National Firesleeve fire protection sleeve have been keeping America’s rail passengers and freight safe for years, and we’re delighted to see the rail industry going from strength to strength as it posts record passenger figures.
National carrier, Amtrak, announced a record number of travellers in 2024, with no less than 32.8 million of us taking the train. This was an impressive increase of 15% on the previous year, driving ticket revenues up 9% to $2.5 billion.
As a result, Amtrak has been able to announce a major infrastructure investment of $4.5 billion to improve tracks and deliver more travel options to passengers, as Stephen Gardner, Amtrak CEO explains: “Through bold investments, strong partnerships with states and host railroads, and dedicated planning, we are doubling down on our vision to connect more people and communities like never before.”
Naturally, National Firesleeve will be ready to support this investment, with tested and approved fire protection sleeve for both construction equipment and the railway engines themselves.
More records set to fall
Alongside the big increase in passenger numbers, the US could soon see its rail speed record increased too. The record, of 170.8mph, has been held since 1967. However, a new line under construction in California promises to finally bring high speed rail to the US, with trains reaching up to 220mph on the 218 mile Brightline West. This is still well short of the fastest train in the world, with the French TGV clocking a breathtaking 357.2 mph in April 2007.
American trains are not known for their speed, especially when compared to other countries. For example, while you can travel over 800 miles from Beijing to Shanghai in under four and a half hours, a similar trip of 950 miles from Chicago to New York takes up to 20 hours to complete.
Of course, with our British made fire protection sleeves distributed quickly from a central US warehouse in Illinois, you can rest assured that National Firesleeve won’t be the ones delaying your train!
The biggest and most expensive
One thing America is known for is its huge trains. Union Pacific freight trains regularly stretch over 20,000 feet, that’s three and three quarter miles, with almost 800 cars on board. This is close to the world record holder, which ran in Australia in 2001. That BHP train stretched over four and a half miles. Just imagine sitting at a railroad crossing waiting for that to pass by!
If you want to climb on board a record breaker, you’ll need to get saving. Top tickets for the two-day trip on the Rocky Mountaineer, from Moab to Denver will set you back anything from $2,600 to $3,000, while the Hickory Creek Car, which runs between New York and Chicago, costs around $1,600 per person for the two day trip, and they’re only sold in pairs due to sleeping arrangements.
If you fancy going further, the longest rail line in the United States stretches a massive 2,400 miles. The Zephyr takes 52 hours to complete the trip from Chicago to Emeryville through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, with tickets starting at just $150 for a seat or $700 for a bed.
Just the ticket for rail protection
Whether you’re travelling on the subway to work, or you’re heading out across the Great American West like the early pioneers, it’s reassuring to know that your train and your trip are being protected by industry leading fire protection sleeve from National Firesleeve.
We’re proud to work with the US rail industry, protecting engines, signals, stations and more with our tried and tested fire protection sleeve. To find out more about our fire protection sleeve for the rail industry, contact National Firesleeve today.
