advertisement

---

Having found cracks in four additional Acela train sets, Amtrak continues its two-steps-forward-and-one-step-back dance and again has reduced its high-speed offerings.



The national passenger railroad pulled all 18 trains out of service Aug. 12 after discovering cracks in the yaw damper bracket of a locomotive during a routine inspection.



On Aug. 16, Bombardier Transportation and ALSTOM Transport, the trains’ manufacturers, proposed — and Amtrak and federal safety officials accepted — a temporary remedy. In the worst cases, repairs involve replacing the brackets with a thicker version. Less serious cracks are being ground out.



By Aug. 19, nine of the trains were back in service.



But Aug. 20, two of those trains again were pulled when an additional inspection using penetrating dye revealed hairline cracks; Aug. 21, five train sets were providing 17 departures on the Northeast Corridor — out of 50 typically scheduled.



Repairs for the hairline cracks involve welding the areas and buffing them down.



"Bombardier has been very responsive," says Karina Van Veen, Amtrak spokeswoman.



And, although passengers have been inconvenienced by the yaw-damper problem, most have been understanding and appreciate that Amtrak is being proactive in its repairs, Van Veen says.



Amtrak expects to operate only these five train sets while repairs continue, she adds.



— Kathi Kube