Could old Acelas be a providential opportunity?
I emailed Amtrak's spokesperson, Jason Abrams, about the fate of the old Acelas. Here's what he said: 'Amtrak will decommission the FirstGen Acela trainsets per our current fleet decommissioning process, which includes disposing of the trainsets safely per all applicable regulations and allows for private organizations to acquire.'
Advertisement
As a great Rhode Islander once put it, that seems to mean
Go ahead, tell me how dumb an idea it is
seems
so sensible for both states.
Advertisement
More, faster commuter rail service would help workers and businesses in Boston if Providence, with its lower-cost housing, was more accessible. And it would boost Rhode Island's economy to connect it with the economic engine of Boston.
Amtrak trains do provide that speedy service now, but the timetable isn't very convenient for someone who wants to live in Providence and commute to Boston. Tickets are also often much more expensive than the T's $12.25 one-way fare.
For instance, when I checked on Friday, the cheapest seat on Amtrak's 8:41 a.m. departure — the only one that gets you to South Station before 10 a.m. — was $53. And if you want to get to Boston before 9 a.m. on Amtrak, forget it — your only choice leaves Providence at 12:26 a.m.
The downside of express commuter rail trains is that if they replace current Providence Line departures, the result would be fewer trains for commuters in suburban Massachusetts local stops. Trains that used to stop in Attleboro and Mansfield would speed through them instead.
Adding new express departures on top of the existing schedule would solve that problem, but run into a different one — South Station's
So Providence commuters probably shouldn't hold their breath. But hey, in another 20 years or so, when the new Acelas are nearing retirement…
This is an excerpt from
, a Globe Opinion newsletter about the future of transportation in the region. Sign up to
.
Advertisement
Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
123Catalogue.fr study shows huge affordability gap between Paris and mid-sized cities
Research shows growing affordability crisis in France's largest cities, with mid-sized towns offering better value. study shows huge affordability gap between Paris and mid-sized cities PARIS, Aug. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly 28 years of average earnings - that is what it now takes to purchase a home in Paris, according to a new analysis by of housing affordability in 30 major French cities. The capital's price-to-income ratio of 27.9 places it far ahead of Aix-en-Provence (17.7) and Nice (16.1) as the least affordable markets in the country. Shop Top Mortgage Rates Your Path to Homeownership A quicker path to financial freedom Personalized rates in minutes The study measures affordability as the number of years a household on the average local salary would need to purchase a 70 m² property in that city. It draws on the latest data for both real estate values and incomes, offering a clear snapshot of purchasing power across the country. Mid-sized towns offer greater future uplift For a 70 m² property in Paris, the average price is €872,900 which is more than four times the price in Saint-Étienne, where the ratio is just 4.5 and the average home costs €111,580. Mulhouse (5.4) and Perpignan (5.7) also feature among the most affordable locations. Other cities in the lower half of the scale include Le Mans, Brest, and Limoges, all offering ratios under 7 years. These figures point to a widening divide between France's largest metropolitan areas and its mid-sized cities; a gap shaped by housing costs and broader economic conditions influencing where people can realistically achieve homeownership. In high-demand hubs such as Bordeaux (14.7) and Lyon (13.6), price growth has far outpaced income increases, pushing first-time buyers further from the market. 'Our data shows that residents of certain large cities face an almost insurmountable barrier to becoming homeowners. In Paris, the situation is particularly stark: even with an income above the national average, the cost of housing remains disproportionate. For households looking to buy, exploring mid-sized cities can offer much better real estate purchasing power. The market there is often healthier, with stable prices and attractive living conditions,' said Marc Dubois, owner of For many prospective buyers, the appeal of mid-sized cities lies not just in affordability but in their balance of amenities, connectivity, and quality of life. Cities like Saint-Étienne, Mulhouse, and Perpignan combine lower housing costs with salaries broadly in line with those of larger urban centres, offering a more achievable route onto the property ladder. Photo: CONTACT: Contact: Marc Dubois | marc@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Functional Safety Market Set to Surpass $7,896.7 Million by 2029 Amid Rising Demand for Risk Mitigation
Delray Beach, FL, Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the new market research report "Functional Safety Market by Safety Sensors (Emergency Stop, Temperature, Pressure, Gas), Safety Light Curtain, Safety Controller, Programmable Safety System, Safety Switches, TIC Analysis Type (Fault & Event Analysis), Robotics – Global Forecast to 2029" The global functional safety market will USD 7,896.7 million by 2029 from USD 5,883.4 million by 2024, at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. Several key factors are driving the functional safety market, including mounting adoption of advanced safety solutions to prevent accidents in industrial facilities, rapid digital transformation to revolutionize traditional manufacturing, increasing industrial automation, stringent safety regulations, and advancements in technology. Furthermore, rising workplace safety awareness, infrastructure development, and the integration of AI and IoT in critical systems further fuel demand. Download PDF Brochure: Major Key Players in the Functional Safety Industry: Schneider Electric (France), ABB (Switzerland), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Emerson Electric Co. (US), Rockwell Automation (US), Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan), HIMA (Germany), Omron Corporation (Japan), Siemens (Germany), and General Electric (US). Functional Safety Market Segmentation: Emergency shutdown system segment is expected to account for the largest share of the functional safety market during the forecast period. An emergency shutdown (ESD) system is designed to minimize risks associated with emergencies, particularly those involving the escape of hydrocarbons, uncontrolled flooding, or fire outbreaks in areas containing hazardous materials. These emergencies can cause the shutdown of a plant, unit, or equipment. The ESD system in its broad and general sense can be made up of field mounted sensors, trip relays, input and output valves for handling signals, alarm and Human-Machine Interface units. Oil & gas industry segment to contribute to the largest market share in the forecast year. The oil & gas industry's demand for functional safety is driven by stringent regulatory compliance, high-risk operating conditions, and the complexity of processes across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. Factors such