Passenger Trains > "Disabled Amtrak Train" SNAFU at Washington Union Station

Before noon Washington time, VRE advised:

Trains 301 and 325 will be delayed this afternoon due to a disabled Amtrak train at Union Station. We do not know the extent of the delays, but we will send additional messages as more information becomes available.

At 223pm:

Rail traffic is still stopped at Union Station due to a disabled Amtrak train. Until we receive more information, VRE passengers may wish to seek alternative transportation. VRE passengers can board a Fairfax Connector bus today by showing their VRE ticket.  (repeated at 318pm)

At 352pm:

VRE stores one Fredericksburg Line train near the L’Enfant Station. We plan to have that train originate at the L’Enfant Station today and run on Train 307‘s schedule, departing the L’Enfant Station at 4:08 p.m.

Meanwhile, on the Amtrak side:

176 (Roanoke-Boston) is stopped at L'Enfant
94 (Norfolk-Boston) is stopped at Alexandria
20 (Crescent) is stopped at AF

Some sort of fracas involving access to the through tracks at WAS.

Nothing $8 billion can't fix.

 

Carolinian 79 arrived WAS at 11:08 am and departed at 3:10.  Maybe it derailed in the tunnel?
Andy

twropr Wrote:
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> Carolinian 79 arrived WAS at 11:08 am and departed
> at 3:10.  Maybe it derailed in the tunnel?
> Andy

Of course you mean it "lost contact with the rails."  :)

Turns out the forgot to do a southbound engine change and  they ran out of electricity.  Took a few hours to try to string extra wire, But finally an old head convinced a dispatcher to use a diesel switcher to tow it back.  CNOC awarded extra bonuses for solving the problem.  

It's not over yet:VRE service will be snarled on Tuesday morning:Due to the disabled Amtrak train and resulting congestion at Union Station today, we are unable to bring some of our trains back to Spotsylvania and Broad Run this evening. As a result, we will be running limited service tomorrow morning. The following trains WILL operate tomorrow morning:

Fredericksburg Line:

Train 302: (departs Spotsylvania at 5:06 a.m.)

Train 304 (departs Spotsylvania at 5:21 a.m.)

Train 308 (departs Spotsylvania at 6:01 a.m.)

Train 312 (departs Spotsylvania at 7:06 a.m.)

Train 314 (departs Spotsylvania at 7:46 a.m.)

 

Manassas Line:

Train 324 (departs Broad Run at 5:21 a.m.)

Train 328 (departs Broad Run at 6:16 a.m.)

Train 332 (departs Broad Run at 8:01 a.m.)

Fredericksburg Line trains 300, 306 and 310 and Manassas Line trains 322, 326, 330 and 321 will NOT operate tomorrow morning.


There is a possibility that trains will need to continue to single-track into/out of Union Station tomorrow following today’s issues. We hope to run full service tomorrow afternoon and evening. However, if heavy congestion continues throughout the day, we may need to cancel the reverse-flow trains on the Manassas Line tomorrow afternoon and evening to reduce the amount of traffic entering Union Station. We will send additional messages about any other changes to service for tomorrow.

Was there a derailment and/or track damage, yes or no ? 

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Was there a derailment and/or track damage, yes or
> no ? 
Amtrak Regional train 84 had picked a switch as it was approaching Union Station from the south.
A key switch at A interlocking, where the two tracks in the tunnel fan out into several station tracks
was damaged.  Repairs required single tracking in the tunnel; this resulted in engine changes on
southbound Amtraks taking longer than usual and led to congestion on the lower level throughout
the rush hour.
Andy