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.
Amtrak leases equipment to fill service gaps
Using leased equipment the passenger railroad offered 115 departures Friday in the Northeast compared to about 140 on a typical day.
More Rail
Transportation Secretary Duffy, Amtrak Announce Progress on New York Penn Station Project
As part of the contract, the AECOM-LiRo NYPennT Joint Venture will work with Amtrak and the selected Master Developer to completely transform Penn Station, improving safety and operational efficiency, making the system more family-friendly, accommodating increased train and passenger capacity, and delivering a world-class experience to its growing passenger base, according to Amtrak officials.
Read More →
ZeroEyes Launches ZeroLink to Expand AI Gun Detection Beyond Traditional Networks
New edge-based solution enables real-time threat detection and situational awareness in remote, mobile, and infrastructure-limited environments.
Read More →
Chicago Transit Authority Sues USDOT Over Paused Funding for Red Line Extension, Modernization Projects
The Chicago agency seeks restoration of nearly $2 billion in federal funding, warning halted projects could impact transit access and economic growth.
Read More →
Alstom Awarded 5-Year Extension for GO Transit, UP Express Services
Company officials said that this latest contract extension with Metrolinx consolidates the company’s position as the leading private provider of Operations and maintenance services in North America.
Read More →
New York MTA Seeks Bids for 2,390 Subway Cars in Record-Breaking Order
The new cars, model R262, will be funded by the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan, which received a historic $68 billion in funding from Governor Hochul and the State Legislature in the FY26 Enacted State Budget.
Read More →
Amtrak Announces Community Grants for Projects Near Baltimore’s New Frederick Douglass Tunnel
Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.
Read More →
Amtrak Marks Restoration of Two South Carolina Stations
The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
Read More →
NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge
The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.
Read More →
Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy
Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
Read More →
Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Read More →