Passenger Trains > 171(11) breakdown, and Amtrak's handling of it

Amtrak Train Stranded East of New Haven
WVIT
Feb 11, 2013

> An Amtrak train carrying more than 400 passengers is stranded four
> miles east of New Haven due to mechanical issues.
>
> Amtrak spokesperson Cliff Cole said there are 445 passengers on
> Amtrak Train 171, which has been heading from Boston to New York, and
> on to Washington, DC (NOTE that Cole ignored Washington-Lynchburg).
>
> There is heat and electricity on the train and passengers will not be
> moved to another train, Cole said.
>
> Equipment is heading to move the train south. Don’t know exactly how
> long it will take.
>
> Amtrak said via Twitter that the train is running around 1 hour and
> 30 minutes late.

=====================================================

What did not get mentioned in the news item is that Train 171(11) was 3 hr, 36 min. late
into New York City but departed only 1 hr, 05 min. late. Amtrak substituted another
set of equipment as a stub "Train 171(11)" so it could leave New York closer to schedule, and
put the passengers on the much-delayed Train 171(11) onto a later train at New York.

Those who noticed that Train 171 is the Lynchburg train: how would passengers bound
for stations beyond Washington DC have made it to their destinations? They were
handled from New York on an Acela train and at Washington, the Crescent was held
for them. Good job.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/13 09:05 by GenePoon.

Good job? If it broke down four miles east of NHV they should have had another engine there in a few minutes. Good job by the people in NYP and WAS who moved the passengers to their destinations, but not by the people in NHV who should have rectified this very quickly.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/13 09:34 by Ptolemy.

For once I have to be more positive than you: New Haven was under 30" of snow with half of Metro North trains cancelled, and trains being shoveled out by National Guard. I'll cut them some slack for not whipping up a spare engine.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For once I have to be more positive than you: New
> Haven was under 30" of snow with half of Metro
> North trains cancelled, and trains being shoveled
> out by National Guard. I'll cut them some slack
> for not whipping up a spare engine.

I did forget that, out here in the sunny high desert! I agree.