Amtrak announced that its customers traveling on the Northeast Corridor may experience minor delays, due to track work this summer. According to Amtrak, the company has adjusted its train schedules to account for this work and avoid conflicts with commuter agencies.
To minimize impacts, Amtrak crews are working overnight for each project. The company has committed approximately $130 million for rail improvements, with over $124 million invested this summer.
The company warned that customers should be aware that high temperatures in the summer months also can impact Amtrak operations. Extreme heat can cause rail, bridge and overhead wires to expand. As a safety measure, Amtrak enacts temporary heat restrictions as needed. This requires locomotive engineers to operate trains at lower speeds than under normal conditions.
The Northern Hemisphere is experiencing a heat wave with temperatures soaring to record-breaking levels. This extreme weather phenomenon is causing widespread delays and disruptions in transportation systems.
Amtrack Advancing Infrastructure
The company is focused on advancing infrastructure improvements on the Northeast Corridor to enhance the passenger experience and increase efficiency.
The company regularly conducts track improvement as part of a larger strategy to optimize the railroad’s performance. Although short-term disruptions may occur, customers will benefit from higher reliability and better punctuality in the long run.
“Updating railroad infrastructure is a fundamental component of our plan to deliver a new era of rail by modernizing the Amtrak fleet, building new bridges and tunnels, revitalizing stations, and redefining the customer experience for the modern era,” said Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery Laura Mason. “We’re grateful to our partners for their cooperation and flexibility as we advance these critical projects to achieve a state of good repair and enhance the overall Amtrak customer experience.”