the focus should be on the train, service and of course the infrastructure.
Let's look at that.
The northeast corridor is woethlly outdated. Desperately in need of replacement. And in some stretches of the right of way, actually dangerous
The irony here is the federal government, which owns and operates Amtrak decides it's best to dump billions in taxpayer resources into new rolling stock.
How about building new railways and making bridges and underpasses safer?

[heffeque]

And in some stretches of the right of way, actually dangerous

First question is... What the heck? Why is there a "right of way" situation AT ALL!?

In every other country that has high speed trains there is zero right of way situations (maybe Germany is also an exception, they're famous for having "slow high speed trains"). High speed trains travel on their own rails and have absolutely no crossing situations with anything. Not with pedestrians, not with cars/trucks, not even with other trains, as there are separate rails for fast trains (280-320 Km/h) vs slow trains (<220 Km/h).