BOSTON — The manufacturer of Amtrak’s Acela Express trains has devised a permanent fix to its faulty shock absorber brackets and hopes to begin field-testing the new equipment soon, company officials said Thursday.
According to the Boston Herald, Bombardier Transportation North America said it is close to developing a beefed-up bracket that can withstand the punishing lateral forces from the 150 mph bullet trains.
“Things are moving along,” said Marie Hervieu, a Bombardier spokeswoman. “They’re getting ready to (make) a prototype and do field testing.”
Cracks in the brackets that hold the Acela’s yaw dampers, which minimize sideways rocking on the trains, were discovered two months ago, prompting Amtrak to temporarily sideline the entire fleet because of safety concerns.
While a patchwork repair job was quickly implemented, allowing the trains to slowly return to service, officials have yet to come up with a long-term fix.
A makeshift prototype has already undergone stress tests, but Bombardier won’t know how the newly designed equipment will hold up until putting it on a train and running it along the rails.
Bombardier officials don’t know how long that might take.
“I can’t really say how long this takes,” she said. “Everything is being done as quickly as possible . . . (we’re) working on it 24/7.”
Amtrak officials were unimpressed with the progress report yesterday.
“The situation is much as it’s been for the last several weeks,” said spokesman Bill Schulz. “Nothing’s changed in terms of a permanent fix.”
Asked when things might change, Schulz said “that’s a question best put to (Bombardier).”
Hervieu said Amtrak officials are working closely with Bombardier in developing the repair plan and both sides are keeping the Federal Rail Administration abreast of the proceedings.
The FRA will have to approve any new equipment before it can be installed on the trains.