Passenger Trains > Supply Chain Woes

Article in Chicago SunTimes would appear to support the claim that lack of parts/supplies for maintenance is behind some of the challenges with keeping tje Siemens locomotives and cars in good working order. You may need to register with your email to read the article:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2024/04/12/amtrak-cancellations-illinois

Posted from iPhone

Here is the article:Amtrak canceled several of its scheduled runs in Illinois this weekend due to “equipment issues,” the rail agency said.At least seven trains departing from or heading to Chicago were called off — four scheduled for Friday and three on Saturday. Buses were substituted in some cases.“A supply chain backlog from key vendors has delayed replacement parts needed to support required routine maintenance inspections,” an Amtrak spokesperson said. “Customers are being notified of some cancellations in the Amtrak Midwest network and substitute transportation by chartered buses is being provided as available. Refunds are also being made without penalty.”Three scheduled trains between Chicago and St. Louis were canceled — two leaving Friday and the third leaving St. Louis early Saturday, and scheduled to arrive in Chicago around 10 a.m.Other routes affected were the Illinois Zephyr, between Chicago and Quincy, and the Blue Water, between Chicago and Port Huron, Michigan; a Friday and Saturday run on each route was canceled.No other cancellations had been announced by Friday evening. It wasn’t clear when the issues would be resolved.

Quote: “A supply chain backlog from key vendors has delayed replacement parts needed to support required routine maintenance inspections”.. More Amtrak BS

I watched yesterday as the trains were taking a hit.. So nice of Amtrak PR to present us with relevant facts so quickly...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/24 08:03 by PC1974.

" For want of a nail..............."  Didn't know we needed nails.

Did the proposed maintenance contract include replacement parts, etc?

My recollection is the states and Amtrak did not feel a Siemens maintenance contract was needed for the equipment in state etc corridor service.

Why is just about everything a screw-up?

Things are getting tiresome.

Want to get into the weeds on this issue? Open the link below for the Next Generation Equipment Committee February 2, 2024 meeting and read the updates from the States, VIA, Amtrak, MTA, etc.

https://ngec.org/meetings/

They go into a lot of detail and the various issues impacting locomotive and railcar availability.

PC1974 Wrote:
----------------------------------------------
> More Amtrak BS
>
> I watched yesterday as the trains were taking a
> hit.. So nice of Amtrak PR to present us with
> relevant facts so quickly...
=============================

Amtrak is always right on the ball. With excuses.

After 35 years in the industry, one comes to realize that about the only thing that railroads, both freight and passenger, do well is come up with excuses.

Well lets see, I have 12 GM Vehicles of the same make and model in my fleet, all 2020s with around 100,000 miles on them. 5 of them have already had motor replacements, 6 new transmissions, 2 transfer cases,  7 new radiators, lots of suspension parts needed replacement. Non stop check engine lights, and 2 more engine failures in the last 2 weeks. One got a new motor last week, it threw a engine code on it first night back. The following day it recorded 7 engine codes, it was returned to the dealer, it was found the new motor was seizing its bearings. It has taken 2 years to get 6 spare Wheels, motor mounts have been on back order since August, wheel bearings on back order, a fuel tank on back order for a year. Lots of technical knowledge and technology is making the auto industry just as dependable as the Chargers that dont run well.

This has nothing to do with Amtrak, Siemens, Chicago or Beech Grove, but the end result is the same.  Industries are still suffering with supply chain issues even though you can readily buy toilet paper. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/24 13:55 by TomG.

TomG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This has nothing to do with Amtrak, Siemens,
> Chicago or Beech Grove, but the end result is the
> same.  Industries are still suffering with supply
> chain issues even though you can readily buy
> toilet paper. 

Exactly. Pre-pandemic, parts manufactures and suppliers had (generally speaking) 6-24 months of inventory on the shelf, somewhere.

Today, in the electronic components industry, and obviously in the vehicle parts industry, manufactures have no inventory on the shelf, anywhere, and the order received today will not be manufactured for 6-12 months. In the electronic components industry, there are some components that are used in personal computers that have 24-30 month lead times.

