WASH Union Station ongoing track and signal problems

Trains Magazine Passenger
1

WASH union station has been having ongoin problems with their signal and also switches. Just the latest the Friday afternoon.

VRE Train Talk Alert vre@public.govdelivery.com Due to the ongoing switch issues at Union Station Manassas Line Train #335 (Departs Union Station at 6:10pm). We are still waiting for the issue to be resolved as no trains can move at this time and n

To riders

Today at 5:04 PM

Update 5: VRE Union Station Delays



Due to the ongoing switch issues at Union Station Manassas Line Train #335 (Departs Union Station at 6:10
2

MARC as well and probably Amtrak also

MARC Service Alert alert@mtamarylandalerts.com Due to current switching issues in Union Station, no MARC trains will arrive or depart at this time. Updates will follow as they are received. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber

Today at 4:41 PM

Due to current switching issues in Union Station, no MARC trains will arrive or depart at this time. Updates will follow as they are received.

3

Time to cut Amtrak’s funding some more! As a penalty! [/sarcasm]

4

Unconfirmed report lost air to switch machines. So maybe construction crews broke air line or just failed line. Another possibility is that air compressor(s) failed. Mechanical failure or maybe compressor is run by a 25 Hz motor which failed from CAT power ?. Just speculation but someone may know.

Another question why does Amtrak not have enough personell to operate switches manually ?

es

5

Ever seen the layout of WUS and all it’s switches? Air switches have to be bared over and then spiked if not used under interlocking control.

6

Evidently switch problems are continuing this Saturday evening. When can someone confirm and find out exactly what the problem is ?

MARC Service Alert alert@mtamarylandalerts.com Due to current switching issues in Union Station, no MARC trains will arrive or depart at this time. Updates will follow as they are received. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber

Today at 6:55 PM

Due to current switching issues in Union Station, no MARC trains will arrive or depart at this time. Updates will follow as they are received.

7

Big delays for Amtrak in and around Wash. One of worse was train #19 Crescent took almost 3 hours Baltimore - Alexandria.

8

No possible problem in the T&E crew hand lining their route into or out of Union Station and maintaining 5 minute headways. [banghead]

9

as that is in my territory as a POWER DIRECTOR (zone 6) I was working that day. part of the problem was that wash B&B killed 60~ to the yard, K-Tower and the NY AVE signal machine. our side feeds down to “J” bridge, (had to close the loop tie switch) but with the commercial power out all the relays went into time and the compressers shut off. then we heard but not confrimed that a track or B&B backhoe backed over a airline pipe and broke it at its fittings. just another typical day on Amcrash…