Hotline #255-A - August 14, 2002

Discovery of a crack in a component of an Acela Express train set late on August 12 led to cancellation of most Acela Express services on August 13 and 14 -- and likely for a few more days, at the least, beyond that.

The crack was found in a bracket supporting yaw dampers -- a sort of shock absorber for lateral movement -- on an Acela Express power car that was undergoing programmed, 92-day maintenance at Boston. Amtrak ordered the other 17 Acela Express sets to be checked for the same problem, and of the first ten sets examined, only two were damage-free. Those two sets remained in service, but are getting extra inspection at the end of each trip.

The fact that only two Acela Express train sets have been running has caused great disruption on the Northeast Corridor, with Amtrak scrambling to accommodate passengers. They were transferred to slower Acela Regional trains, subject to delay and crowding. Passengers who were downgraded were eligible for partial refunds. The bracket problem is certainly costing Amtrak a lot in terms of reduced revenues, added costs, and bad publicity.

Amtrak and Bombardier, the manufacturer of the trains, are working on a temporary solution -- subject to approval by the Federal Railroad Administration. If that happens, service could be back within days, as thicker, replacement components are installed on the trains by Bombardier. Otherwise, designing, testing, and installing permanent, replacement components could take weeks.

An interesting review by the Washington Post, from August 14, is at their web site.

See Amtrak's web site for a 20% discount offer launched today.