Commuter train riders have had a tough go this week and could face more delays as the summer heat wave causes delays and fries nerves when other problems occur.
On Monday, riders had the usual delays that occur on hot days as trains are ordered to travel slower on sun-baked steel rails that can expand beyond their moorings. Ten Virginia Railway Express trains were delayed, bringing the system’s on-time performance below 70 percent, according to agency records.
Heat restrictions
MARC and Virginia Railway Express have had to slow some of their trains because of “heat restrictions” ordered by some track owners.
The orders come out of concern that the 90-plus degrees will cause the steel rails to expand enough that they will cause a “sun kink” that creates a curve in what should be a straight section of track. According to VRE, an 1,800-foot length of rail can expand by nearly one foot with an 80-degree temperature flux, causing it to strain against the ballast, ties and spikes that hold it in place. Sometimes such kinks can actually be heard as they pop out of line.
Inspectors keep an eye on tracks during such periods of intense heat. The slower speeds also puts less pressure on the steel. — Kytja Weir
Then on Monday evening, about 900 MARC riders were stranded for about two hours when their locomotive failed, leaving them without power and air conditioning on the train. It is not clear if the weather caused the failure, said Maryland Transit Administration spokesman Terry Owens, but the trapped passengers endured temperatures inside the train that transit officials acknowledged reached “uncomfortable levels.” The situation prompted immediate apologies, free ticket vouchers and a multiagency investigation.
The problems continued Tuesday and Wednesday with power outages, train failures and fallen trees.
“Everyone is looking for a reason why these things are happening,” said Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm. “I don’t have a reason.” He noted that they are looking into each incident for a cause.
VRE’s riders faced multiple delays Tuesday, with only 31 percent of Fredericksburg trains on time, according to the agency.
On Tuesday afternoon, a MARC locomotive lost 50 percent of its power and the train was sent back to Union Station, Owens said. Then power to some of the tracks was lost at Union Station, delaying other trains for 24 minutes, according to Amtrak.
Another MARC train was delayed because it was stuck behind a limping Amtrak train with a mechanical problem. Meanwhile, a MARC ticket office in Kensington had to be closed because its door lock was broken, according to MARC.
Then, trees fell on tracks just south of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at about 8:45 p.m., bringing down power lines and blocking trains. Amtrak and MARC riders were delayed as long as two or more hours. One MARC train that had just left Odenton had to back up, Owens said, and its 300 riders were loaded onto two rounds of shuttle buses.
MARC’s night-time delays extended into morning, Owens said, as some equipment was out of position and not all power was restored until 8:45 a.m. Unlike Monday’s passengers, those waylaid riders won’t see any free tickets.
“Some things we can’t control,” Owens said. “We can’t control the weather. In severe cold and severe heat our electrical systems can run into problems.”
