Amtrak Debuts Push-Pull Northeast Regional Service (3/4/24)

READ:
As part of the ongoing effort to increase service on the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak has implemented a new schedule effective 3/4/24 which sees the addition of 4 consists arranged in a push-pull configuration. By placing locomotives (or in the future, an HHPC cab car) on either end of the train, the need to expend time to wye or loop the trainset once it reaches a terminal is eliminated. This allows faster turnaround times (sometimes less than an hour) and greater equipment availability to make revenue service.
In addition, seating configuration onboard all Amfleet I operated services has been converted to the fixed forward/backward configuration that is already found on Keystone Service trains. With the arrival of the Airo trainsets in the coming years, the fixed seating configuration will be the norm moving forward, and so with that argument, Amtrak is simply streamlining car equipment servicing with the current fleet.
The 4 consist cycles are as follows:
Weekday rotations:
1) 111-182-133-196
2) 181-114-129-198
3) 130-119
4) 112-131
Sunday rotations:
1) 120-105
2) 103-106-107
3) 121-122 (pre-existing cycle)
4) 118-189-128
5)* 108 (option to wye or add motor to 161 upon its arrival in DC)
As previously stated, each of these consists is to be bracketed by a pair of ACS-64s, or have an HHPC cab control unit on one end, with the exception of Sunday 3 (which is already Metroliner Cab + 10 + ACS) and possibly 5 (which could run normally or as a bookend, depending on equipment availability and time constraints.
All footage shot at Princeton Junction and includes all 4 weekday consists. Enjoy =)
Full Princeton Junction video: • 12 Hours Of High Speed...
Table of contents:
0:00 - 111
2:14 - 181
2:38 - 130
2:57 - 112
4:24 - 119
4:46 - 182
5:04 - 114
5:21 - 131
7:04 - 133
7:25 - 129

[@Halgoonta]

Very interesting stuff, a small glimpse of what the future of Amtrak will soon look like.

[@SoCalHighIron]

I love seeing Amtrak continuing to step up their game with more NEC service! Keep demanding more from your passenger railroads, people. Faster and more frequent, until you wouldn't even consider driving to your destination.

[@GintaPPE1000]

They're doubling ACS-64s on trains as much to prevent delays due to breakdown as to improve service. These engines started out great, but they have aged very poorly - like most foreign equipment that gets brought to the US, it can't handle the abuse or operating conditions.

[@dukeonwheels]

It’s a great time for rail, provided the projects across the country remain funded and on schedule. In a couple of months I’ll be taking my first interstate train trip on Amtrak.

[@CTSLRailfan]

@@GintaPPE1000 not true. the double acs-64 is only temporary.

[@Thisoldhiker]

@@GintaPPE1000 Since the US is without a domestic passenger rail (or electric traction) industry, isn't all electric or passenger car equipment foreign designed and just assembled here?

[@GintaPPE1000]

@@CTSLRailfanNo, the double Sprinter sets on these trains are permanent. The Keystones went back to Metroliner cab cars because Siemens finally fixed the MU issues.

[@SteveGettingAroundPhilly]

Good to get some practice in for the HHP-Cs and the Airos I guess. faster turnaround times are definitely needed for corridor services, and this seems like an alright stopgap. Kinda love to see how the acceleration could be with both engines powering it up.

[@mrvwbug4423]

The 2nd loco certainly helps the acceleration haha. Not that acceleration was ever a problem for the ACS-64, they get up to speed pretty quick for loco hauled.

[@dukeonwheels]

It’s about time. Never understood why the NE Regional trains weren’t in push/pull mode. That said, this same day Amtrak added four additional NE Regional round trip service as well as two on the weekend, so the increase in travel frequency necessitated the push/pull mode to reduce time between trips.

