Passenger Trains > Broken-down Amtrak Silver Star snarls Virginia Railway Express

Sept. 8, 2022 customer advisories from Virginia Railway Express:

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422pm:  Amtrak 91 stopped at Alexandria due to mechanical issue. (VRE) 327 is stopped behind it. 327 may reverse to cross over to far track. 327 currently 35 minutes late.

451pm: (VRE) 335 and (VRE) 338 are canceled tonight due to heavy congestion around Alexandria caused by a disabled Amtrak train. 337 is expected to operate on time and will depart Union Station at 7:00pm.

458pm:  Manassas line delays
327 is 1 hour late
329 is 30 min late
335 is cancelled 

459pm:  Fredericksburg line delays 
305 is 15 min late
307 is 20 min late 

531pm: Due to earlier congestion affecting (VRE) 333's equipment, 333 is expected to depart Union Station at least 20 minutes late. 

534pm: More mechanical issues affecting Amtrak 91. This has delayed (VRE) 309 by another 10 minutes. Current delay to 309 is 30 minutes. 

827pm post-mortem: This Evening’s Service 

This afternoon, Amtrak train 91 became disabled at the Alexandria station. While it was believed the issue would be quickly resolved, we were at the peak of the afternoon rush, and trains were stacked on both tracks between Alexandria and Union Station. Once it was determined 91 would not be able to move, dispatchers began shuffling trains to get everything moving. This included requiring VRE Manassas Line train 327 to make a reverse move north so it could cross to the other track and head back south, going around Amtrak 91.

In the end, most of the afternoon VRE trains were delayed. Since no train traffic could get through Alexandria, we had to cancel northbound Manassas Line train 338 and a corresponding southbound train 335. We* apologize to everyone impacted by the delays and cancellations. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

As always, thank you for riding VRE. 

* Of course, it is AMTRAK who should be apologizing.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/22 02:27 by GenePoon.

* Train 91 of 09/08/2022.
* Silver Star
* +---------------- Station Code
* | +----------- Schedule Arrival Day
* | | +-------- Schedule Arrival Time
* | | | +----- Schedule Departure Day
* | | | | +-- Schedule Departure Time
* | | | | | +------------- Actual Arrival Time
* | | | | | | +------- Actual Departure Time
* | | | | | | | +- Comments
* V V V V V V V V
* NYP * * 1 1102A * 1102A Departed: On time.
* NWK * * 1 1122A * 1123A Departed: 1 minute late.
* TRE * * 1 1200P * 1203P Departed: 3 minutes late.
* PHL * * 1 1236P * 1244P Departed: 8 minutes late.
* WIL * * 1 102P * 105P Departed: 3 minutes late.
* BAL * * 1 155P * 159P Departed: 4 minutes late.
* WAS 1 235P 1 304P 238P 306P Arrived: 3 minutes late. | Departed: 2 minutes late.
* ALX * * 1 325P * 453P Departed: 1 hour, 28 minutes late.
* RVR 1 513P 1 523P 734P 751P Arrived: 2 hours, 21 minutes late. | Departed: 2 hours, 28 minutes late.
* PTB * * 1 559P * 828P Departed: 2 hours, 29 minutes late.
* RMT * * 1 729P * 1101P Departed: 3 hours, 32 minutes late.
* RGH 1 857P 1 910P 1210A 1220A Arrived: 3 hours, 13 minutes late. | Departed: 3 hours, 10 minutes late.
* CYN * * 1 932P * 1237A Departed: 3 hours, 5 minutes late.
* SOP * * 1 1045P * 150A Departed: 3 hours, 5 minutes late.
* HAM 1 1124P 1 1129P 227A 234A Arrived: 3 hours, 3 minutes late. | Departed: 3 hours, 5 minutes late.
* CAM * * 2 1258A * 400A Departed: 3 hours, 2 minutes late.
* CLB * * 2 149A * 449A Departed: 3 hours, late.
DNK * * 2 246A
SAV 2 432A 2 437A
JSP * * 2 531A
JAX 2 706A 2 726A
PAK * * 2 829A
DLD * * 2 923A

Be interesting to know actual problem.   Could not actually move or some salient problem,waiting for mechanica at an inoportune location.

Bob

The breakdown site is convenient to Amtrak mechanics. The light rail stops down the block from the train station.

Posted from Android

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The breakdown site is convenient to Amtrak
> mechanics. The light rail stops down the block
> from the train station.

Not sure how convenient it would be for Amtrak mechanics to bring a toolbox, much less a welder, air compressor or drawbar on the Metro. Not including trying to get said equipment up the stairs at Alexandria as there are no ramps or elevator on Amtrak's side.

robj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Be interesting to know actual problem.   Could
> not actually move or some salient problem,waiting
> for mechanica at an inoportune location.
>
> Bob

VRE initially said "PTC" in their alerts to customers but later reported it under the catch-all category "mechanical." In any event about 2.5 hours of delay to 91. I would say if you're going to break down, there are a lot worse places than the Alexandria station or the environs around AF. Plenty of access points.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

The delay point is almost within 10 miles of Washington Union Station.

Why didn't Amtrak just haul 91 the last few miles?

Posted from Android

Train 91 is south bound, having just left Washington. Now they could have gotten a relief loco from Ivy Street.

Sharon Evans
Glen Allen, VA

Did Amtrak send just ONE loco for #91?  If so, it is their usual stupid planning, which has come to bite them again.  

RNinRVR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Train 91 is south bound, having just left
> Washington. Now they could have gotten a relief
> loco from Ivy Street.


Which is probably what they did to remedy the situation.

Thanks for the info.  Breaking down 10 miles from the starting point doesn't sound very good, either.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the info.  Breaking down 10 miles from
> the starting point doesn't sound very good,
> either.

New York City is more than 10 miles away from Alexandria.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/22 11:36 by DevalDragon.

DevalDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thanks for the info.  Breaking down 10 miles
> from
> > the starting point doesn't sound very good,
> > either.
>
> New York City is more than 10 miles away from
> Alexandira VA.

Diesels are added at DC, not New York.

RayH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DevalDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Thanks for the info.  Breaking down 10 miles
> > from
> > > the starting point doesn't sound very good,
> > > either.
> >
> > New York City is more than 10 miles away from
> > Alexandira VA.
>
> Diesels are added at DC, not New York.

The "mechanical issue" could easily have been a problem with an Amfleet or Viewliner. I haven't seen any details on what the actual failure was.

From restarting out of Alexandria on Gene's Post, it wasn't too major, there have been worse delays!

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/22 22:12 by ProAmtrak.