JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Amtrak passengers traveling northbound from Florida into Georgia should expect delays Monday afternoon as extreme heat triggers mandatory speed restrictions along the route.
Customers traveling from Tampa and Okeechobee north through Jacksonville and up to Jesup, Ga., may experience delays between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. EDT. Amtrak says it will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as the situation develops.
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Why trains slow down in extreme heat
Heat-related slowdowns are a standard railroad safety practice. According to Amtrak, the railroad issues speed restrictions when ambient temperatures exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit or when tracks themselves reach 128 degrees Fahrenheit.
High temperatures cause railroad tracks to physically expand, which can affect their structural integrity. Slowing trains reduces stress on the tracks and helps prevent potential safety issues.
How Amtrak monitors conditions
Amtrak actively monitors rail temperatures and weather conditions along portions of its own infrastructure, including the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and Boston, the Harrisburg Line in Pennsylvania, the Empire Line in New York, the Springfield Line in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and the Michigan Line.
All commuter and freight entities operating on Amtrak-owned tracks are required to follow Amtrak’s heat restrictions. Amtrak must also follow heat restrictions set by host railroads on tracks it does not own.
How passengers can stay informed
Passengers will receive direct notifications on their day of travel if their departure cities fall within a heat advisory area. Updates are also available at Amtrak.com, as well as through text messages, email and the Amtrak mobile app.
In the event a train loses power or air conditioning, Amtrak says its conductors and senior managers continually monitor onboard conditions, identify passengers with special needs and communicate that information to the National Operations Center. Water and other beverages are stored onboard, and Amtrak Police Department vehicles are stocked with water to deliver to any disabled trains.