NEW YORK — Amtrak service was restored between New York and Philadelphia by 10 a.m. EDT after overhead power issues at the Metropark station in Woodbridge, N.J., according to the Amtrak website.
The problem was initially reported about 8 a.m. ET. At least some trains were cancelled as a result of the issue, according to the Amtrak NEC Alerts Twitter feed, while others are being held in Philadelphia. Amtrak cautions that delays are continuing.
NJ Transit Northeast Corridor service has also resumed between Trenton and Metropark after the same issue. NJ Transit rail ticket are still being cross-honored by NJ Transit bus, private carriers, and PATH at Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station.
— Updated at 11:30 a.m. CDT with resumption of service.
For a second day in a row, travelers were met with delays and cancellations at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia due to Amtrak’s overhead power issues.
On Thursday, Amtrak service was temporarily suspended between Philadelphia and New York due to overhead power issues near Metropark.
On Friday morning, Amtrak announced overhead power issues again, this time near Rahway.
All Keystone Service trains were canceled between New York and Philadelphia, only operating between Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
Speed restrictions were in place between New York and Philadelphia.
Amtrak’s overhead power issues in Rahway occurred right near where New Jersey Transit’s Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line rail service meet.
Service on those lines was suspended in both directions. Limited service in both directions on both lines was restored late Friday morning.
As for SEPTA trains, the impact was relatively small with delays of up to 10 minutes on the Paoli/Thorndale Line trains traveling from Center City. Trains coming into the city were on or close to schedule.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Friday, July 7, 2023:
ALERT: As of 6:45 am ET, All services operating between Metropark (MET) and Newark (NWK) will experience delays due to overhead power issues in the area. Updates to follow as more information becomes available.
All Keystone (Harrisburg) trains were operating between Phila and HBG only. Change at Phila for NY.
Things have returned to a semblance of normal. (6.13 PM EDT)
People have been listening to the French. They want to replace ALL of the PRR catenary (for a reasonable fee) although the PRR-style catenary has been in largely successful use for 108 years.
We don’t know WHY there was a power failure. It might have had nothing to do with the catenary. It could be a supply problem on the 60 Hz side, or a frequency changer problem, or a 25 Hz problem. As to heat, it’s been hotter than today and the RR’s more likely to put out a heat order on the rails rather than the wire.
SEPTA’s Reading Company catenary does not give trouble since it went up in 1931.
Since all trains got delay question is”””””
Is this the old PRR style CAT? If so, its design essentially connects all track’s CAT support wires together. So, a snag if bad enough will pull down all 4 track’s CAT. For clarification each track’s CAT is electrically isolated from other tracks but support wires connected together isolated by only insulators.
You are correct about the majority of the NYC-WAS catenary. However, the catenary over the “racetrack” between New Brunswick and Trenton has been recently converted to two new systems. Both systems eliminate the problem to which you refer; the individual tracks’ catenaries are independently suspended, and a tear-down on one track will not affect the others. The New Brunswick to Midway system is a “”fixed tension”, similar in appearance to the old system, but with the messenger and trolley wires independently suspended by newly designed brackets. I was told that this system is suitable for speeds up to 145 mph. From Midway to Trenton, the new system is of the “constant tension” type as seen on the New Haven-Boston section, and on most European railroads, and is suitable for 160 mph on the NEC.
The famous Northeast Corridor which is expected to be the crown jewel of Amtrak;s network and for which Amtrak has been pouring millions of dollars and resources into it at the expense of the rest of their of network and trains. For all of the talk and so called efforts being made to make the NEC the showcase train line of the nation, things still remain the same or not much has improved. Still having power issues, the overhead wires are prone to the heat and humidity of the summer and the cold and freezing weather and temperatures of winter. Plus the overworked, worn out Acela Express trainsets whose replacements are three years late and counting. These power failures and other issues are not suppossed to happen if you listen to the glowing words of the Amtrak honchos. For all the talk and funding poured into the NEC and it has been billions by now, it doesn’t seem like much progress or improvements are being made or not going or being done in the right direction when these issues of recurring power failures or cancellations due to old or worn out equipment and substandard track power plants and catenary keep happening regardless of hpw much the Amtrak bosses keep crowing about their beloved NEC which even that section they can’t manage or run right.
Joseph C. Markfelder
High temperatures often sag the old catenary. The new catenary between Trenton and New Brunswick can compensate for temperature variations, but I have not heard of any plans to extend the rebuild further north. Too bad.
Latest update / Amtrak NEC service from from Philly to New York has resumed after being suspended temporarily Thursday morning due to overhead power issues. The power issues occurred at the Metropark station in Iselin, New Jersey.
“As of 9:50 am ET, overhead power has been restored. Services traveling north of Philadelphia (PHL) have resumed. Residual delays will occur due to heavy rail congestion and speed restrictions. Updates to follow as more information becomes available,” Amtrak tweeted.
NJ Transit was also affected by the overhead power issues. However, service was restored around the same time.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Very bad surprise for concerned passengers in these sweltering days of summer.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün