(The following story by Cathy Woodruff appeared on the Albany Times-Union website on September 2.)
ALBANY, N.Y. — Three high-speed trains that were rebuilt at a cost of tens of millions of dollars are being shelved indefinitely, further dimming hopes that upstate rail passengers will get faster service to New York City.
The state-owned trains sat idle all summer because of weak air conditioning, and a worker familiar with the railroad’s maintenance operation says the trains now are being prepared for storage, perhaps at an Amtrak facility in Delaware.
While Amtrak declined to comment on its plans for the Turboliners now at its Rensselaer yard, an official with Super Steel Schenectady, which rebuilt the trains, said his company is willing to make the repairs so the trains can be returned to service. However, the offers have been rebuffed by Amtrak.
“This is a fairly modest repair,” said Bill Carr of Super Steel. “We’re ready to do anything that needs doing, but we can’t if we’re not allowed access to the product.”
Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black declined to comment when asked about the railroad’s immediate plans for the trains, citing a lawsuit filed last month against Amtrak by the state Department of Transportation over the foundering high-speed rail program.
“Since these trains are associated with pending litigation, I really can’t comment on their disposition,” Black said.
The Turbos have never been particular favorites of Amtrak officials. Even before the air conditioning problem cropped up, the railroad only used two of them for limited runs between New York City and Rensselaer, keeping the third in reserve. Officials with the cash-strapped railroad have expressed concerns about more extensive use of the Turbo trains, citing higher fuel costs and limited seating capacity.
State Transportation Commissioner Joseph Boardman said he was unsure where the trains are headed, but they could wind up back at Super Steel for the repairs.
“In this legal area that we’re in, there’s a lot of questions about where should these trains be,” the commissioner said.
It’s unclear what the state can do with the trains if Amtrak declines to run them.
Under it’s part of a $185 million high-speed rail contract with DOT, the railroad was supposed to put seven rebuilt Turboliners on regular routes between here and New York City.
Amtrak also was to install a crucial second track between Albany and Schenectady and perform other track work necessary to allow the trains to operate at 125 mph cruising speeds, trimming 20 minutes or more from the travel time between Rensselaer and New York City.
In its lawsuit last month, DOT claimed that Amtrak’s foot-dragging and other failures to deliver on its contract promises are the reason the high-speed rail program faltered.
“What I really want is an improvement in intercity rail service in New York state, and we’re not getting it,” Boardman said Wednesday when asked about what should become of the Turbos. “They (the trains) have got to get fixed so we can run ’em.”