WASHINGTON — While Amtrak’s string of weather-related cancellations in the Midwest is officially over, the company continues to deal with a pattern of equipment issues on the Northeast Corridor.
Six Acela trains have been cancelled to begin today (Jan. 24, 2025) because of “equipment unavailability,” while a seventh has been scrubbed because of mechanical issues. Four Northeast Regional trains have also been cancelled because of equipment unavailability, according to posts on the Amtrak NEC Alerts feed on X.com.
The cancellations announced as of 6:50 a.m. ET include New York-Washington Acelas Nos. 2103, a 5:30 a.m. departure, 2107, a 6:30 a.m. departure, and 2121, a 2:15 p.m. train; Boston-Washington train 2155 (7:15 a.m.); Washington-New York trains 2108 (10:30 a.m.) and 2122 (5:30 p.m.); and 2172, a 4 p.m. Washington-Boston train. Northeast Regional cancellations are Nos. 111 (New York-Washington, 4:50 a.m.), 119 (New York-Washington, 11:13 a.m.), 130 (Washington-New York, 6:30 a.m.), and 182 (Washington-New York, 9:35 a.m.).
Today’s cancellations follow four on Thursday, Jan. 23, for “equipment issues” or “equipment unavailability,” and six on Wednesday Jan. 22, for the same reasons. Another five were cancelled for the same reasons on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in addition to one cancelled between Newark, N.J., and New York because of “ongoing delays resulting from mechanical issues.”
Canceltrak is a more adept name I would say..
They really need to get the new Acelas up and running who knows if the old ones are gonna last until the spring. This winter might be the death of them.
The above picture certainly shows how the Elizabeth curves restrict max speeds. An example of how Amtrak cannot maintain consistent speeds on the whole route from NYP – WASH.
The AX-1’s are so worn out. Took a trip to Boston and back from Philly in Dec and holy crap they are clapped out. Shocks are beat and they look horrible outside (dirty, missing body parts and cosmetic cracks/dents) but I will say they still got up to speed and were zipping thru Jersey and RI. These things are on their last legs. When are the AX-2’s going to start service? This is embarrassing: Amerika at it’s worst
Is this a result of Amtrak refusing to buy enough spare parts for the AX-1s? That refusal may have come due to Amtrak’s unreasonable expectation that AX-2s would be ready last year.
It certainly sounds like the first generation Acelas are in their death throes. And their second generation replacements, Avelias, are struggling to be born.
I wonder if Amtrak is in its death throes.