CHICAGO — Amtrak has cancelled a series of state-supported trains in the Midwest on Friday and today (Saturday, April 13) because of issues involving parts for its Siemens Venture equipment.
Responding to an inquiry from Trains News Wire, Amtrak’s Beth Toll wrote in an email, “A supply chain backlog from key vendors has delayed replacement parts needed to support required routine maintenance inspections. Customers are being notified of some cancellations in the Amtrak Midwest network and substitute transportation by chartered buses is being provided as available. Refunds are also being made without penalty.” A Siemens spokesperson said in an emailed statement, “We are aware of the situation and are working closely with Amtrak to resolve the supply chain backlog to best support routine maintenance inspections and help Amtrak resume normal service.”
The parts in question are expected to arrive in Chicago on Tuesday.
According to the Amtrak Alerts feed on X (formerly Twitter), these trains have been cancelled:
On Friday:
— Train 302, the 6:35 a.m. St. Louis-Chicago Lincoln Service
— Train 364, the 4 p.m. Chicago-Port Huron Blue Water
— Train 383, the 5:55 p.m. Chicago-Quincy Illinois Zephyr
— Train 305, the 5:20 p.m. Chicago-St. Louis Lincoln Serivce
Today:
— Train 380, the 6:12 a.m. Quincy-Chicago Illinois Zephyr
— Train 330, the 6:15 a.m. Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha
— Train 365, the 6:20 a.m. Chicago-Port Huron Blue Water
— Train 300, the 9 a.m. Chicago-St. Louis Lincoln Service
Bus substitutions were provided in most cases, although in the case of Friday’s No. 302, the bus transportation was only provided between Bloomington-Normal and Chicago. It is unknown if additional cancellations will be necessary.
Southbound train No. 21, the Texas Eagle, also is not operating today between Chicago and St. Louis, but Amtrak Alerts attributes that to a “vehicle incident” that also led to the northbound train’s cancellation on Thursday. No. 21 will originate in St. Louis.
The Venture equipment made its debut in Midwest service on Feb. 1, 2022. The 88-car order dates from 2017, when the Illinois Department of Transportation and California’s Caltrans chose Siemens as the replacement when Nippon Sharyo was unable to fulfill its 2012 contract for bilevel equipment [see “Expensive questions surface …,” News Wire, Nov. 17, 2017]. Supply-chain, testing, and manufacturing issues delayed the order, which is not yet complete. As of a year ago, roughly half the cars were in service [see “More Midwest Venture cars enter service …,” News Wire, April 14, 2023]; none of the cafe cars have yet been delivered.
The parts-related cancellations come little more than a month after Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General issued a report detailing issues with the company’s parts management, and how it affects operations [see “Amtrak Inspector General report shows how parts shortages impact service,” News Wire, Feb. 27, 2024].
— Updated at 5:05 p.m. with Amtrak response and additional inquiry; updated at 8:05 p.m. with Siemens statement and background information on Venture equipment.
