Trains South of Washington, D.C. Disrupted

[Steve4031]

So what happened with the SB auto train. Wasn't Kevin on that one?

 

[user 1215]

So what happened with the SB auto train. Wasn't Kevin on that one?

See THIS thread...

 

[AlanB]

So what happened with the SB auto train. Wasn't Kevin on that one?

No, Kevin went south a week ago. He was on yesterday's (27th) train out of Sanford back home. So he just missed the huge delay by one day. He got into Lorton this morning, the 28th, about an hour late or so.

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

But if the track does happen to meet Class 3 standards, is Amtrak always allowed to operate on it, or does track owned by railroads that didn't join the Amtrak system potentially inaccessible to Amtrak if the track owner doesn't want to share, etc?

 

[jackal]

But if the track does happen to meet Class 3 standards, is Amtrak always allowed to operate on it, or does track owned by railroads that didn't join the Amtrak system potentially inaccessible to Amtrak if the track owner doesn't want to share, etc?

Well, technically, a passenger train can operate on any track that's not "FRA excepted track" (ultra-low quality track with a speed limit of 10mph or less that passenger trains cannot operate over), but it would be up to negotiations between Amtrak and the host railroad for alternate routes. On trackage not owned by Amtrak, Amtrak doesn't just have carte blanche to choose any route they want--at the very least, they'd need the dispatcher to authorize them on the detoured track, and I'm pretty sure a dispatcher wouldn't do something like that without at least checking with someone higher up.

 

[AlanB]

But if the track does happen to meet Class 3 standards, is Amtrak always allowed to operate on it, or does track owned by railroads that didn't join the Amtrak system potentially inaccessible to Amtrak if the track owner doesn't want to share, etc?

Well, technically, a passenger train can operate on any track that's not "FRA excepted track" (ultra-low quality track with a speed limit of 10mph or less that passenger trains cannot operate over), but it would be up to negotiations between Amtrak and the host railroad for alternate routes. On trackage not owned by Amtrak, Amtrak doesn't just have carte blanche to choose any route they want--at the very least, they'd need the dispatcher to authorize them on the detoured track, and I'm pretty sure a dispatcher wouldn't do something like that without at least checking with someone higher up.

It would go way beyond finding a dispatcher who was inclined to let them operate over his territory. Under FRA rules, both the engineer and the conductor must be qualified to operate a train over that segment of track. Amtrak crews are not normally qualified to operate over any tracks that Amtrak doesn't normally run trains on.

Therefore Amtrak needs to have the hosting RR provide a pilot who is qualified to operate over that trackage. Finding a willing pilot who won't outlaw on hours of service, as well as negtiating who pays for the pilot(s), is always a tricky thing to do.

 

[BobWeaver]

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/0...ref=videosearch

Here's some video footage of the damage courtesy of CNN.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

I really wish CSX couldn't get away with it. I'm surprised the other RRs aren't rosting them at the stakes. They are the poster child for re-regulation.

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Unless I missed something why is everyone blaming CSX? So far all I have heard is train derailed, no blame that I remember is mentioned.

Remember the

It's not nice to fool with Mother nature.

then remember Issac Newton was involved. :lol: :lol:

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Because, most likely, the derailment was caused by CSX's poor policies, oversite, and maintenance.

 

[BobWeaver]

Because, most likely, the derailment was caused by CSX's poor policies, oversite, and maintenance.

If everything was logical in the railroad industry, Amtrak would not have to worry about funding every year.

 

[SUNSETLIMITED02]

Because, most likely, the derailment was caused by CSX's poor policies, oversite, and maintenance.

If everything was logical in the railroad industry, Amtrak would not have to worry about funding every year.

Well we may have to suspect CSX maybe the blame cause there have been accidents in the past that have involved poor maintenance,policies, and oversites.