Winter Storm 2024 cancellations

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The flooding problem on MNRR Hudson line is happening rather frequently. Have no idea what if any overhead clearance problems there will be if MNRR raises the tracks above any flood potential. It will be expensive if MNRR decides to raise the tracks. Also protecting the 3rd rail electrical system is a factor. But at least if 3rd rail inoperative diesel trains can run. Just one more reason IMO that overhead CAT is the way to go in the future. Maybee some federal funds since these floods also pause Amtrak service.
 
On 1/6/24 I was treating my brother to a down and back New London/NYP but Amtrak cancelled 168. At first, somehow i would retain my two metropolitan lounge passes but according to another AGR I would forfeit the passes if I didn’t use them by the 1/19/24 expiration.

According to my tracking 168 should not have been cancelled - I’ll hopefully talk with an AGR supervisor to get my passes back. As a consolation, my brother is looking forward to the trip on the DownEaster I have planned.

Oh, this time I’m hoping for a snow … I haven’t seen snow on the DownEaster yet
 
Wow all LD WB trains from Chicago cancelled tomorrow. Tomorrows Chief out of LAX cancelled. Multiple Coast starlight cancellations. Others as well. I know here in IL they’re expecting 8 inches over the next 24 hours which isn’t much actually. Typical winter here. What the hey is going on…
 
Amtrakfflyer said:
Wow all LD WB trains from Chicago cancelled tomorrow. Tomorrows Chief out of LAX cancelled. Multiple Coast starlight cancellations. Others as well. I know here in IL they’re expecting 8 inches over the next 24 hours which isn’t much actually. Typical winter here. What the hey is going on…
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Not to be argumentative, but no more than flurries until daybreak Friday predicted in the Chicago area at least.
 
The cold snap affecting the builder route related to this storm is not insignificant. They’re talking coldest cold snap in decades with temperatures reaching -40 in locations. That’s hardly normal routine winter weather and is a recipe for frozen plumbing, broken rails, and a general trip from hell. In temperatures that low when you’re probably flirting with the low end of the operating range of both equipment and track infrastructure I think I’d rather them lean toward the side of safety.
 
I am on the CZ from EMY to OSC, leaving EMY on 01/13/24. (I rent a car the afternoon before to go to EMY from my place.) How far out does Amtrak announce schedule changes and cancellations? I am hoping that Amtrak will announce cancellations before tomorrow afternoon (when I pick up my rental car, because once picked, it has to be dropped off up near EMY is my understanding).
 
diesteldorf said:
I am planning to go catch #8 to Chicago tomorrow.....Just a fun weekend away, nothing serious.
Any guesses on whether that train will also be canceled? I am guessing it would've left Seattle on 1/8.

I suppose I'll find out tonight or tomorrow morning.
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I think that's the #8 that left yesterday from Seattle - looks like it's running so far (but a couple hours late already out of Libby, which is pretty common these days for the Builder.)
 
Aarem said:
Is there a site where Amtrak announces cancellations?
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Amtrak Alerts on twitter posts them most of the time. (There is also a separate one specific to NEC...just seach for it.)

Also for substantial / proactive cancellations there is often a link on the home page of Amtrak.
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Specific to the Empire Builder it is axed both directions for the 11th, 12th and 13th.

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I am booked on the EB on 1/25 connecting with The Coast Starlight heading to LA. Coming in on 29 to Chicago. Track record is not good lately for 7/27. Being LA is my final destination if the EB is cancelled that day would Amtrak offer the CZ,SW Chief of Texas Eagle? I really don’t want to be downgraded to Coach. Would be nice if they would tell me the EB is cancelled before I leave my origination point Harrisburg the day before. Another scenario is the next day’s EB with a free hotel on Amtrak,but again, I do not want Coach.

I would reschedule a few months later now,but roomettes are twice the price they are now.
 
daybeers said:
Can't believe after all this time, they haven't moved to another system to allow people who don't use a failing social media platform to access day-to-day alerts.
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I don't use social media. I got a text on my phone immediately when the Empire Builder was cancelled. And I got a notification from the Amtrak app a few minutes later. But I'm booked on the train, and setup notifications for everything when booking anything: plane, train, ship, whatever.

lordsigma said:
The cold snap affecting the builder route related to this storm is not insignificant. They’re talking coldest cold snap in decades with temperatures reaching -40 in locations. That’s hardly normal routine winter weather and is a recipe for frozen plumbing, broken rails, and a general trip from hell. In temperatures that low when you’re probably flirting with the low end of the operating range of both equipment and track infrastructure I think I’d rather them lean toward the side of safety.
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Yup. I'm seeing -21F to -27F in weather forecasts for Whitefish, Montana tonight. That is where I'm heading on the Empire Builder. At those temps, everything becomes brittle.
 
Yes, it's a serious cold snap, and I have a lot more patience for them cancelling the Builder today and tomorrow than I do for them cancelling it anticipation of the tiny little snowstorm that mostly-didn't-happen earlier in the week.
Yesterday was seriously windy with lots of blowing and drifting snow closing the roads, and today, tomorrow, and Sunday will be cold. (Not "coldest in decades," by any stretch of the imagination -- it's a cold snap, I expect a few days around -20 each winter.)

It does bother me a bit than Amtrak used to be able to run through this weather but doesn't anymore... but if the fact of the matter is that the Superliners are no longer able to withstand it, I see why they won't run for a couple days.

I do hope the new equipment is spec'ed to withstand it.
 
I would always feel VIA is more reliable during extreme weather. The reason? VIA's way of handling HEP is much more reliable than the way Amtrak does HEP. Amtrak can only use one loc at a time to provide HEP and all power goes to every RR car. VIA's method allows for 21 or more locos to each provide HEP to half the cars on a train. That way on my VIA trip with 29 cars three locos only any 2 at a time each provided HEP to 15 and 14 cars each. As well system is set up to if one set of HEP cables from one loco fails the other set can provide reduced power to all cars.
 
vap0rtranz said:
I don't use social media. I got a text on my phone immediately when the Empire Builder was cancelled. And I got a notification from the Amtrak app a few minutes later. But I'm booked on the train, and setup notifications for everything when booking anything: plane, train, ship, whatever.
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Certainly a surprise to me. I'm always signed up for text alerts and often will receive the texts far too late, even after I've boarded and departed my origin, or not at all. I didn't get any information about the delays on the NEC today and thus had to cancel my plans by the time I found out, only by looking at the transitdocs map. Ridiculous.
 
xzperu42 said:
The Canadian still seems to be running. Number 1 is near Watrous, Saskatchewan where it is -29
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On a VIA Canadian trip in February 2018, we were stopped for several hours because a rail had snapped due to the extreme cold. I don't remember exactly how long, but it was at least several hours. Then everything got backed up and we arrived in Toronto a day late.

Everything was working, including the heat and toilets, and the dining car didn't run out of food.
 
Planning on a quick two day trip from to NY and Philadelphia from Pittsburgh Monday and Tuesday. What are the chances of weather disruptions out that-a-way? From what I can see now, could be 50-50. If I don't go, no biggie, but I do have a non-refundable hotel in Philly Monday night to be concerned about, if not cancelled a couple days in advance. Remember when you could cancel day of? Those days are long gone.
 
PaTrainFan said:
Planning on a quick two day trip from to NY and Philadelphia from Pittsburgh Monday and Tuesday. What are the chances of weather disruptions out that-a-way? From what I can see now, could be 50-50. If I don't go, no biggie, but I do have a non-refundable hotel in Philly Monday night to be concerned about, if not cancelled a couple days in advance. Remember when you could cancel day of? Those days are long gone.
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Right now Newark, DE is expecting snow Monday into Tuesday. 3” total the last time I checked. We’re about 30 mins, by rail, from Philly. The artic blast isn’t expected till Wednesday and will only last a day.
 

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