Although Amtrak is not known for its marketing acumen maybe they can get more passengers trips. The I-495 bridge around Wilmington , Delaware is closed because of a support column tilting. There is no determination of how soon this problem can be resolved ? If it turns out that this closure is going to be medium to long term can Amtrak be nimble enough to get more passengers ? I doubt it but stay tuned.
Report says this is a fracture critical location that if fails could take whole bridge down.?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/3/i-495-bridge-closure-in-del-to-cause-traffic-woes/
They will get more passengers without trying. I-95 is overloaded already in the area, and this bridge was the route to bypass the congestion. Once regular commuters start facing the additional congestion, many will switch to trains where available. There may even be pressurre for SEPA to extend service south of Newark, DL. And it may be that SEPTA, at its Newark Station (served only by one or two Amtrak trainis in each direction) will get most of the additional business.
blue streak 1Report says this is a fracture critical location that if fails could take whole bridge down.?
Report says this is NOT a fracture-critical location -- that's the part with the long beams over the river. The tilting beams are in a "different" location. My guess is that they will erect temporary scaffolding or columns ASAP, as soon as they've assessed the situation, perhaps re-opening the bridge only to automobiles and other light vehicles until a permanent solution is implemented.
I would think that it would be unlikely for SEPTA to extend service into Newark, DE even on a temporary basis since it involves service outside their statutory service area. Most transit districts, with only a handful of exceptions, face this limitation because of funding issues.
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Advertising? Maybe not, considering the NEC's own bridge issues...
Here is a much better media report.
Note the report says that there is an almost 2 foot lean at the top of 1 column. The TV report shows that there is a separation between north and south bound lanes. It does not appear to be 2 feet separation so maybe the lanes shown on the left are leaning but not as much ?
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/traffic/2014/06/03/bridge-closure-last-weeks-days/9918501/
Now for any rail options possible. It will probably take 7 - 10 days for FEMA and other agencies to organize and get something working. It will be very difficult to anticipate how many persons would actually be able or want to use the following
1. Amtrak may have the best ability to start up extra seats first ? Amtrak usually has extra equipment that they run during the Thanksgiving holiday. Maybe run extra trains the 94 miles from PHL - Baltimore ? The extra electrics from the ACS-64s may help although several of the older electrics have already been parked with the ability to bring them back problematic?. Horizon cars from Chicago may be available ?
2. MARC extra equipment is stretched with several trains a week short one or more cars if one breaks so appears to be difficult to extend any trains from Aberdeen to Wilmington since most rush hour trains go to WASH .
3. SEPTA also appears to be short equipment but others may know more but again their rush hour trains again go away from Wilmington.
4. Probably if MARC & SEPTA both went to Wilmington maybe a cross platform transfer to other ?
SEPTA runs south of Wilmiington to Newaark. At the present moment, I think this is rush hours only.
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