Amtrak pulls 70 rail cars after inspections find corrosion

Amtrak removed 70 of its Horizon rail cars from service this week after routine inspections discovered corrosion in several of them, the passenger railroad announced yesterday.

Removal of the cars affects service on four Amtrak lines: the Hiawatha, which runs between Chicago and Milwaukee; the Borealis, which operates between Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota; the Cascades, which runs between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eugene, Oregon; and the Downeaster, which operates between Boston and Brunswick, Maine.

"We discovered corrosion in several Horizon rail cars and, while working with the manufacturer, decided to remove the equipment from service after learning of additional areas of concern from intensive inspections of multiple cars," Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said in a prepared statement. 

While some trains will operate with fewer cars, other services will be provided with bus transportation until a long-term plan is developed, Magliari said.

Amtrak routinely inspects its rail cars and locomotives in compliance with federal requirements and the railroad's commitment to safety, Amtrak officials said.

Removal of the 70 cars resulted in the following:

• On the Hiawatha, bus service will substitute train service for about half of the line's train frequencies until further notice; other Hiawatha frequencies use different rail cars and are unaffected;

• On the Borealis route, buses were chartered as substitute transportation for some trains yesterday and today; service will be restored without bus service tomorrow;

• On the Cascades, buses have been chartered for most scheduled trains until further notice; and

• On the Downeaster, trains will operate with fewer cars.