Amtrak trains rolling on busy Northeast Corridor

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By RON TODT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Amtrak trains began rolling between New York and Philadelphia early Monday, the first time in almost a week following a deadly crash in Philadelphia, and officials vowed to have safer trains and tracks while investigators worked to determine the cause of the derailment.

Amtrak officials said Sunday that trains along the busy Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston would resume service Monday in "complete compliance" with federal safety orders following last week's deadly derailment.

Company President Joseph Boardman said Amtrak staff and crew have been working around the clock to restore service following Tuesday night's crash that killed eight people and injured more than 200 others.

At a service Sunday evening at the site to honor the crash victims, Boardman choked up as he called Tuesday "the worst day for me as a transportation professional." He vowed that the wrecked train and its passengers "will never be forgotten."

FULL story at link.



Anthony Foxx, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, speaks during a service of reflection at the site of an Amtrak train derailment, Sunday May 17, 2015, in Philadelphia. The U.S. passenger train operator Amtrak will resume full service in the Northeast Corridor on Monday in "complete compliance" with federal safety orders following last week's deadly derailment, officials announced Sunday. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bb1f5c7c124843da90f1f938f3671881/amtrak-restore-full-northeast-corridor-service

[BumRushDaShow]

1. They were working 24/7 to get that segment back up

particularly since Memorial Day weekend is coming up and the system has to be operational.

[Hoppy]

2. Would you buy a ticket? I'd want to know more before I'd sit my ass on a seat.

[katmondoo]

3. Yes I would

In spite of all the problems I love the train. Hate the airlines

[Renew Deal]

4. I would

Have you ever been in a car accident? Do you still get into cars? The old saying about the odds of something happening being low still holds here. There is more danger from the passengers than the train.

[Trailrider1951]

5. Oh, absolutely! I've traveled many many miles on Amtrak

Amtrak has always given me the impression of **Safety First**. I've never ridden the NEC, as Chicago and Atlanta (southern route) are the farthest North and East I've been. But I've been pretty much everywhere Amtrak goes between Chicago, Houston, LA and Seattle, some routes multiple times. Many times I've seen delays because Amtrak does not own the track it operates on. The freight companies do. So they are responsible for track maintenance, and give track priority to their freight trains. The worst incident I encountered with Amtrak equipment was when we came to a halt just north of ABQ. The cause was a broken air hose on one of the two engines. This was repaired in about half an hour and we continued our journey to Chicago.

I'll take the train over plane or bus any day of the week.

[joshcryer]

6. Hate flying.

Definitely would.