Amtrak NEC Delay and Service Disruption Thread

[west point]

Service to restored by 2:00 PM (1400 ) according to Amtrak bulletin.

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/servicer-t ... stati.html

Service Disruption on the Northeast Corridor
November 12, 2024 11:00 PM


Amtrak service between New York Penn Station (NYP) and New Haven (NHV) remains suspended in both directions due to a previous fire east of New York Penn Station (NYP). Amtrak personnel are currently assessing and repairing damages done to the tracks. The estimated time for normal operations to resume is 11/13/2024 at approximately 2 pm. Amtrak is communicating directly with impacted customers about this service interruption and offering options for rebooking their travel plans. Check the Amtrak.com Train Status page for specific train details.

Customers traveling between New York and New Haven are encouraged to utilize Metro-North Railroad services as they are honoring Amtrak tickets due to the current service disruption. Customers will need to board Metro-North Railroad services at New York Grand Central Station. Unfortunately, customers will need to find their means of transportation from New York Penn Station (NYP) to New York Grand Central Station.

New York Grand Central Station is located at 89 E 42nd Street, New York City, NY 10017-5503.

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]

Amtrak currently estimates service will resume tomorrow afternoon https://www.amtrak.com/alert/servicer-t ... 5236058317:

The estimated time for normal operations to resume is 11/13/2024 at approximately 2 pm.

[Train60]

Here's a New York Times report, with a video of what appears to be a transformer explosion at an Amtrak substation.

"Amtrak Suspends Service Between New York and New Haven Because of Fire"
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/nyre ... =url-share

Would be interesting to know more about what happened here, since Amtrak [at the moment] is saying very little about this fire, beyond "Amtrak service between New York Penn Station (NYP) and New Haven (NHV) remains suspended in both directions due to a previous fire east of New York Penn Station (NYP). Amtrak personnel are currently assessing and repairing damages done to the tracks."

[STrRedWolf]

Ooops... new problems on the NEC:

Delays between Philadelphia Gray 30th St (PHL) and Wilmington (WIL)

Trains operating between Philadelphia Gray 30th St (PHL) and Wilmington (WIL) are currently stopped due to downed overhead wires blocking the tracks. All trains scheduled to operate in the area are expected to be delayed. Crews are addressing this issue. Tracks are estimated to open at approximately 3pm. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience as we work through this unexpected situation.

Track closure between New York Penn Station and New Haven Union Station (NHV)

Amtrak service between New York Penn Station (NYP) and New Haven (NHV) remains suspended in both directions due to a previous fire east of New York Penn Station (NYP). Amtrak personnel are currently assessing and repairing damages done to the tracks. Previously the estimated time for normal operations was at approximately 2 pm today. Unfortunately, at this time the tracks are still closed. We do not have an estimated time for tracks to reopen. Amtrak is communicating directly with impacted customers about this service interruption and offering options for rebooking their travel plans.

[JuniusLivonius]

Ooops... new problems on the NEC:

New?

[lensovet]

The PHL power issues actually shut down all trains between Washington and NYP until 4. I ended up taking NJT to go home from NYC as at 4.30 there were still no Amtrak trains operating. Regional 129 ultimately left NYP 90 minutes late, losing another 15 minutes by the time it got to Trenton.

Train 600 was significantly delayed for a second day in a row in the morning too (half an hour yesterday, over an hour today).

[STrRedWolf]

Yeah, they posted at 4:30p the "Everything's fixed!" (yeah, right) message.

I'd give it a day.

[JuniusLivonius]

I was just making a joke about the same old issues.

The PHL power issues actually shut down all trains between Washington and NYP until 4. I ended up taking NJT to go home from NYC as at 4.30 there were still no Amtrak trains operating. Regional 129 ultimately left NYP 90 minutes late, losing another 15 minutes by the time it got to Trenton.

Train 600 was significantly delayed for a second day in a row in the morning too (half an hour yesterday, over an hour today).

Yep, 129's crew was ordered to violated hours of service and continue to Philly. Engineer got changed at Trenton.

[lensovet]

I eagerly await the November report on catenary issues. Or signal issues. Or something else, who knows until it's out?

Press release is out.

