Amtrak Acela 2150 high speed train separates in transit

[Puffnstuff]

Another day another incident involving our only national railroad Amtrak. This time is was with an Acela high speed train running the NE corridor en route to Boston separating as it approached Penn Station at 125mph. Nobody was reported injured and 52 passengers were transferred to another regional carrier to complete their trip.

Trains breaking apart are not an unusual occurrence, however, the Acela is inspected after each run. A weak coupler wouldn't necessarily show up under a visual inspection and we don't know exactly what mechanical failure occurred. The Acela is also a unified consist so it never comes apart unless it has to be serviced. Amtrak officials say they will take extra steps to ensure this doesn't happen again.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amtrak-train-2150-acela-breaks-apart-boston/

 

[zinfamous]

"high speed train breaks apart" sounds much worse than what actually happened.

 

[IronWing]

"High speed train comes unhinged"

 

[Puffnstuff]

"high speed train breaks apart" sounds much worse than what actually happened.

Well if you were a passenger and suddenly the parts of the train ahead of you start moving away it might appear differently.

"High speed train comes unhinged"

We don't know the nature of the separation only that it was mechanical in nature on a train that is not designed to separate. This is the issue because it is a unified consist.

 

[Linux23]

Dam you Obama...

 

[Starbuck1975]

It is absurd that our nation has such a substandard rail system.

In the Northeast, the Acela has to work its way down a network of tracks never designed for high speed rail, and Amtrak doesn't even own the whole corridor and has to share the tracks with slower freight and commuter lines.

On the west coast, the high speed rail project will inevitably face audits as it unsurprisingly continues to fail by every measurable metric, and now with the added challenge of squatters occupying the homes seized along the path, who I am sure somehow now have rights to the homes they are squatting in.

 

[Nashemon]

I'll never take a train in the US.

 

[K1052]

It is absurd that our nation has such a substandard rail system.

In the Northeast, the Acela has to work its way down a network of tracks never designed for high speed rail, and Amtrak doesn't even own the whole corridor and has to share the tracks with slower freight and commuter lines.

On the west coast, the high speed rail project will inevitably face audits as it unsurprisingly continues to fail by every measurable metric, and now with the added challenge of squatters occupying the homes seized along the path, who I am sure somehow now have rights to the homes they are squatting in.

Yay for chronic underfunding, a lack of interest, and systemic corruption/bureaucratic malaise.

Really we don't have better because people we, as Americans, don't demand it and don't want to pay for it. Kind of how like Spirit is regularly rated the worse airline imaginable but they've got full planes and continue to grow rapidly.

Cheap, good, or fast. In this country we settle for one out of three at best.

 

[kage69]

It's true, the train system here blows. I've used them in Europe and Asia, and the American system is notably inferior. My first substantial trip on Amtrak was delayed 10hrs as it derailed in Texas prior to heading my way.

It's not all our fault though. Our country is big and sparsely populated, while deeply entrenched in a privatized system of track ownership. Makes having what Japan and Korea enjoy a long shot.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I've loved trains ever since my first passenger train ride back in 1967 and I find the current state of our passenger rail system shameful. At least here in FL Brightline just started providing service and is expanding to cover the entire state.

 

[Puffnstuff]

From this footage the guys are messing around with the coupler and they had to remove the nose cone on the Acela to access it.

 

[Brainonska511]

This time is was with an Acela high speed train running the NE corridor en route to Boston separating as it approached Penn Station at 125mph.

I wouldn't really call "Havre de Grace, Maryland" "approach[ing] Penn Station".

 

[Puffnstuff]

I wouldn't really call "Havre de Grace, Maryland" "approach[ing] Penn Station".

When I got that article that is how it was written with no absolute location for the train.

 

[Jhhnn]

Check this at the 1:00 mark-

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/a...eaded-to-NYC-Decouple_New-York-473031683.html

That grey thing sticking out above the ties looks like part of an articulated link between the cars that should be secured with a center pin in the horizontal slot in the other car.

 

[Genx87]

Amtrak is a national treasure.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Check this at the 1:00 mark-

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/a...eaded-to-NYC-Decouple_New-York-473031683.html

That grey thing sticking out above the ties looks like part of an articulated link between the cars that should be secured with a center pin in the horizontal slot in the other car.

I think you're right which brings into question their attachment method for the cars which would be difficult to visually inspect. I've listened to their presentations on the replacement for Acela which will allow them to build a consist like normal so it must have knuckles instead.

Over in the trainorders forum I found a discussion for the drawbar system used to hold the Acela together and someone states that mechanical force must be used to separate them which implies that the pins are pressed in. They also mention the drawbars eliminate slack in the consist and that only the powercars have standard knuckles and provided a link so you can see the front without the cone which I've added below.

Amtrak is due to start replacing the Acela Express with the Avelia Liberty in 2021.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,2115880
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_transit_amtrak_trains_runni.html

 

[feralkid]

Amtrak is a national treasure.

For what they are tasked to do, under such hostile conditions, I think they deserve a little respect, not scorn.

You'll never pass up a chance to ridicule the very idea of Rail Transport.

Did the big bad choo-choo run over your kitty?