Effect of early January 2022 Virginia Snowstorm on Amtrak

[Rover]

US Senators Mark Warner & Tim Kaine write letter to Bill Flynn & Stephen Gardner

https://www.wdbj7.com/2022/01/07/senators-looking-better-amtrak-protocol-after-passengers-stranded/

 

[me_little_me]

Nine-year-old Isabella Thornton and her father, Sean, were caught in the snowstorm that wreaked havoc across Virginia, but they weren’t in a car — they were on an Amtrak train! Sean posted a video on their ill-fated journey inside a sleeper car from Atlanta to Charlottesville. What was supposed to be a 10-hour overnight trip ended up taking 40 hours to complete. Because the train was stranded, there was no food for the majority of the trip. Isabella and Sean spoke to Inside Edition.

And Amtrak, which doesn't need the negative publicity, shot itself in the foot once again.

Headline in Washington Post:
Virginia’s senators criticize Amtrak’s ‘lack of communication’ after snowfall stranded passengers

 

[chickpea]

One of the best lessons from this thread for my upcoming journeys: pack extra food and water!

 

[OBS]

And Amtrak, which doesn't need the negative publicity, shot itself in the foot once again.

Headline in Washington Post:
Virginia’s senators criticize Amtrak’s ‘lack of communication’ after snowfall stranded passengers

It is amazing how many times this situation has occured over the years, next Amtrak will promise an investigation and changes, and in a few years it will reoccur....

 

[Zack]

I was worried about my 98 trip that left yesterday since there were some cancelations, but I just got into DC with no problems, 38 minutes early even. I got to see this as well! 29 to Chicago is next in about 9 hours.

 

[Rover]

It is amazing how many times this situation has occured over the years, next Amtrak will promise an investigation and changes, and in a few years it will reoccur....

One report said that the rail line operators are not cutting back the trees enough, comparing how much they cut back the trees when the telegraph lines running alongside the tracks had to be protected..

 

[chickpea]

One report said that the rail line operators are not cutting back the trees enough, comparing how much they cut back the trees when the telegraph lines running alongside the tracks had to be protected..

I wondered about that. In the UK the rail system is so crucial that they cut trees pretty far back on a very regular basis to avoid issues. (Also they often have trouble with too many wet leaves on tracks, not just falling trees & branches.)

 

[west point]

This tree problem in endemic on the Class 1 RRs. CSX here is allowing the southern pines to grow over the tracks. Came an ice storm the trees will all fall over the tracks. That is because any pine that has an open space to just one side will have the pine leaning to the open side as it grows.

If you look at the pictures of the Auto-Train stalled the pines leaning over the tracks are obvious.

What is not talked about is the RRs not trimming the trees for the all mighty OR. This causes many freight customers to receive deliveries late. That is an item that needs much investigation of PSR.

On another note. The snow falls this month seem to have caught UP and BNSF off guard. As well CSX and NS seem to have been as well? Is it a lack of MOW persons due to the heavy mechanization of track maintenance? Are there not enough wedge plows and Jordon spreaders at various points? With that in mind are the very long crew districts limiting loco engineers from being able to respond to snow emergencies? These 2 items may be needed to maintain the tracks when snowstorms block the tracks?

Now I recognize that landslides are a problem. Do government restrictions in the various jurisdictions limit or prevent snow slide remediation?

Spreaders and wedge plows seem to have been retired in a much greater numbers than replacements have been purchased? How can RRs justify this lack of equipment in the northern latitudes?

 

[user 14106]

Auto Train should finally catch up today from last weeks craziness - with todays departures both on time. Unfortunately this meant more than a full week of tardiness but it avoided another day of cancellations during a busy time for the train/