Amtrak leases equipment to fill service gaps

Amtrak has borrowed equipment to fill gaps in service as inspections continue on its inactive fleet of Acela Express high-speed trains. After scrambling to find replacement equipment and even leasing some locomotives and coach cars from commuter agencies in three states, the passenger railroad offered 115 departures Friday in the Northeast compared to about 140 on a typical day, reported the Associated Press. Amtrak Chief Operating Officer Stan Bagley said that some Acela Express service could return next week, with full service resuming the following week. The railroad is working with the train's manufacturers, Bombardier of North America and France's Alstom Ltd., on temporary repairs to cracks around shock-absorbing assemby under the locomotives that power the trains, said the news service.