[@GintaPPE1000]

There simply weren't enough locomotives. Prior to buying the ACS-64, the peak NEC electric fleet prior to this was 47 AEM-7s and 13 E60s, a total of 60. There were fewer miles to cover since north of New Haven wasn't electrified yet, but Amtrak was also running Clockers and other quasi-commuter trains that NJT and SEPTA have since taken over which made up the difference. The HHP-8s only replaced the E60s on a 1:1 basis, and Amtrak lost a few to wrecks over the years, so the fleet was around 55 locomotives when the first Sprinters started arriving. Amtrak also opted to have the ACS-64s replace older locomotives first, so it wasn't until 2016 that there was actually any increase in the electric locomotive fleet - prior to that, whenever a new Sprinter got certified they would pull an AEM-7 or HHP-8 out of the active pool, not helped by 2 ACS-64s being written off in wrecks either. Unfortunately, by the time Siemens had delivered the 62nd unit, they'd also broken the software so their MU capabilities didn't work properly - some units were able to MU with other diesels, some with Metroliner cabs, and some with each other, but there was no engine that worked with everything. It took those numbskulls 8 years to fully debug the issue.

[@Lauren_Tyler]

Push-pull service on the Northeast Regional? Now I've seen everything!

[@Pensyfan19]

Great footage, and very interesting operations of this new service. Interesting how some sets include 9 cars instead of 8, with one of the coaches likely being relocated from another service in the midwest.

[@ryan225360]

NERs have had occasional 9-car sets for a while now.

[@trainmancorey]

Hone are the days of looking out the back of am amfleet.

[@kevinb8881]

Amtrak is upping their ante to keep their trains moving on the mighty NEC!!!

[@karlfey]

Was just there on Sunday, can't believe I missed this by a day. What a great location! Awesome video!

[@jphilbin528]

Saw a notification for rear and forward facing seats on NEC trains…. Makes sense now..

[@kacamac]

Does this mean half the seats are rear facing now?

[@FanRailer]

Yes. Just like they have been on keystone trains.

[@WH_Railfan84]

I like the new configuration. Awesome catches.

[@ethancampbell6076]

I’m very impressed NEC is using double ends instead of switching or reverse ends whenever you’re uncoupled at terminus.

[@chrisb0418]

faster turnarounds. quicker acceleration, and a spare loco if the front one breaks down. and since some if not most will be replaced due to the ALC-42E/DE

[@GoldFlamingo221]

2:55 missed opportunity to show the acela coming through as well :(

[@FanRailer]

That’s not the point of this video… if you know my channel, that clip is up elsewhere.

[@ExpressRailfan]

​@@FanRailerAre you absolutely sure that I can film push-pull trains of the Northeast Regional including 133 on the 24th of March?

[@strredwolf]

They'll be expanding the sets which are push-pull. 89 will be push-pull on July 9th.

[@1EnZBosS1]

Very nice video, greetings from the netherlands

[@AaronJrBrundidge]

this is getting better than before when you think about from WAS to BOS, it's simple also there is no loop at Ivy City

[@GintaPPE1000]

None of these trains run to Boston. Look up the train numbers in the description: they’re all from DC to NYC.

[@billplatt]

With a good chunk of Keystone services already in push pull, now select regionals. The ACS-64 fleet is really getting a work out. Do they really have that large of a availability gap they can stretch them out like this?

[@FanRailer]

None of the keystones have been sandwiched recently.

[@ryan225360]

Keystones run with a metroliner cab car so it's a nonissue IIRC.

[@FanRailer]

Assuming those cabs are working; until recently, a majority of keystones were running with electrics on both ends because the cab cars were broken in some way or another.

[@davidng2336]

This will definitely provide some interesting and more efficient setups. I’m still curious as to how many HHPCs are planned.

[@FanRailer]

Supposedly 8 or so.

[@cats0182]

Didn't know they had all those extra locos sitting around doing nothing,

[@FanRailer]

They’ve got plenty of surplus power. Before this new schedule, it wasn’t uncommon to see a string of up to 5-7 Sprinters sitting on a track in DC lower level. I believe out of the ~67 electrics they have, they only need ~50 to make service or something around there. It’s passenger cars they’re short on.

[@ExpressRailfan]

​@@FanRailerWhich other Northeast Regionals will be push-pulls later in June?

[@blind_gamer16]

I never ridden the Northeast Regional before, but this is clever.

[@user-ky1de2bs7z]

Thanks!!! I've been seeing videos of these for a while now, and searching the web for an explanation proved fruitless.

[@northridgewood5918]

It is amazing what Amtrak can do with progressive leadership and smart investment (thank you, Amtrak Joe).

