Welcome aboard the future of rail travel with National Speed Line. Let's take an exciting journey through the cutting-edge technology that makes our Veloz not just the fastest train in America, but also the safest. Buckle up, because we're about to zoom into a world where speed and safety go hand in hand.

Imagine a train so smart, it's like having a superhero guardian angel watching over every mile of track. That's our Comprehensive Inspection Train - the unsung hero behind the scenes of your smooth, safe Veloz experience. This high-tech marvel is packed with gadgets that would make even James Bond jealous.

Picture this: lasers dancing along the tracks, vertical and horizontal actuators doing their fancy footwork, and gyros and accelerometers working in perfect harmony. It's like a ballet of technology, all choreographed to ensure your ride is as smooth as silk. Our Comprehensive Inspection Train doesn't miss a beat - it's measuring track gauge, alignment, twist, and cant with precision that would impress even the most demanding engineer.

Our Comprehensive Inspection Train isn't just about numbers and measurements. It's got eyes too. A state-of-the-art video system scans the tracks like an eagle, spotting even the tiniest imperfections. Missing clip? Not on our watch.

And let's not forget about the overhead lines - the lifelines of our electric marvel. Our Comprehensive Inspection Train uses laser technology that would make sci-fi fans swoon, measuring the position of wires with pinpoint accuracy. High-powered white lights and cameras work together like dedicated photographers, monitoring the wear and tear of contact wires. It's like having a team of meticulous doctors giving your train a check-up every single trip.

Inside the Comprehensive Inspection Train, it's like mission control. Banks of screens light up the cabin, where our crack team of operators keep their expert eyes on everything from track faults to train location and radio signal strength. It's a command center on wheels.

Now, you might be wondering, "How often does this superhero train hit the tracks?" Well, we don't believe in taking chances. Our Comprehensive Inspection Train struts its stuff twice a month, and during those chilly winter months, it's out there every three days, braving the elements to keep you safe.

Here's a fun fact: while the Veloz is breaking speed records for passenger trains in America, our Comprehensive Inspection Train is no slouch either. It broke the record as the fastest steel-wheeled train in the Western Hemisphere at a jaw-dropping 240 mph during trials on April 17, 2024. That's right, even our Comprehensive Inspection Train has a need for speed.

But our commitment to safety doesn't stop there. We've got a whole family of specialized trains working behind the scenes. There's our zero-emissions, battery-powered EMD Joule GT38JB, silently gliding along for switching and maintenance. And for those times when a little extra muscle is needed or in the highly unlikely event that the power goes out, our eco-friendly, biodiesel-powered EMD SD32ECO is ready to swoop in for switching, maintenance, or rescue/emergency operations.

And do you know what makes our NSL400AF-G Fastliner trains the smartest, safest, and most exciting way to travel across the Northeast? First up, meet our guardian angel on board - the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. This vigilant sentinel is constantly on duty, making sure your train stays within the speed limits set by our advanced signaling system. It's like having the world's most attentive driving instructor right there in the cockpit. And if things ever get a little too speedy? No worries. ATP springs into action faster than you can say "slow down," automatically applying the brakes to keep everyone safe and sound.

And say hello to Positive Train Control (PTC), the high-tech traffic cop of the rail world. PTC is basically having a personal GPS for your train, always knowing exactly where you are and where you're allowed to go. It's constantly communicating with our systems, making sure your train only moves when and where it's supposed to. Think of it as your train's very own force field, keeping you protected every mile of the way.

The Veloz isn't just a high-speed rail - it's a rolling smart city on rails. We've proudly pioneered the first passenger railway in the United States built from the ground up to be smart and connected. Imagine a vast network of sensors, cameras, and 5G connectivity all working together in perfect harmony, powered by cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence. It's like giving our entire railway system a supercomputer brain.

This incredible network is always on, always watching, always listening to the heartbeat of our infrastructure. Every rail, every bridge, every signal is monitored in real-time. And in the extremely unlikely event that our AI detects even the tiniest hiccup? Ping! Our state-of-the-art Command Center at the Collingswood depot is instantly alerted. It's like having a team of the world's best train doctors constantly monitoring the health of our entire railway system.

Speaking of our Command Center, let's shine a spotlight on this nerve center of our operations. It's like NASA's Mission Control, but for trains. Picture a room straight out of a sci-fi movie, with wall-to-wall screens and a team of dedicated professionals keeping a watchful eye on every aspect of your journey. They're tracking train health, speed, and location with pinpoint accuracy. They're even monitoring driver attentiveness to ensure you're always in the safest hands. It's like having a guardian angel watching over your entire trip.

But at National Speed Line, we know that even the most advanced technology is only as good as the people behind it. That's why we invest heavily in our incredible crew members - the true heroes of your journey. We're not content with just occasional safety refreshers. We hold comprehensive safety training sessions every single month. It's like sending our crew back to school, but instead of reading and writing, they're mastering the art of keeping you safe and comfortable.

And we're the pioneers of the driver assistant program in the United States. That's right, we're the first railroad to station a second pair of expert eyes and hands right there in the driver's cabin. It's like having a co-pilot on a plane, but for trains. This dynamic duo works together seamlessly, enhancing safety and ensuring your journey is smooth sailing (or should we say, smooth railing?) from start to finish.

So, the next time you step aboard one of our magnificent Fastliners or the record-breaking Veloz, take a moment to appreciate the incredible symphony of technology and human expertise working in perfect harmony. At National Speed Line, we're not just transporting you from A to B - we're taking you on a journey into the future of speedy, safe, smart, and spectacular rail travel.

At National Speed Line, we're not just moving people - we're moving the future of rail travel forward.

———

Description taken from the in-universe website of the NSL Veloz

Character: National Speed Line Veloz ©  judyjudith

Art by:  tony07734123/KangWolf