Amtrak Passengers Face Continued Delays From Extreme Weather

Amtrak passengers face continued delays from extreme heat weather patterns across the United States.

Climate change is to blame for the number of delays and cancellations due to the extraordinarily hot weather pattern many Americans are facing. Prolonged high temperatures can cause outdoor rail tracks to expand and deform, producing delays as trains cannot run properly on the tracks.

In part, trains must run slower than usual, leading to longer commuting times. Tracks must be monitored to halt further delays so that trains can run smoothly without further issues impacting passengers.

Axios reports, “Typically, Amtrak trains can travel at a maximum of 150 mph along the Northeast Corridor. But with heat restrictions, they can slow to 100 mph or even 80 mph in extreme temperatures.”

Why extreme heat causes Amtrak delays https://t.co/Kiw7GyW0sT

— TIME (@TIME) June 22, 2024

Amtrak’s official website explains the reasoning behind the slow-ups and delays during extreme heat. It reads, “Extreme heat can cause rail, bridge, and overhead wires to expand. As a precautionary approach, Amtrak may enact heat restrictions, which require locomotive engineers to operate trains at lower speeds and can result in possible delays.”

W. Kyle Anderson, an Amtrak spokesperson, further elaborated on the issues heat can affect transit riders to Time Magazine. “Whenever there is extreme heat, we’ll have to implement some minor service adjustments,” Anderson revealed. “It’s a precautionary approach. It doesn’t mean that something has failed; it means that we reduce (the train’s speed) just to be careful.”

The company suggests that passengers stay on top of their trains in the following manners. First, they should subscribe to Amtrak.com/DelayAlerts to receive automated email or text notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations. Second, riders can check real-time train status by visiting Amtrak.com and clicking “Train Status” in the top bar. Finally, the same information can be found on the Amtrak App.