[@qwertyeet]

I got a video of one of these and I was so confused on why it was running push pull

[@njtrailfan4106]

Very cool I understand this service happend due to an ex metroline shortage

[@ianlindersheldon4176]

sick. are both locos powered? (Gonna guess yes based on the sound from the video) and if so do you think there is a big difference in acceleration?

[@FanRailer]

Noticeable difference

[@Josephcavagnaro]

I saw a set like that in philly

[@christianlovell570]

How do you know which Northeast Regional trains use a locomotive on both ends of the train?

[@JamesGJGSUSHI]

Wait so equipment is the restrictive factor for frequency, not track capacity?

[@amiltonottoni5619]

Olá uma boa noite para o amigo muito bonito o video do amtrak acela e regional e suburbano gosto muito de ver o a acela e o regional em speed 👍👍🇧🇷

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

Time to build a replica for use in Train Sim Classic.

[@NERJ607]

Will these trains be Boston bound or confined to zone two?

[@FanRailer]

NY-DC only.

[@Stuntpilot22]

If only the Metroliner cab cars could've lasted a little bit longer... Sandwiching Sprinters on every train just sounds like a recipe for equipment shortages.

[@FanRailer]

That’s why they’re not doing it on every train, just the ones in the description… they wouldn’t be doing it at all if they didn’t have the equipment for it.

[@MbtaVideoClips]

WHYYY do they all end NYP northbound. We never get the rare stuff up in BOS (except the LSL bringing some cool P42s)

[@FanRailer]

For the same reason there’s more acela service between NY-DC than there is NY-BOS.

[@parkerjon29]

I'm guessing this won't apply to trains from Virginia? Not that they couldn't slide an ACS64 to the back of the consist, but it would add some time to the Engine change

[@FanRailer]

Only trains between NY and DC

[@ExpressRailfan]

​@@FanRailerDo these push-pull trains also run during afternoons and evenings, and also rush hours?

[@thezombieslayer12100]

Well I'm certainly going to miss the view of the tracks from the rear of the business car... a small price to pay for better service I suppose.

[@barroningram7286]

I didn't know they turned the seats around i thought they wyed the train

[@FanRailer]

They do wye or loop the trains. But now that they aren’t always going to do that, they can’t have cars with seats facing all one way, otherwise for a trip, an entire car might be facing backwards.

[@jfmezei]

Does Amtrak have a surplus of ACS64s to be able to put 2 per train? or is this just a pilot project on one or two trains? Will they reverse the seats in coaches or make people travel backwards like in Canada ?

[@FanRailer]

Yes, no, no. Read the description.

[@jfmezei]

Thanks. very sad that half the passengers will be travelling backwards. When VIA first introduced the LRC in 1981, it was done that way and the backlash was horrendous, forcing VIA to set all seats facing forwards and turn trains around. It tried again during COVID and there was no backlash, and its siemens trains are like that. But at least its reseravtion system nwo shows which seats face forward and which don,t. But it doesn't warn passengers that car 5 has the train horn inside the car, not outside so when car 5 is at the head (cab first, loco in back), passengers n car 5 have terrible experience. I suspectAmtrak will have rotating business class seats. @@FanRailer

[@hirampriggott1689]

One would think that this would have been done decades ago.

[@malachimuhammad-dy2ow]

Which stops does 133 make?

[@jordanperosiel-williams7236]

This was something imo that Amtrak should've been doing a long LONG time ago. But better later than never i guess

[@havenas1020yt]

This is great! Way to get use out of the other Sprinters!

[@christianlovell570]

Are there Saturday rotations for the Northeast Regional?

[@FanRailer]

No

[@ishan4763]

Will this be for all NER trains?

[@mr.conductorfromsts4204]

All New York-Washington trains only except for Saturdays

[@sonicboy678]

I hate that this wasn't already a regular thing, but better late than never, I guess...

[@northeastcorrdiorwithchino]

I caught 133 today, eventually Amtrak will start to use the cars on both sides of the train. For more time instead of keep backing out and changing engines instead.

[@ryan225360]

They have enough ACS-64s for that? Dang.

[@FanRailer]

Evidently.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

I thought they'd run the power around the train, not have a unit on each end.

