Passenger Trains > Sunset Limited OTP watch

#1 and #2 still arriving OT or early at their end points since the New Year. In the case of #2 it has experienced only 2 late arrivals in NOL recently of no more than 30 mins.

That said, looks like a bad haircut trip for #1 (of the 21st) west of Houston. Amtrak Alerts says "disabled freight" and to expect a lengthy delay. Probably going to break #1's perfect post-December record for OT arrivals in LAX.

Possible interpretation of these recent events is that Amtrak's filing of a formal STB complaint (specifically over UP's delays to the Sunset) is that by taking even an initial step in legal action against UP has caused UP to sit up and smell the coffee. Miraculously accomplishing the impossible overnight: a diligent effort to keep the Sunset running on time. This most recent delay to #1 is still a bad on the UP. Mechanical breakdowns/derailments by freight railroads are no excuse to delay a passenger train. It may indeed be a reality but it is not a valid reason to be off the hook. UP hopefully will still be held to account for this delay.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/23 09:42 by OnTime.

So in the grand scheme, does UP get credit when an Amtrak mechanical delay messes up their railroad?  These rules go both ways.  Also, while this doesn't apply to the Sunset, what if a train arrives off another railroad very late.  Should NS be penalized if they have to delay a 6-hour late Capitol Limited or Lake Shore Limited if it comes off CSX already late?  Also, mechanical/derailment are valid reasons in my book if the were not caused by something the railroad could prevent (derailment due to grade crossing collision for example) or predict easily.  The world isn't prefect and even the best run railroad will still have issues.  The actual delay isn't the problem its the steer number of them.  Worse then mechanical/derailment delays are simple interference delays (we can't get a freight into a siding due to length or Amtrak can just run behind a 40 MPH freight because we don't want to delay any freights to allow Amtrak to runaround.)

OnTime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This most recent delay
> to #1 is still a bad on the UP. Mechanical
> breakdowns/derailments by freight railroads are no
> excuse to delay a passenger train. It may indeed
> be a reality but it is not a valid reason to be
> off the hook. UP hopefully will still be held to
> account for this delay.

No, a freight railroad is not penalized due to a malfunction of Amtrak locos/equipment. Yes, a freight railroad is penalized due to delays caused by long freight trains that don't fit sidings. Remember, it was the freight railroad that chose to run the too-long freight train. If it was their poor decision making than they should pay the price. Yes, the freight railroad is penalized if Amtrak runs 40mph behind a freight that the freight railroad chose to run in front of Amtrak. Again their bad decision. They pay the price. They were not forced into that poor decision. As to wash outs, grade crossing accidents etc. that would be a grey area. Was the wash out due to poor track maintenance? Was they grade crossing accident due to non-functioning signals or poor design etc? I know the freight railroad looses their Amtrak incentive payments no matter the cause of the delay (unless it was bad Amtrak equipment). No, freight railroads are not penalized due to late hand-offs from other freight railroads.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/23 11:42 by OnTime.

Arrived Nine hours late into New Orleans this morning. Yikes