California Zephyr busing

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CTANut

CTANut

Service Attendant
Joined
Oct 29, 2019
Messages
170
Location
USA
I heard from the on board staff that the CZ may be bused on the return trip to Chicago. Has anyone else heard anything about this?
 
My neighbors who we spent two weeks in the east coast with are driving back to SoCal while we’re riding the rails. They had to change their route due to the highway (I believe the I-70) being closed due to floods.
 
I-70 has and will be intermittently disrupted by slides. This annual problem has been compounded by the burn damage last year. Some motorists spent time in a tunnel with access in both directions blocked.

Motorists trapped

As discussed in a previous thread, Amtrak sent notices to those of us booked from August 1st for a couple of weeks of MOW bustitution that was described in an opaque manner. Reservations in and through the DEN<>GJT segment were blocked. However, they didn't say what the alternative was, just said everything was taken care of. Word that it was MOW came from informed sources.

Now they have natural obstacles, too.

Zephyr interrupted
 
Last edited:
Willbridge said:
I-70 has and will be intermittently disrupted by slides. This annual problem has been compounded by the burn damage last year.

As discussed in a previous thread, Amtrak sent notices to those of us booked from August 1st for a couple of weeks of MOW bustitution that was described in an opaque manner. Reservations in and through the DEN<>GJT segment were blocked. However, they didn't say what the alternative was, just said everything was taken care of.

Now they have natural obstacles, too.
Click to expand...
So why no re-route through Wyoming from Denver to Sal Lake City, which is the usual routing when something happens on the Zehyr route between Denver and Grand Junction?
 
Willbridge said:
I-70 has and will be intermittently disrupted by slides. This annual problem has been compounded by the burn damage last year. Some motorists spent time in a tunnel with access in both directions blocked.

Motorists trapped
Click to expand...
OK, so they weren't trapped in the tunnel, they were stranded in Glenwood Canyon, and DOT brought them to a "facility" (whatever that is) that happened to be located in a tunnel to shelter for the night -- not nearly as dire as actually being trapped in a tunnel.
 
Bob Dylan said:
So why no re-route through Wyoming from Denver to Sal Lake City, which is the usual routing when something happens on the Zehyr route between Denver and Grand Junction?
Click to expand...

With the horrific freight traffic on the Wyoming route I doubt railroad would do that. And do to the long hours sitting on the sidings amtrak would have a hard time turning zephry on the next day at each end.
 
80 minutes after they asked me for my COVID information and after they sent the e-mail cited previously that reassured us that alternative arrangements were being made ---

[email protected] <[email protected]>
To:
Sat, Jul 31 at 10:08 AM

RESERVATION #NNNNEN

Hi ,
We wanted to let you know that train #5, the California Zephyr, from Denver Union Station on Sunday, August 1st, has been CANCELLED due to mud slides. Unfortunately, we don't have other transportation available.
Give us a call at 877-231-9448 to speak with an Amtrak Agent about your travel options.

We're sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks for being a valued Amtrak customer - we'll see you onboard.
The most up to date arrival and departure times are available on Amtrak.com, our free mobile apps or by text or phone 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

....
 
Willbridge said:
80 minutes after they asked me for my COVID information and after they sent the e-mail cited previously that reassured us that alternative arrangements were being made ---

[email protected] <[email protected]>
To:
Sat, Jul 31 at 10:08 AM

RESERVATION #NNNNEN

Hi ,
We wanted to let you know that train #5, the California Zephyr, from Denver Union Station on Sunday, August 1st, has been CANCELLED due to mud slides. Unfortunately, we don't have other transportation available.
Give us a call at 877-231-9448 to speak with an Amtrak Agent about your travel options.

We're sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks for being a valued Amtrak customer - we'll see you onboard.
The most up to date arrival and departure times are available on Amtrak.com, our free mobile apps or by text or phone 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

....
Click to expand...
That’s about as cut and dry as it gets. What do they mean, see you on board?
 
Willbridge said:
I-70 has and will be intermittently disrupted by slides. This annual problem has been compounded by the burn damage last year. Some motorists spent time in a tunnel with access in both directions blocked.

Motorists trapped

As discussed in a previous thread, Amtrak sent notices to those of us booked from August 1st for a couple of weeks of MOW bustitution that was described in an opaque manner. Reservations in and through the DEN<>GJT segment were blocked. However, they didn't say what the alternative was, just said everything was taken care of. Word that it was MOW came from informed sources.

Now they have natural obstacles, too.

Zephyr interrupted
Click to expand...
I really dodged a bullet.
 
During our 2014 trip, our eastbound Zephyr was detoured through Wyoming after only about a 24 -48 hour notice due to rockslides in Gore Canyon. I had come through on the westbound Zephyr about 3 days before without any delay. Our eastbound train was about 5 hours late leaving Emeryville, had a long stop at Salt Lake City and at Morgan, Utah, and reached Denver close to 2 a.m.
 
me_little_me said:
News today said the slide problem on I-70 is a much bigger issue and I-70 would be closed for an "extended" period. Does that also include rail traffic?
Click to expand...
As the railway is on the opposite side of the canyon it usually is not affected by the same events as the highway. This time news photos and reports show that the mud slid all the way into the river and crews were working on it from the railway side.

The recommended highway detour for a DEN<>GJT bus adds four hours to the driving time but as the bus otherwise would be about two hours faster than the train a bus bridge would net about a three hour delay (allowing for transfers of pax and baggage at each end).
 
Willbridge said:
As the railway is on the opposite side of the canyon it usually is not affected by the same events as the highway. This time news photos and reports show that the mud slid all the way into the river and crews were working on it from the railway side.

The recommended highway detour for a DEN<>GJT bus adds four hours to the driving time but as the bus otherwise would be about two hours faster than the train a bus bridge would net about a three hour delay (allowing for transfers of pax and baggage at each end).
Click to expand...
We're due to travel in October. Bus bridging is unacceptable to me and we'll cancel before we accept that alternative. All I am interested in is the state of the tracks and when passenger service is restored on the Zephyr.

Thanks for your info.
 
I made some notes from the Amtrak Twitter Page.

These runs were cancelled between Denver and Grand Junction because of the mud slides in the Glenwood Canyon over the weekend.

CZ 5 Dept. Chicago 7/29 - 8/1
CZ 6 Dept. EMY 7/30 - 7/31
 
I’m booked out of Sacramento on 6 this Wednesday the 4th, Hope my train is able to run through this area. Looking at the status of today’s train, it seems to be running through actually.
 
nti1094 said:
I’m booked out of Sacramento on 6 this Wednesday the 4th, Hope my train is able to run through this area. Looking at the status of today’s train, it seems to be running through actually.
Click to expand...
Actually today it says “service interruption” but for tomorrow it says “on-time.”
 

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