Amtrak NEC Delay and Service Disruption Thread

[STrRedWolf]

Let's add a bit more context here. MIDWAY is up in Dayton, NJ while HAM is down by Hamlton, NJ. And...

9:29:46AM - CETC-8 trying to contact #642 (couldn't quite hear train number - this is my best guess)
9:30:00AM - CETC-8 is answering #3825
9:30:12AM - CETC-8 reacts to the likely report of trespasser strike. Dispatcher thereafter commands other trains to safely stop over the next few minutes.
9:31:32AM - CETC-8 asks #3825 for milepost at which trespasser was struck
9:34:11AM - Dispatcher to #2151: 2 track from Midway to Ham
9:39:32AM - #3915 2 track to Ham
9:41:58AM - #3827 3 track to Midway then 2 track to Ham
9:43:02AM - CETC-8 asks #3825 for visual of struck trespasser. Dispatcher then struggles to hear someone, possibly #2151...
9:43:53AM - #2151 confirmed struck passenger (dispatcher's or engineer's choice of word) and train stopped at MP 50

642 having engine 3825 was on what I assume is track 1 and it struck the trespasser... but didn't kill him. CTEC-8 rearranges so that no train is on track 2 in the area, so 1 and 2 are temp OOS. Tracks 3 and 4 are slowing down... and the moron gets up, scrambles onto track 3, and is pasted by 2151.

And you said, ACSES is updated every six seconds. Dispatch should of had their supervisor right then and there to approve any speed restriction. Why was there a 12 minute delay? Was 2151 already slowing down? What was going on in CTEC-8? And where were the police?

Too many questions here.

[CNJGeep]

642 is an Eastbound Keystone unrelated to the incident other than being in the area at the time.

3825 was a westbound Transit on Tk. 4. They hit someone around or at Princeton Junction.

2151 and other westbound trains were instructed to cross over 3-2 at Midway to get it around the incident. This is not out of the ordinary in order to keep traffic moving when it is not a confirmed fatality. As the train approached the area, the strik-ee jumped up and sprinted across Tk. 3 and into the path of 2151 finishing the job 3825 started in a rather spectacular fashion.

Everyone here chiming about PTC or stopping trains isn't realizing the fact that there is no need to stop or slow traffic on a four track railroad for something which is totally localized to one track and one location. This is not the first time such an incident as the initial strike has happened. Hell, it happened last week at Jersey Avenue. The guy in this case was fine, at least after the initial strike, and it's not like he said to the conductor on 3825, "Yo dude I'm gonna jump in front of the next train". What happened here was a tragic aberration, but not something to be clutching your pearls and demanding answers over.

[STrRedWolf]

642 is an Eastbound Keystone unrelated to the incident other than being in the area at the time.

3825 was a westbound Transit on Tk. 4. They hit someone around or at Princeton Junction.

2151 and other westbound trains were instructed to cross over 3-2 at Midway to get it around the incident. This is not out of the ordinary in order to keep traffic moving when it is not a confirmed fatality. As the train approached the area, the strik-ee jumped up and sprinted across Tk. 3 and into the path of 2151 finishing the job 3825 started in a rather spectacular fashion.

Everyone here chiming about PTC or stopping trains isn't realizing the fact that there is no need to stop or slow traffic on a four track railroad for something which is totally localized to one track and one location. This is not the first time such an incident as the initial strike has happened. Hell, it happened last week at Jersey Avenue. The guy in this case was fine, at least after the initial strike, and it's not like he said to the conductor on 3825, "Yo dude I'm gonna jump in front of the next train". What happened here was a tragic aberration, but not something to be clutching your pearls and demanding answers over.

Ah, I had it the other way around. Thanks for the info. And I do have to agree, the guy would of survived had he not thought "Oh *BLEEP*, it's the fuzz!", ran across the otherwise inactive track, and get pasted. I'm reminded of what happened over a decade past when somebody thought right then and there to get onto track 2 in 3-track territory (Odenton MD MARC station) and kiss a high-speed Amtrak train. We don't know where the person came from and what his mental state was... and there's nothing more we can say about it.

[twropr]

NEC disrupted due to ?flooding in the vicinity of Newark Airport.
Andy

[west point]

08/18/24 8:42pm EDT
_ As of 8:33 PM ET Service Update: The mechanical issue has
_ been resolved and Acela 2224 is now holding in Philadelphia
_ (PHL) due to flooding conditions in the Newark (NWK) area.
_ Crews are en route to complete a track inspection. We appreciate
_ your patience during this process and will provide updates
_ as information becomes available.
_
_ 08/18/24 8:54pm EDT
_ As of 8:49 PM ET Service Resumption: Acela 2224 has departed

[JuniusLivonius]

2151 and other westbound trains were instructed to cross over 3-2 at Midway to get it around the incident. This is not out of the ordinary in order to keep traffic moving when it is not a confirmed fatality. As the train approached the area, the strik-ee jumped up and sprinted across Tk. 3 and into the path of 2151 finishing the job 3825 started in a rather spectacular fashion.

