wxguy
Oct 29, 09, 11:02 am
Was anyone else caught in the afternoon mess caused by trees down on the wires just east of New Haven on 10/28?
I rode BOS-NYP on 2159 during the morning. Nice ride.
I arrived at NYP CA at 6:15pm to catch the 2172 at 7:00pm north, and what a mess! Two midday southbound Acelas from BOS were canceled at NHV due to the blocked tracks, with passengers put on regional equipment. The 3pm and 5pm southbound Acelas from Boston were running 90-120 minutes late.
2172 coming up from DC due to arrive at NYP at 6:50pm was turned to become 2173 southbound (8:15pm) since there was no other equipment, and they needed this set back in DC for Friday morning. Southbound from NYP 2171 passengers were put on the Vermonter #55.
Through passengers on 2172 from the south were offloaded at NYP, and they plus the originating passengers (including me!) were put on the 7:30pm Regional, 178. With the very short time available, the orders were to use the 2172 tickets on 178 and figure out the refunds later. (The ticket counter was swamped as was the Club Acela desk.) 178 finally left at 7:50pm, with nearly every seat filled. But then just east of NHV, the engine on 178 died. It turns out that during the power phase change, the on-board computer failed. It took about 40 minute to (as the Conductor said) to "reboot the computer and everything else in the engine." Of course by that time, the train air had depleted, and after the power was restored, we had to wait for the air to pump up the brake system before we could get underway. We finally arrived in Boston about an hour late (for 178), and nearly two hours later than 2172 should have arrived. On the way north through CT and RI, the two empty Acela sets I saw earlier at NHV zoomed by us deadheading to BOS to become the early Friday departures.
I called Amtrak Customer Relations today and they will send me a voucher for the difference between the Acela and Regional fares, plus the first class upgrade fee, very fair in my opinion. Kudos to Veronica at NYP's CA for handling things as best as she could, and keeping the passengers informed of their options.
I rode BOS-NYP on 2159 during the morning. Nice ride.
I arrived at NYP CA at 6:15pm to catch the 2172 at 7:00pm north, and what a mess! Two midday southbound Acelas from BOS were canceled at NHV due to the blocked tracks, with passengers put on regional equipment. The 3pm and 5pm southbound Acelas from Boston were running 90-120 minutes late.
2172 coming up from DC due to arrive at NYP at 6:50pm was turned to become 2173 southbound (8:15pm) since there was no other equipment, and they needed this set back in DC for Friday morning. Southbound from NYP 2171 passengers were put on the Vermonter #55.
Through passengers on 2172 from the south were offloaded at NYP, and they plus the originating passengers (including me!) were put on the 7:30pm Regional, 178. With the very short time available, the orders were to use the 2172 tickets on 178 and figure out the refunds later. (The ticket counter was swamped as was the Club Acela desk.) 178 finally left at 7:50pm, with nearly every seat filled. But then just east of NHV, the engine on 178 died. It turns out that during the power phase change, the on-board computer failed. It took about 40 minute to (as the Conductor said) to "reboot the computer and everything else in the engine." Of course by that time, the train air had depleted, and after the power was restored, we had to wait for the air to pump up the brake system before we could get underway. We finally arrived in Boston about an hour late (for 178), and nearly two hours later than 2172 should have arrived. On the way north through CT and RI, the two empty Acela sets I saw earlier at NHV zoomed by us deadheading to BOS to become the early Friday departures.
I called Amtrak Customer Relations today and they will send me a voucher for the difference between the Acela and Regional fares, plus the first class upgrade fee, very fair in my opinion. Kudos to Veronica at NYP's CA for handling things as best as she could, and keeping the passengers informed of their options.