So till this supply chain issues is resolved with the Chargers, the State DOT's and Amtrak are looking for other locomotives from other regional railroads or what have you, to substitute and put on the lead to pull these trains down the road. Got it! Good ole Amtrak - always problem solving - just like the private sector does.......This Charger locomotive issue is HARDLY a new topic........

Then Amtrak needs to have a stock of parts far in excess or normal, since there is no normal.  When they order XYZ part and it takes a year to manufacture, then order two years worth of it.  Yes, it will mean a large parts inventory on hand, but the current state of the industry is totally unreliable and screwed up.  

Quite simply Amtrak has millions of dollars in locos and cars standing still, because they have not prepared their company for this current situation.  Good wise management of a bad situation can overcome the collapse of U.S. manufacturing and delivery of needed items.  

Caterpillar of Peoria would stand on their heads to keep their tractors supplied with the proper parts.  My brother personally drove a needed part for a D9 tractor over 500 miles one day, so that the machine was back up and running in about 12 hours.  Ah, but those days are gone............

How is BrightLine making out with their Chargers and Siemens service?

My understanding is they are doing fine in supply and repair matters.

Posted from Android

Th OIG report on Amtrak's general inventory and parts supply says it all. I am surprised they were this kind in their reporting. And Amtrak Management agreed to the recommendations and findings. Brightline and other regional railroads are not having this much trouble with their Chargers. 

These aren't parts you can get at Home Depot or Grainger.

Gotta plan ahead...

Posted from Android

Typical am-mouthpiece story. Was this our buddy amtrak Marc ?
Long on BS, short on facts and specifics.

Link to post on IG report about amtrak inventory mishandling.
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,5824482,5825231#msg-5825231

Celebrating 75 years of the CZ but amtrak can't dispatch the number of trains the Q dispatched out of Chicago
75 years ago with NO government help.

Interesting that the car in the Sun-Times photo appeared to have been freshly washed.
Photo must have been taken when the car was new.



 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/24 20:04 by Englewood.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How is BrightLine making out with their Chargers
> and Siemens service?
>
> My understanding is they are doing fine in supply
> and repair matters.
>
> Posted from Android

Because they have a technical services agreement with Siemens which contractually guarantees lead times for the critical parts. Amtrak has one for the ALC42s as well. However the states do not have one for their equipment at this time and are still trying to negotiate to get one going - it has been a long process to try to initiate one for that equipment. Amtrak got theirs at purchase (largely because of some of the issues the state units have had.) The Brightline and ALCs basically have guaranteed lead times for most parts - while the state units do not.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/24 04:14 by lordsigma.

lordsigma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How is BrightLine making out with their
> Chargers
> > and Siemens service?
> >
> > My understanding is they are doing fine in
> supply
> > and repair matters.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Because they have a technical services agreement
> with Siemens which contractually guarantees lead
> times for the critical parts. Amtrak has one on
> the ALC42s as wel. However the states do not have
> one for their units at this time and are still
> trying to negotiate to get one going - it has been
> a long process to try to initiate one for that
> equipment. Amtrak got theirs at purchase (largely
> because of some of the issues the state units have
> had.)

Understood. But Amtrak needs to use its leverage with the ALC42 technical service agreement, along with options outstanding to build more equipment and new equipment through Sieman's etc., to get Sieman's, State DOT's and Amtrak to come to the table and get a better solution for the Charger issue. This has gone on for several years now with inconsistent Charger performance and parts issue. Unacceptable. Moreover, Siemen's was paid to deliver a product that could work. I can guarantee this same process of customer service, post-sale etc. would not have happened if this was a car purchase, house renovation, or airplane purchase. The State DOT's are equally responsible. Acceptance of the locomotives was signed off on by the State DOT's and/or Amtrak - I get that. But there's problems - back to the table to negotiate or to put a premium technical service agreement in place. There's a few ways to play this. Instead, Chicago Yard is piled up with Chargers in various states of repair.  

Which commuter railroads have Siemens locos and what is their experience with spare parts ?

Posted from Android