Amtrak delays

[williamfsmith]

Looks like #8(1) will be getting into Chicago tonight several hours too late for a connection to the lake shore Limited.

As such, a sleeper reservation probably can't be honored because they're already fairly full. So what are the options what happens?

Happened to me several years ago. They put us up in a hotel(not downtown ). We caught the Lake Shore the next day. I take the #8(‘even east’). I always hope for delays in Spokane. That way the ‘Empire’ goes thru the scenic Montana mountains in daylight. I take the Empire yearly. A great experience. Respectfully, Bill

 

[joelkfla]

And if tomorrow's Lake Shore is sold out and no coach seats are available, will sleeping car passengers be given another free night in a hotel or will they be bused?

If the destination were NYP or Boston, might they put someone on a train to WAS with a connection (or through to NYP on the Cardinal if running)?

 

[jis]

Amtrak really needs to strike some contingency handling agreements with an airline or two. This business about getting stuck in Chicago for a night and then being placed in Coach for the onward journey instead of in the originally booked Sleeper starts getting old very quickly.

 

[Rasputin]

And if tomorrow's Lake Shore is sold out and no coach seats are available, will sleeping car passengers be given another free night in a hotel or will they be bused?

On our trip in 2014 we arrived in Chicago on No. 6 around midnight or shortly after. I think that most connecting passengers took advantage of Amtrak's offer to provide hotel rooms. However in speaking with a number of the passengers at the hotel the next morning I found that a number were not planning to continue their journey on Amtrak but were planning to go to the airport or rent a car.

We were accommodated on the next day's Lake Shore but could only get a roomette as far as Schenectady on that train instead of through to Boston as our original reservations indicated. 48 and 448 were horribly late so it was another night on a bench in South Station waiting for the first bus to Maine in the morning.

But as the Amtrak apologists like to say, we received our transportation to our Amtrak destination so we have nothing to complain about. (And we did receive a small pittance for losing our roomette between Schenectady and Boston.)

P.S. Sorry, I realize now that I had not answered Eric's question although I intended to. I would think that if the next day's train was completely sold out that under Amtrak's guaranteed connection policy, they would be responsible for another free night in a hotel. Maybe someone has actually had this happen and knows for sure.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Downeasters delayed this morning. #680 the first train from Brunswick to Boston now delayed over 2 hours due to a trespasser incident in Biddeford. This will probably also delay 682 the following train which is currently making its Portland stop.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Things starting to cascade on the Downeaster. 680 will be terminated at Wells. 681 (first train out of Boston) cancelled (as it uses 680's equipment). 682 is at Saco and is already 30 mins late, will probably get later as it works around the scene and has to pick up 680's passengers..

 

[genmar]

On the auto train that left yesterday Feb 6 from lorton 3 hours late. Just checked the train status on Amtrak. We will arrive 6 hrs and 44 min late. One locomotive down and now stopped north of Savannah because of freight congestion. Felt sorry for the attendant last night. He was delivering the 3rd seating of dinner at nearly midnight. We had 1st seating and got our dinners a little after 9 pm.

 

[joelkfla]

On the auto train that left yesterday Feb 6 from lorton 3 hours late. Just checked the train status on Amtrak. We will arrive 6 hrs and 44 min late. One locomotive down and now stopped north of Savannah because of freight congestion. Felt sorry for the attendant last night. He was delivering the 3rd seating of dinner at nearly midnight. We had 1st seating and got our dinners a little after 9 pm.

I would feel more for the passengers who got their dinner at midnight. I think I would have a hard time sleeping on a bouncing train after eating a steak at midnight.

 

[genmar]

I would feel more for the passengers who got their dinner at midnight. I think I would have a hard time sleeping on a bouncing train after eating a steak at midnight.

I definitely felt sorry for everyone. We are still north of Jacksonville and expected to arrive at almost 8 pm. 9 hours and 48 min late.

 

[Eric in East County]

We’ve been tracking SWC No. 4 which departed LA on 2/21. When it departed Fort Madison, it was running 21 hours and 31 minutes late. Does anyone have information on how the passengers for this particular train were accommodated? Were the dining car and SSL car restocked? Were those passengers with connecting trains transferred to buses? Where the public toilets cleaned?

 

[Rover]

 

[JoshP]

Just got alert, over 9 Amtrak trains sitting in Trenton and north of Trenton due to passenger was being struck by Amtrak train in Princeton Junction. Real sad. This what I got the alert from Amtrak/NJ Transit:

"Northeast Corridor rail service is suspended in both directions between Trenton and Jersey Avenue due to an Amtrak pedestrian strike near Princeton Junction. Customers should seek alternate transportation. We are working as quickly as possible to provide substitute bus service."

 

[Eric in East County]

I noticed that both SWC 3 and SWC 4 were cancelled yesterday. Was this due to the recent Southern California snowstorms?