[@FanRailer]

Can’t do that when one of your terminals mostly dead end tracks.

[@malachimuhammad-dy2ow]

Why did Amtrak debut push-pull services on Northeast Regional services?

[@FanRailer]

Read the description

[@valentinodacarkid8068]

How comes they doing it now?

[@FanRailer]

Read the description

[@JC-bl9bo]

I'm just glad it's not railcar control unit. Locos on each end is cool. Railcar control units are fine for NJT but not Amtrak is my opinion.

[@YusupFlying]

What function push and full ?

[@FanRailer]

Read the description

[@lalakerspro]

Pretty clear, its so the train doesnt have to turn around.

[@GintaPPE1000]

About time Siemens gave the ACS-64s the ability to MU again. Never understood how you can deliver a locomotive with that capability, break that capability through software bugs, and then take 6 years to put it back in.

[@leekyo1502]

We got an Amtrak Keystone sandwich... Now um NR sandwiches?

[@Touchybanana]

Still doesn't solve the issue of switching to diesel in DC for the regionals.

[@FanRailer]

That will be solved when the Airo trainsets and the ALC-42Es are delivered.

[@railfannerjs6308]

How HHP-8’s can service again 101: Step 1: Just couple the HHP-8 in front of the ACS-64 with the pantograph up :trollface:

[@Christopher-hx6xm]

With speaker of the house Johnson Amtrak will have to go back to their sit down,shut up and hang on service...their over financed and they may have to back to the older locomotives or driver slower

[@DevonMopiedmont1143]

They really whole selling on trainsets

[@maxmegamax2174]

Doesn't this kinda suck for people who like watching out the rear of the train? I'm europeans so idk if you can watch out of the rear of an Amfleet

[@FanRailer]

You can look out the rear of amfleets. That being said. If you wanted to do that now, you would need to have purchased a business class ticket since the last car is a business class car. You can still do that anyway by riding any of the trains not listed in the video description. At any rate, once the Airo fleet is fully delivered, that rear view will be a thing of the past, since all trains will have a cab control car at one end and a locomotive at the other.

[@Waltaere]

Faaan 😃

[@kirkzevola5004]

Amfleet Sandwiches anyone?

[@ML66B]

Not push-pull but "top and tail". An expensive use of two high power locos for what, a 400 ton train? Nuts.

[@tvdan1043]

100% not a fan of the Amfleets not getting turned. I get why they're doing it, but I already have a hard enough time finding a forward-facing seat on the Keystone. Riding backwards makes me sick very quickly, less than a minute riding backwards I have to stand up and face the other direction or I'll throw up. I know the Virginia trains won't be doing push/pull but they're likely going to leave the Amfleets in 50/50 configuration so half the seats will be backwards. Northbound won't be a problem because the train's empty when I board. But southbound the train's packed when I board. The thought of 7+ hours in a backward-facing seat is enough to make me return to I-95.

[@FanRailer]

You can always ask a conductor when you board to help you find a forward facing seat. As I mentioned in the description, all of the new trainsets that are scheduled to be delivered later this decade will have fixed seating arrangements like on brightline and Amtrak Midwest services. This is here to stay, but if you really must face forward, there are options.

[@christianlovell570]

I wish the seats would turn themselves around so everyone faces forward

[@BobNewbie]

*Places a motor in the middle* Now what 👀🫨🤣🤣

[@eliasthienpont6330]

🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁LION c LIKE No. 228

[@noahroth2992]

Filed under "Evidence for Amtrak's need for Stadler Flirts"

[@samuelitooooo]

FLIRTs aren't high-floor, unfortunately

[@nasirroper4011]

Flirts aren’t suitable for EVERYTHING. Just cuz it’s european doesn’t mean it’s the automatic solution

[@jackman2001]

What’s this lol?

[@FanRailer]

Read the description.

[@jackman2001]

@@FanRailer I know what’s going on but im pretty surprised seeing this lol

[@SomeRamdomAhole]

@@jackman2001read the description.

[@basicrailfanning]

Damn, I loved the one locomotive. Sucks that they are adding another one, but again it will reduce time and costs so im all with Amtrak.

[@FanRailer]

Not everything is running with the bracketed setup, just the trains in the description.