Hello Margaret,

I was involved with Talgo back when the Cascades service was implemented. The problem you encountered with the ridership was because of poor track from cash-strapped Southern Pacific. The good thing about good old streamliner heritage equipment is that they can absorb all that bad conditions of track. The Spanish have excellent track, less freight and very little grade crossings, that's why these trains were too much for America back in the 90's. After WSDOT and ODOT pitched in, the line was repaired to Talgo's recommendation and it has been a success. Just look at the ridership. The new Talgo 8 sets do not need a waiver from FRA since they were built with Crash energy management and the new sets come with a built in cab car with all the PTC equipment.

The Providence of British Columbia wanted to test one of the Cascades sets on the Cariboo Prospector for BC Rail, that never happenened, just like the Klamath Falls extension south from Eugene. The Las Vegas Talgo that user "MP36" mentions never happened because the Union Pacific never wanted to accept Talgo speeds the Desert Wind failed to achieve with regular equipment. I don't know how they are going to achieve this on the Coast Line and what negotiations have been done with Omaha.

Charles W. Robinson,
Klamath Falls, OR