PUEBLO, Colo. — The Association of American Railroads is rebranding its research and technology subsidiary as “MvX Rail,” the AAR announced today.
The subsidiary had previously been known as Transportation Technology Center Inc., or TTCI — a name that became problematic and a source of some confusion when the Federal Railroad Administration granted a lease for its Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo to a new company later this year.
MxV Rail will continue to work at the Transportation Technology Center until this fall. It is developing a new testing facility at the PuebloPlex industrial complex, with offices and laboratories at a second Pueblo location [see “New TTCI facility should have first test tracks open this year,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 10, 2022].
MxV Rail employs more than 300 people, including 110 mechanical, civil, industrial, and electrical engineers and metallurgists engaged in rail-oriented scientific research.
“The nation’s major railroads — both passenger and freight — enthusiastically support MxV Rail,” AAR CEO Ian Jefferies said in a press release.
“MxV Rail is poised for a successful transition to our new facilities,” said MxV CEO Kari Gonzales. “… Our new name, MxV Rail is based on the formula for momentum — mass times velocity — evoking our dedication to creating the momentum needed to move our industry forward. Our experts are guided by the principles of rigor, innovation, collaboration and real-world applicability that are key to helping solve the industry’s most pressing challenges — immediate and long-term.”
Getting you own name confused is not a good start. For the record the correct name is MxV which is indeed Mass x Velocity. I think it’s an ugly logo.
The current TTC (no I) is owned by the FRA. It was built as the High Speed Ground Test Center and renamed Transportation Test Center. TTCI is evidently the AAR subsidiary that currently operates it. FRA has recently leased TTC to ENSCO effective October 2022.
AAR as MxV is building its own testing facility, also on the plains East of Pueblo.
The current facility, as HSGTC, tested the State of the Art subway cars and the US Standard Light Rail Vehicle. As TTCI it has tested one of Amtrak’s ACELA II trainsets. That train is now on the NEC for more testing.
What a horrible name.
On the AAR website
https://www.aar.org/article/building-momentum-railroad-industry-introduces-mxv-rail/
Which is it, MxV or MvX? I see both in the text and the Logo shows MxV. And what does that stand for?
Not sure, but it **could* be the formula for momentum, which is mass (M) times (x) Velocity (V).
I suspect the marketing genius that came up with this has a kid in high-school Physics class. (Or, perhaps IS a kind in high-school Physics class….)
Should read: (Or, perhaps IS a kid in high-school Physics class….)