Over the course of the past five months, Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT made the following improvements executing on their joint plan:

• Amtrak performed 240 Track Miles of catenary system inspection on the Northeast Corridor between Trenton and NYC and renewed approximately 2,000 hardware components within the area;
• Amtrak conducted helicopter inspections of the entire NEC overhead catenary system between Trenton and the North River Tunnel, right outside New York Penn Station and made 839 hardware replacements from the defects identified from the 2,000+ catenary structures captured from the photographs taken during the inspections;
• Amtrak performed photo inspections via special hi-rail vehicle of tunnels and tracks within New York Penn Station;
• Amtrak identified and remediated electric traction components and replaced overhead wire to ensure reliability;
• NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak increased equipment inspections and used high-definition video on top of locomotives to document the interaction of NJ TRANSIT equipment with Amtrak wires;
• NJ TRANSIT also completed visual and hands-on inspections of approximately 82 route-miles of overhead catenary system on its territory.

In addition to those improvements, Amtrak recently received nearly $300 million in grants, applied for with NJ TRANSIT support and matching funds, from the FRA for several projects that will modernize the area’s infrastructure. This includes funding to advance further planning, development, or construction activities as follows:

• The Amtrak Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project obtained $187.5 million for final design and preconstruction services, which includes updated track, signals, catenary, and other infrastructure in that 2.5 mile territory for the replacement of the 115-year-old NEC bridges in Kearny;
• The Amtrak Substation 41 Renewal Project, which will replace and protect from the potential of flooding, a key point on Amtrak’s NEC electric traction system and protect it from the potential of flooding, received $80.2 million to construct a new substation in Kearny;
• Amtrak signal system upgrades between New Brunswick and Elizabeth received $18.6 million for project development and design of modernizing the existing signal system along 26 miles of the NEC for increased train throughput and improved speeds;
• Amtrak NEC catenary upgrades from New Brunswick to Newark secured $13.4 million to fund the completion of the design and the environmental review of the project, which will result in the replacement of the almost 90-year-old catenary structures along 23 miles.

Full report available on NJT's website.

[JuniusLivonius]

Press release is out.

90% of that is a reptition of the report from August covering July 6 - August 9th. Thanks anyway, seems like the reporting period is maturing.
Direct link: https://content.njtransit.com/sites/def ... Report.pdf
They last linked it here: https://www.njtransit.com/performance/projects-reports

That's not a bad thing but they may have realized one month is too short for regular joint updates. The August document also says "draft".

There is supposed to be a diagnostic report by a third-party (or multiple) regarding catenary-pantograph issues, if any were found. This future report is probably what the "External Technical Review" section is referring to. It's been said (verbal media only) that it will be done by the end of November. Personally I hope to use the report as a launching point to request raw data like pantograph video footage.

As part of its response to May and June’s incidents, NJ TRANSIT will continue implementing its enhanced inspection of catenary and pantographs.

The poor April 15th incident always gets forgotten...

[TheOneKEA]

The ASM Transit Docs site reported earlier today that 43 was stopped west of Lancaster due to debris on the track. 667 is reported as being heavily delayed due to ongoing wire and track maintenance. Did a wind storm bring down the catenary and arc to the track?

In addition, it is currently reporting a delay due to mechanical problems on 147, with several other trains affected due to mechanical problems and/or freight train congestion. Did a control point malfunction somewhere on the RF&P today?

[STrRedWolf]

The ASM Transit Docs site reported earlier today that 43 was stopped west of Lancaster due to debris on the track. 667 is reported as being heavily delayed due to ongoing wire and track maintenance. Did a wind storm bring down the catenary and arc to the track?

Amtrak NEC alerts says it was due to downed wires and downed trees, so I'm assuming a tree fell onto the caternary and pulled it down. Only about a 2.75 hour delay though, which isn't too bad considering the circumstances and 2019 during similar circumstances... and likely influenced the Airo engines being able to be trailer-powered off caternary.

[CNJGeep]

42 sailed into a tree by Roy. It brought the catenary down on both tracks, and the debris left no passable route. #2 track came back relatively quickly and they were able to get 670, 43 and 667 by.

[STrRedWolf]

42 sailed into a tree by Roy. It brought the catenary down on both tracks, and the debris left no passable route. #2 track came back relatively quickly and they were able to get 670, 43 and 667 by.

Ahhh, Royalton, PA, just south-east of Middleton. Yeah, at least the tree only hit the wires.

[TheOneKEA]

https://www.wmar2news.com/local/under-p ... -collapsed

Relevant free use quote:

Concrete pieces from the underside of the Amtrak bridge over North Point Rd in Baltimore fell onto a car on Sunday morning.

I checked Google Maps and the bridge in question appears to be the one just inside the Baltimore City line near the interchange between I-95 and Moravia Road, at the eastern end of Bayview Yard.