Amtrak’s aging infrastructure struggles to maintain operations as climate change causes more frequent extreme weather events, leading to record delays.
Amtrak's passengers faced over 4,010 hours of weather-related delays in the 2023 fiscal year.
Heat waves were the largest contributor, causing nearly 1,200 hours of delays due to track deformities.
High temperatures also impact power systems, further disrupting rail services.
Key quote:
“Amtrak is beginning to see climate conditions impact on-time performance and is taking action.”
— Olivia Irvin, spokeswoman for Amtrak
Why this matters:
Increased train delays due to extreme weather highlight the urgent need for infrastructure modernization to adapt to climate change. Without significant investments, travel disruptions and safety risks will continue to escalate.
The scenic Pacific Surfliner trains have been halted for emergency track repairs as rail authorities grapple with the uncertain future of California’s coastal infrastructure.
