Amtrak travelers are facing big delays ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday after a person was struck and killed in Newark, Del. Service is limping along the Northeast corridor, according to ABC News, and trains are running at reduced speeds and using one of three tracks between Newark, N.J., and Wilmington, Del.
Amtrak suspended service just after 3:30 p.m. ET when a train heading north hit a pedestrian on the tracks. The company updated that service around 4:45 p.m., but opted to use one track, resulting in slower service.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Currently, there are ground delays at Newark International Airport, Minneapolis St. Paul International and Chicago O’Hare.
Thanksgiving is the busiest travel period of the year. This season, 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home Wednesday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Nov. 27, according to projections from the American Automobile Association (AAA). That's an increase of one million travelers from last year and, the most Thanksgiving travelers since 2007.
“One million more Americans than last year will carve out time to visit with friends and family this Thanksgiving," AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney said in a statement. "Most will travel on the tried-and-true holiday road trip, thanks to gas prices that are holding at close to $2 per gallon. Others will fly, take the bus or set off on a cruise to celebrate with their loved ones."
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