 

[Bob Dylan]

The Texas Eaglette of 2/28 is currently running North of Popular Bluff,MO 12+ Hours Late due to the Lone P-42 having "Mechanical Problems" after Leaving Dallas,and then having to Reverse back to Union Station and wait for a Replacement Engine, which took 8 Hours to arrive!

Rare Mileage in Daylight between Little Rock and St Louis which is normally in the Dark!

Looks like the AmStew for everyone for Dinner IF the CCC still stocks it along with the Flex Meals that Sleeping Car Passengers are served.????

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I noticed that both SWC 3 and SWC 4 were cancelled yesterday. Was this due to the recent Southern California snowstorms?

Flagstaff is supposed to get at least a foot of snow

 

[billosborn]

I noticed that both SWC 3 and SWC 4 were cancelled yesterday. Was this due to the recent Southern California snowstorms?

Yes, and in the case of the SWC - its not just the snow. Because the topography on the route from Barstow to Kingman is flat desert, the snow storms are accompanied by high winds, which creates a dangerous condition for top-heavy Superliners. The storms are affecting Northern California as well - both CZ's were truncated - 6 starts in Salt Lake City and #5 terminates there.

 

[allanorn]

Amtrak really needs to strike some contingency handling agreements with an airline or two. This business about getting stuck in Chicago for a night and then being placed in Coach for the onward journey instead of in the originally booked Sleeper starts getting old very quickly.

It's why I'm thinking of getting travel insurance for my upcoming trip: not because of potential delays themselves, but in case Amtrak doesn't cover adequately and I'm forced to fly.

In those cases I'd rather give up my seat/sleeper for someone who can't fly or can't afford flying.

 

[frequentflyer]

Delays at STL, someone on the cam states high winds, 22 and 308 at station and 319 waiting just on other side of Miss. bridge.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Delays at STL, someone on the cam states high winds, 22 and 308 at station and 319 waiting just on other side of Miss. bridge.

Per weather.com for St Louis

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... WHAT...North winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.

 

[Rasputin]

Per weather.com for St Louis

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... WHAT...North winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.

I am not sure that I understand what is going on here. There are many areas which from time to time experience winds of 20 to 30 mph and higher wind gusts. Life goes on and things in those areas do not grind to a halt.

 

[allanorn]

I am not sure that I understand what is going on here. There are many areas which from time to time experience winds of 20 to 30 mph and higher wind gusts. Life goes on and things in those areas do not grind to a halt.

Looks like severe weather and "unexpected bridge maintenance":

 

[Rasputin]

There appears to have been a recent delay on the Carolinian:

Passengers wait for hours, without lights, air, internet, on disabled Amtrak train in Johnston County

An Amtrak train headed to Charlotte on Friday night was delayed for hours on the tracks in the Triangle.

www.wral.com

 

[John Bobinyec]

There appears to have been a recent delay on the Carolinian:

Passengers wait for hours, without lights, air, internet, on disabled Amtrak train in Johnston County

An Amtrak train headed to Charlotte on Friday night was delayed for hours on the tracks in the Triangle.

www.wral.com

The engine broke down at Selma, NC. The original plan was to get an NCDOT engine from Raleigh to rescue it, but that was changed (for some reason) to having an NS freight engine doing the rescuing.

The agent at Cary was requested to get 85 individual pizzas to put on the train, which she did.

Here are the times:

Selma Smithfield, NC (SSM)	Dp 438P	Dp 531P 53 minutes late.
Raleigh, NC (RGH)	Ar 522P Dp 530P	Ar 1053P 5 hours, 31 minutes late. Dp 1110P 5 hours, 40 minutes late.
Cary, NC (CYN)	Dp 543P	Dp 1130P 5 hours, 47 minutes late.
Durham, NC (DNC)	Dp 609P	Dp 1226A 6 hours, 17 minutes late.
Burlington, NC (BNC)	Dp 646P	Dp 117A 6 hours, 31 minutes late.
Greensboro, NC (GRO)	Ar 712P Dp 716P	Ar 144A 6 hours, 32 minutes late. Dp 150A 6 hours, 34 minutes late.
High Point, NC (HPT)	Dp 732P	Dp 216A 6 hours, 44 minutes late.
Salisbury, NC (SAL)	Dp 806P	Dp 259A 6 hours, 53 minutes late.
Kannapolis, NC (KAN)	Dp 823P	Dp 323A 7 hours, late.
Charlotte, NC (CLT)	Ar 856P	Ar 355A 6 hours, 59 minutes late.

The next morning 80 left Charlotte at 823A Departed: 1 hour, 38 minutes late, due to waiting for a crew. At that time it had two Amtrak engines, presumably getting one from either 19 or 20 at Charlotte.

jb

 

[Rasputin]

For those who were on board during this service meltdown, I think the proper thing would be for Amtrak to issue a refund and provide a free round trip ticket.

 

[Cal]

Tonight's #2 is late leaving LAX due to mechanical issues being sorted out. Not sure how they had 36+ hours to get a working consist together and still somehow mucked it up.