as increased exploration and production, aging infrastructure, and prioritization of worker safety further emphasize the need for safety systems. In the oil & gas industry, standards such as IEC 61508 and IEC 61511, and the Norwegian Oil & Gas Guideline 070 provide recommended frameworks for the implementation of functional safety. Further, various safety instrumented systems are used in the oil & gas industry to ensure functional safety. Europe is expected to hold the largest market share of the functional safety market during the forecast period. Europe is one of the largest markets for functional safety systems as functional safety standards are strictly followed within the European Economic Area (which comprises all European Union countries). The safety standards and directives present in the region restrict the supply and operations of machinery that do not meet the regulatory requirements. The functional safety and functional safety requirements are stringent in the European region; these regulatory standards and safety directives in the region are driving the growth of the market for functional safety in Europe. Regulatory standards and EU directives regarding occupational safety have propelled the installation of functional safety systems in industries, which, in turn, is influencing the growth of the functional safety market in Europe. Ask for Sample Report: Opportunities and Challenges in the Functional Safety Market Opportunity: Increasing deployment of IIoT technology in industries The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) introduces new concepts of integrated safety and compliance services. IIoT gathers data from sensors, which include pressures, levels, flow, temperature, and vibration data, and feeds this information to monitors. The data is transmitted through conductive and non-conductive networks, processed in real time, and can be alerted and even perhaps solved in an emergency. Through IIoT, companies can link their processes with safety systems, and the results can be observed in real time. IIoT provides the features of low cost, low power consumption of microprocessors, and increased security, convenience, and efficiency, besides satisfying the requirement of industrial security and stability. Challenge: Complexities related to designing systems that comply with safety standards Because the rising number of applications in recent times as well as a variety of factors including types of industries, installation location and operational needs such as less downtime, and absence of fire design of safety functional systems have become relatively challenging for designers. Design of safety systems involves different stages, limits, and above all, necessity for smooth communication of the intended end users' system. CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets™ MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore™, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. To find out more, visit or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets™ INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445, USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@ Visit Our Website: in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
ThreatLocker Chosen for 2025 Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Cyber Hero® Team Orlando, Florida, Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ThreatLocker® Chosen for the 2025 Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 12, 2025 – ThreatLocker® today announced its inclusion on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. In addition to ranking in the top 8% on the national list, ThreatLocker is No. 7 in the Orlando metro area, No. 47 in the state of Florida and No. 10 in the security industry in the U.S. The list provides a data-driven snapshot of the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment: its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. 'Earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 underscores how central Zero Trust has become in cybersecurity,' said ThreatLocker CEO and Co-founder Danny Jenkins. 'Our proactive approach is essential in an era where cyberattacks are more frequent, more sophisticated, and more disruptive than ever. That's why we're growing so quickly.' This year's Inc. 5000 honorees have demonstrated exceptional growth while navigating economic uncertainty, inflationary pressure, and a fluctuating labor market. Among the top 500 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate reached 1,552 percent, and those companies have collectively added more than 48,678 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years. For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit: 'Making the Inc. 5000 is always a remarkable achievement, but earning a spot this year speaks volumes about a company's tenacity and clarity of vision,' said Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. 'These businesses have thrived amid rising costs, shifting global dynamics, and constant change. They didn't just weather the storm—they grew through it, and their stories are a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit is the engine of the U.S. economy.' Since its founding in 2017, ThreatLocker has grown from launching its first product, Allowlisting, to a global cybersecurity leader serving more than 50,000 organizations. Milestones include the introduction of key solutions such as Ringfencing™, Storage Control, Elevation Control, Network Control, Detect, and Cyber Hero® MDR. In 2025, ThreatLocker launched five new solutions: Web Control, Patch Management, Insights, User Store, and Cloud Control. The company also released Defense Against Configurations (DAC) and is now listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace. ThreatLocker has expanded its presence to more than 10 countries, added data centers worldwide, and grown its team to over 600 members, all while continually advancing its Zero Trust endpoint protection platform. Methodology Companies on the 2025 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2021 to 2024. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2021. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2024. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2021 is $100,000; the minimum for 2024 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit About ThreatLocker ThreatLocker® is a global cybersecurity leader that helps organizations stop cyberattacks at the source by taking a true Zero Trust approach to securing endpoints. Through powerful tools like Application Allowlisting, Ringfencing™, and Network Control, ThreatLocker gives IT teams the granular control they need to block ransomware, prevent zero-day exploits, and harden their environments from the inside out. Designed for simplicity, scalability, and speed, ThreatLocker security stack reduces complexity, accelerates compliance, and empowers businesses to take control of their cybersecurity—before threats strike. Headquartered in the United States with a growing global presence, ThreatLocker protects 50,000+ organizations across industries. Learn more here. Media Contact: Stefany Strong Attachment Cyber Hero® Team CONTACT: Stefany Strong ThreatLocker Inc +14077842109 while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
