New train (40-41 Floridian) between Miami and Chicago via Washington DC (2025)

[west point]

Another question is why do these Siemens "Chargers" go "balls up" so often?

Some might suspect that the chargers have too many very minor glitches that are causing the locos to shut down. There should not be but just most items that just give a master caution that can be taken care of at next maintenance location. It is time to reign in IT control over these locos.

 

[Septa9739]

By this point, all the major mechanical delays have worked out of the system, at this point all trains are within an hour and a half of schedule. Hopefully this remains the case going forward and those delays were just teething problems with the Chargers that will improve over time.

 

[Septa9739]

Spoke too soon. 40(26) has suffered a massive mechanical failure requiring equipment be set out. Current delay 6:30. This will result in another origination delay of 41(28). These delays while noticed on the Floridian because people are watching the new service are cropping up all over the system. The RPA should at this point, be pressing Amtrak for specific answers.

 

[Qapla]

Finally, a day with some on time Floridians

Of course, there are also a couple of late ones, too

 

[jiml]

Another question is why do these Siemens "Chargers" go "balls up" so often?

Although not well-publicized, this has been a problem for VIA as well. It has been buried by the stories of speed restrictions at level crossings and decaying coach fleet. There does seem to be a consensus that the locomotives were a little "over-thought" and are too reliant on automation.

 

[Anderson]

Although not well-publicized, this has been a problem for VIA as well. It has been buried by the stories of speed restrictions at level crossings and decaying coach fleet. There does seem to be a consensus that the locomotives were a little "over-thought" and are too reliant on automation.

There was a YouTube video I watched on this point. Okay, yeah, it's YouTube...but the points were essentially:
(1) Newer locos are not suited to Amtrak's traditional maintenance habits (compare with how Brightline handles their equipment); and
(2) A lot of the "gee whiz" stuff was due to needing to meet the Tier 4 standards.

Whether this the tradeoff in (2) is worthwhile in the context of everything else out there (versus if, say, Amtrak had just been able to order another couple hundred Genesis locomotives as-is) is debatable.

 

[Septa9739]

The fact, I think, is fairly well established at this point. The question needs to be what’s to be done about it. The status quo should not be acceptable, with serval trains a day delayed for mechanical failure. Something will need to be worked out, whether certain technology be deactivated/bypassed and a waiver granted for TEIR IV (I think this administration would be receptive.) or Amtrak finds a way to properly maintain the things (I have my doubts; Chicago maintenance has been notorious since about the Kennedy Administration.). They need to be able to run schedules like the Floridian’s.

It also seems though a large number of these delays are concentrated on the Floridian. I have a feeling [which I know is useless in this context] that a large portion of the trouble happens between Cary and Savannah. It’s also had many delays on origination. Is there any idea why the Floridian seems to catch the worst?

 

[Eric in East County]

The status quo should not be acceptable, with serval trains a day delayed for mechanical failure.

If the status quo was flights from the major airlines being delayed due to mechanical failure, what do you think the public would demand be done to those responsible?

 

[Septa9739]

If, say, some Boeing equipment had some en-route mechanical issues, I think the media, the public, regulatory bodies, and Congress could possibly become slightly upset. Just a hypothetical.

I say as now four of the five sets are operating within an hour.