Excessive heat impacts passenger rail and transit operations in Pacific Northwest

[marmar]

The heatwave that has settled in the Pacific Northwest during the past few days is expected to continue through Tuesday and has impacted regional rail and light rail service.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported Portland, Ore., reached 112°F Sunday, which is the highest temperature since records began in 1940. The high in Portland is forecast to be 115°F on Monday.

NWS Seattle reported the city also reached a new all-time high on Sunday with a high of 104°F, which beat the previous record of 103°F set on July 29, 2009. Seattle is forecast to be 109°F on Monday.

Amtrak Cascades service issued an alert June 25 that trains would be operating a reduced speeds through Monday due to heat restrictions. The railroad explained extreme heat can cause railroad tracks to shift* slightly, prompting the operations to slow down as a precaution.

Sound Transit issued alerts throughout the weekend that Link light-rail trains were operating at reduced speeds due to excessive heat on the tracks. Additionally, the agency warned Sounder trains could be delayed or operate at reduced speeds. ............(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21228386/excessive-heat-impacts-passenger-rail-and-transit-operations-in-pacific-northwest

[Worried2020]

1. I worked on the railway during the 90s

.

A hot sunny day can make the heat out on the tracks unbearable as all that mass of steel heats up.

Warpage wasn't much of a problem in the old days where all rails were bolted together, and had gaps that allowed for expansion and contracting - ergo the clik clik clik of the wheels -

But now, much of our rails is CWR - Constant Welded Rail ( now referred to as LWR - long welded rail) which eliminates most of the gaps. Didn't work out too well where the climates are extreme . . . .




W