The US Federal Railroad Administration has allowed Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe to test a Talgo 200 Pendular trainset at higher speeds on curves between Portland, Oregon, and Blaine, Washington, just south of the Canadian border. During the three weeks of trials, which began on August 5, the train exceeded the current 76mm standard of cant deficiency by 102mm. One of two leased Talgos now operating in the region was used; it was temporarily replaced on the Seattle - Portland run by Superliner rolling stock.
The test programme was conducted under a long list of conditions and restrictions, including a requirement that the normal operating speed limit of 127 km/h was not exceeded. Amtrak believes it may soon receive FRA approval to operate Talgos in revenue service at higher speeds round curves in the Pacific Northwest, reducing travel time on the Cascadia corridor between between Portland and Seattle by 30min. o
