Amtrak temporarily halted train operations between New York and Philadelphia on Sunday morning due to fallen overhead power lines obstructing the tracks.
The suspension comes at a critical time for holiday travel, just days ahead of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, with the region also experiencing unusually cold temperatures.
Train service was initially stopped around 7 a.m. ET, with an estimated resumption by noon. By early afternoon, Amtrak announced that two of the four affected tracks had been cleared, allowing trains to run at slower speeds. Average delays remained around one hour.
At least three trains were canceled, according to updates shared by Amtrak on X.
The Northeast Corridor, a key route for Amtrak, links major cities along the East Coast, from Boston to Washington, D.C.
“We are working to prioritize trains based on the schedule to minimize inconvenience for our passengers,” Amtrak stated.
The company is waiving additional fees for customers needing to modify their travel plans, and most passengers have been rebooked on alternate trains, a spokesperson confirmed.
Some NJ Transit services were also affected by the downed wires. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service reported that the region is experiencing its coldest December temperatures in two years.