I saw that a new US loco was announced today in the roadmap and judging by the code, it could only really be a few locos. Looking at the BB, it means it has to be an AC electric locomotive and the 7 means that it's from 2011 to present. Looking at all the routes in game, the only loco that would fit the category that I could think of is the Avelia Liberty (Acela 2).
The Liberty: not bloody likely. There's no way DTG can get access to the single extant prototype train at Amtrak's test facility. It's the current Acela.
Avelia doesn't actually run any passenger services. It's still in testing. And the year only refers to what year it's set in, not the year the loco was made
The 7 just means that it's era specific, not the time when it was built. Not to mention, the Acela is still in service as of now, while the Liberty is still in testing and won't be in service until later on (within the next year or two so to speak).
Now that I know that the 7 refers to the era it's set in, there no way it isn't the current Acela, considering people have been asking for it since TSW 2020 with NEC: NYC route.
I hope its the Acela. I'm sad that Genesis has been left out again... But Acela gives me hope that really iconic Amtrak trains can get to TSW. Also, if its a well made Acela not like a broken half-finished one like in TSC (most of the systems not working, or not even simulated) than it will be a day one $ for me. It's my own (and as I saw some others) opinion, Avelia Liberty is ugly as hell, probably the ugliest train I've ever seen. Like a morbid degenerated shinkashen.
...well guessed, the "Acela Express" would be something new and different from the well-known huge US diesel locomotives of which there are umpteen variants of the GE4400 or the GP-38 alone in the game. A US high speed train for the "Northeast Corridor" from Boston to Providence fits like a glove, especially since high speeds are allowed here. I would say the code was cracked!
The only problem with the Acela is that there's only one place to put it. I've played the Boston route as much as I want to, I think. So, without a new segment of the corridor, it's a bit " meh ".
This can work as long as DTG was invited to the press reveal. Oddly Avelia Liberty can serve as the basis for its SNCF version Avelia Horizon
And yet Alstom went ahead and thought this would be a great look for the newest TGV generation... siiiiigh...
For me the issue with the Avelia isnt confined to the nose - theres plenty of Japanese bullet trains which are equally as ugly. Its more to do with how the power cars in no way match the profile or even appears to match the design of the rest of the train and just looks odd (to put it mildly).
I was just watching a YT demo of the Liberty and it actually matches the profile of the cars it's pulling quite well. The nose is unusual for sure, but I think we'll get used to it over time. At least it's distinctive, unlike the electrostars or the red go-karts which are bland to say the least.
I think it's just made even more obvious because the Acela was actually a coherent design. If you look at Amtrak trains of the past you can see they've had no care whatsoever of streamlining or smooth profiles (except maybe the Metroliner)
Exactly. Amtrak was never known for visual continuity in its consists. In fact, "inconsistent" is probably the best word to describe everything at Amtrak, from its rolling stock to its onboard service to its food to its operating performance. (Actually, that's not entirely true. Service continues to get progressively worse for everyone outside of their beloved NEC...) When I was a kid, though, the hodge-podge of rolling stock was something I actually loved, especially the streamliners. Being able to have a heritage lounge and an Amfleet lounge on the same train was exciting.
The Turboliners were almost identical to the SNCF Turbotrains that ran during the 70s, and they were, indeed, very good looking and well-liked by the French travelling public. Like all jet-engined locos, they were very thirsty compared to conventional diesels and were taken out of service as fuel prices increased.
The pedant in me would like to highlight the significant difference between a jet engine and a gas turbine...
