Amtrak needs to better handle its challenges

Amtrak went off track right from the start of one of the year’s busiest travel weeks. The trouble began with downed overhead wires, halting trains between Philadelphia and New York on Sunday. Signal power problems continued Monday. Those issues, along with a shortage of available crews and equipment, led to more delays and cancellations, spreading south to Washington and north to Boston. Service was restored by Tuesday. The situation marked yet another massive challenge for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, which carries hundreds of thousands of passengers daily as one of the country’s biggest economic and transportation arteries.

Travelers nowadays seem to have it tough no matter how they go. Gridlock on our roads, trouble on our trains, and staffing, technical and other problems at our airports are far too common. Just this week, American Airlines put a ground stop to all flights on Christmas Eve morning due to technical issues. Even the Long Island Rail Road, with its generally improved on-time performance, had scattered delays and cancellations Monday, when the Ronkonkoma, Hempstead, Babylon, Port Jefferson and Montauk branches reported equipment and switch problems.

Amtrak has been particularly beset by cascading infrastructure trouble, often due to neglect and disinvestment. Lack of maintenance and upgrades leave tracks, trains, switches and signals prone to failure. No investment means no redundancy in staffing or equipment. The result: a costly headache for all. Amtrak must better handle such challenges.

Travelers simply want to be with family and friends for the holidays. Amtrak should be able to get them there — without delay.