NEW YORK — “Minimal train movement” is now possible between Philadelphia and New York, Amtrak says, after operations were suspended for most of the morning today (Dec. 22, 2024) because of downed overhead power wires near Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.
In an update at 12:20 p.m. ET, the passenger operator says a single track has been restored to operation, but passengers on the Northeast Corridor “should expect lengthy delays.”
NJ Transit’s website says its operations remain suspended between Cherry Hill, N.J., and Philadelphia.
According to WCAU-TV, the issue was first reported by NJ Transit about 3:30 a.m. An Amtrak advisory at 5 a.m. ET estimated service would be restored at 10 a.m.; that was pushed back to noon before the current single-track operation was established.
The issue is impaction operations from Boston to Washington, Amtrak says. Its NEC Alerts feed on X.com indicates that because of resulting equipment-availability issues, two Acela trips been cancelled between Boston and Washington, while another has been scrubbed between Washington and New York.
Amtrak and NJ Transit experienced significant issues with the NEC catenary system earlier this year, leading to a joint effort to address infrastructure and rolling-stock issues. The two operators provided new information on that effort in a report last month [see “Amtrak, NJ Transit update efforts …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 20, 2024].
— Updated at 11:55 a.m. CT with resumption of some service.
very cold and windy need better system for overhead wire
supposed to have been a tree?