Coronavirus-driven drop in demand causes Amtrak to cancel Acela Express trains

Amtrak upgrades make portions of NEC ready for higher-speed trains.

Amtrak

For many years, Amtrak’s Acela Express trains have zipped up and down the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Boston, Mass., showcasing the fastest rail passenger service in the United States. As of today, all of those trains have been canceled because of a huge drop in demand due to coronavirus worries.

USA Today reports that Amtrak will continue to operate its Northeast Regional trains, which use electric locomotives between Washington and Boston, and diesels when serving destinations south of the corridor, such as Norfolk and Virginia Beach. However, only 40% of the regularly scheduled trains will be running.

A number of other Amtrak trains have been canceled, but the cancellations on the Northeast Corridor are more dramatic, as service in this corridor is, in many ways, Amtrak’s flagship operation. In addition, there is high demand for this rail service year-round.

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