Trains News Wire
Amtrak Inspector General report shows how parts shortages impact service
By Bob Johnston | February 27, 2024
Regular cannibalization of equipment necessary to get trains out of terminals
WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General has released a report explaining how the company’s lack of effective parts inventory management is responsible for numerous service failures.
The 62-page report released Monday, “Asset management: Company has opportunities to more effectively manage and safeguard maintenance of equipment inventory,” asserts a lack of key parts to keep locomotives and passenger cars rolling has prompted mechanical department employees to take missing items from other equipment. The decision to delay restoration of Amtrak’s passenger car and locomotive fleet to pre-COVID 19 pandemic levels means there is less available rolling stock to “cannibalize,” resulting in tardy departures, cancellations, and “customer experience” downgrades.
On the other hand, the report found that as of September 2023, Amtrak was incurring expenses on $49 million worth of surplus or obsolete parts inventory it no longer needs.