Everyone here chiming about PTC or stopping trains isn't realizing the fact that there is no need to stop or slow traffic on a four track railroad for something which is totally localized to one track and one location. This is not the first time such an incident as the initial strike has happened. Hell, it happened last week at Jersey Avenue. The guy in this case was fine, at least after the initial strike, and it's not like he said to the conductor on 3825, "Yo dude I'm gonna jump in front of the next train". What happened here was a tragic aberration, but not something to be clutching your pearls and demanding answers over.

PTC and enforcement of speed restrictions were only mentioned because it was asked. However, that's correct, no restrictions were actually implemented thus the mechanics and authority of enforcement is not relevant in this narrow case...

Here's the weird thing about Friday's (8/9) incident compared to Tuesday's (8/13): after calling individual trains to safely stop, they implemented an all-track speed restriction (Restricted speed = 20 mph) and otherwise allowed trains to pass about 10-20 minutes later. The trespasser was found alive outside of the 4 tracks by the conductor just 6 minutes after the report of the emergency.

While you can't do much for people who really want to commit suicide, the big question is why there was such a discrepancy in railroad response when dealing with the trespassers, many of which are usually and appropriately considered suicidal.

I rest my case that there should be an all-tracks speed restriction policy in this type of situation to adhere to precautions about the trespasser being suicidal before police or EMS can handle the situation. As far as I can tell from all contextual clues, there was no speed restriction and only adjacent track protection (track 3) was arranged.

[lensovet]

Everyone here chiming about PTC or stopping trains isn't realizing the fact that there is no need to stop or slow traffic on a four track railroad for something which is totally localized to one track and one location. This is not the first time such an incident as the initial strike has happened. Hell, it happened last week at Jersey Avenue. The guy in this case was fine, at least after the initial strike, and it's not like he said to the conductor on 3825, "Yo dude I'm gonna jump in front of the next train". What happened here was a tragic aberration, but not something to be clutching your pearls and demanding answers over.

This a joke right?

Someone jumps in front of a train. They don’t need to tell anyone that since they are still alive they’re going to try again. As mentioned by another poster, the other incident was handled very differently.

Frankly if you care about keeping your job I’d probably stop all posts about this incident.

[west point]

Signal delays today on the NEV. Here is Amtrak bulletin/

Potential delays along the Northeast Corridor
August 27, 2024 3:30 PM


Customers should expect residual delays along the Northeast Corridor as we work to resume normal operations. This is due to a combination of earlier signal issues and current single tracking in the north tube leading to New York Penn Station (NYP). Please use the Train Status feature on Amtrak.com’s homepage for specific train details.

Customers with reservations on affected trains will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day. Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Follow us on X for real-time service information:
• @AmtrakNECAlerts for service information in the Northeast Corridor (Acela, Northeast Regional, and other corridor services).
• @AmtrakAlerts for service information outside the Northeast Corridor.

Subscribe at Amtrak.com/DelayAlerts to receive automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations.

This information is correct as of the time and date above. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.

[lensovet]

Corridor shut down for 3 hours today between Wilmington and Baltimore for overhead wire repair https://x.com/AmtrakNECAlerts/status/18 ... 8635055323

[west point]

Single tracking would seem to indicate it was an inside track if this is 4 track territory?

[TheOneKEA]

Single tracking would seem to indicate it was an inside track if this is 4 track territory?

The only four track segments are between the east end of the Union Tunnels in East Baltimore and GUNPOW interlocking, and between PERRY and PRINCE (?) interlockings northeast of the Susquehanna River. The rest of the route is two and three tracks, with most (all?) of the interlockings fully symmetrical and able to provide access to and from all three tracks.

[apodino]

Single tracking would seem to indicate it was an inside track if this is 4 track territory?

No way this was 4 Track territory. I am wondering if this is one of the double track segments if they are talking single tracking. This would seem to tell me this issue was probably near Edgewood.

[PRRTechFan]

I cannot possibly imagine that Amtrak would EVER consider single-tracking ANY segment of the NEC

[west point]

I cannot possibly imagine that Amtrak would EVER consider single-tracking ANY segment of the NEC

Temporary Single tracking means other track(s) CAT is down!

[PRRTechFan]

Got it! I originally interpreted it as a cost-saving goal... eliminating one track completely. Couldn't fathom ever dropping a two track segment to one! But single-tracking to fix catenary on a 2nd track obviously makes perfect sense. My bad... hadn't had my coffee yet when I read that and replied!