Amtrak Gets Ready For Ivan

[AlanB]

September 10, 200405:00 PM EDT

AMTRAK PLANS TO OPERATE NORTHBOUND TRAINS FROM FLORIDA THIS SUNDAY

Saturday's Auto Train & Palmetto service over their full routes

Sunday southbound service to Florida to be determined

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak, working with CSX Transportation, is planning to operate as much service as possible to and from Florida this Saturday (Sept. 11) and Sunday (Sept. 12).  In order to help persons wanting to come north from Florida while Hurricane Ivan is approaching, Amtrak will seek to operate all three northbound trains from Miami on Sunday, along with the Auto Train from Sanford.  There are still some cancellations in effect for Saturday.

Amtrak is notifying customers of the following:

These trains from the north to Florida are affected:

Palmetto (Train 89), Silver Star (Train 91), Silver Meteor (Train 97) will operate over their full routes from New York to Miami, on Saturday (Sept. 11).  Auto Train (Train 53), will operate from Lorton to Sanford on Saturday.  However, there is a possibility southbound service to Florida will be disrupted, starting Sunday. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL for more information and make frequent checks for updates on the www.amtrak.com website.

These trains to the north from Florida are affected:

Palmetto (Train 90) will operate from Miami to New York, effective Saturday (Sept. 11).  Silver Star (Train 92), which is scheduled to originate Saturday (Sept. 11) from Miami to New York, will originate from Jacksonville instead, with no alternate transportation available.  Silver Meteor (Train 98), which is scheduled to originate Saturday (Sept. 11) from Miami to New York, will originate in Sanford instead, with alternate transportation provided from Orlando.

Palmetto (Train 90), Silver Star (Train 92), Silver Meteor (Train 98) are scheduled to operate over their full routes from Miami to New York, effective Sunday (Sept. 12).

Auto Train (Train 52), will operate over its full route from Sanford to Lorton , effective Saturday (Sept. 11).

This train to the west from Florida is affected:

Sunset Limited (Train 1), which is scheduled to originate Sunday (Sept. 12) from Orlando will originate in New Orleans instead, with no alternate transportation provided.

Staffed Amtrak stations in central and south Florida that were closed before Hurricane Frances arrived have now reopened for passenger ticketing and to answer customer questions about refunds and exchanges.

These plans are subject to change, as conditions dictate.

Amtrak passengers are invited to visit the www.amtrak.com website or call 800-USA-RAIL for additional information and further updates.

The full press release can be found here.

I figured that I'd start a new topic for Ivan, since the other topic had gotten rather long.

 

[engine999]

Another hurricane is going to be devasting for the central florida area. Floods are already beginnig from the saturated ground. This is becomming a real pain. :huh:

 

[Amfleet]

Ivan may also cause damage (mainly flooding) to the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic region in the comming week.

 

[engine999]

Major Flooding from the laste two storms is about to be felt along the St. Johns River, along with other central florida water bodies. If ivan hits, the csx bridge could be temporarilly flooded. Today there was aliitle over a foot between the bottom of the span and the river. The river has yet to crest, so A-line service could be disrupted.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

There was a rumor that they were going to have a new slow order for that bridge, establishing it as a No-Wake-Zone!! :lol: :lol: :lol: Still no showers for coach pax, but you could get your feet washed!!

Wendy and I thought we might wander up to Sanford tomorrow afternoon and see just how high that water is along the Sanford lakefront and on the St. Johns at the Osteen Bridge. Might be some pix to take, and including that RR bridge. I bet the water at Blue Spring is up over the swimming dock again, too.

 

[engine999]

There was a rumor that they were going to have a new slow order for that bridge, establishing it as a No-Wake-Zone!!   :lol:   :lol:   :lol:   Still no showers for coach pax, but you could get your feet washed!!Wendy and I thought we might wander up to Sanford tomorrow afternoon and see just how high that water is along the Sanford lakefront and on the St. Johns at the Osteen Bridge.  Might be some pix to take, and including that RR bridge.  I bet the water at Blue Spring is up over the swimming dock again, too.

I dont think I have ever seen the Water at Blue Springs close to the dock. Maybe the horse flies between the dock and you make the water appear higher. :lol: You might need a boat by tomorrow even to approach the "sea wall" in sanford. :lol:

 

[AlanB]

Here's the latest service changes as Florida & Amtrak prepare for Ivan:

September 12, 2004  Amtrak Plans to Operate Nearly All Its Florida Trains

Auto Train, Silver Star, Silver Meteor & Palmetto service in both directions on Monday  

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak is continuing most of its passenger rail service to and from Florida, this Monday (Sept. 13).  All three round-trips on the New York-Orlando/Tampa-Miami routes are expected to operate to their destinations, as well as the Auto Train to and from Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla.

The Sunset Limited (Trains 1 & 2), which operates three-days-weekly between Los Angeles and Orlando has a partial cancellation: Train 2, which is scheduled to originate in Los Angeles Sunday night (Sept. 12) will operate as far as New Orleans and Train 1, which is scheduled to originate this Thursday (Sept. 16) in Orlando, will instead originate in New Orleans.  No alternate transportation will be available.

These plans are subject to change, as conditions dictate.  Amtrak appreciates the patience of customers during the Hurricane Frances service disruption and credits the work carried out by Amtrak and CSX Transportation employees for service restorations.

Amtrak is monitoring the approach of Hurricane Ivan and is working with CSX and local authorities regarding service decisions.  Amtrak passengers are invited to visit the www.amtrak.com website or call 800-USA-RAIL for additional information and further updates.

The full press release can be found here.

 

[AlanB]

Here's the latest:

September 16, 2004  AMTRAK SERVICE RESUMES TO AND FROM NEW ORLEANS

City of New Orleans train to operate full Chicago-New Orleans route  

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak will resume some of the service to and from New Orleans that was temporarily suspended due to Hurricane Ivan.  New Orleans is served by the City of New Orleans daily to and from Chicago, the Crescent daily to and from New York City and the three-days-weekly Sunset Limited to and from Los Angeles and Orlando.

The first train to operate will be the City of New Orleans and plans are in place to resume service to and from the west coast via the Sunset Limited.  Service to the northeast and east via the Crescent and the Sunset Limited is not yet available, pending railroad infrastructure damage assessments from Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation.

Amtrak is notifying customers of the following:

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59, daily via Memphis, Jackson (Miss.) and Hammond (La.):

The southbound City of New Orleans (Train 59) that is scheduled to leave Chicago tonight (Sept. 16) will operate over its full route to New Orleans.  The northbound City of New Orleans (Train 58) that is scheduled to leave New Orleans tomorrow (Sept. 17) will operate over its full route to Chicago.

Crescent, Trains 19 & 20, daily via Washington, Atlanta and Birmingham:

The southbound Crescent (Train 19) that is scheduled to leave New York City tomorrow (Sept. 17) is canceled.  The northbound Crescent (Train 20) that is scheduled to leave New Orleans tomorrow (Sept. 17) and Saturday (Sept. 18) is canceled.

No alternate transportation will be available.

Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2, three-days-weekly via Jacksonville, Houston and San Antonio:    

The westbound Sunset Limited (Train 1) that is scheduled to leave Orlando Sunday (Sept. 19) will originate from New Orleans instead.

The eastbound Sunset Limited (Train 2) that is scheduled to leave Los Angeles tomorrow (Sept. 17) will operate to New Orleans, where the train will terminate, instead of Orlando.

No alternate transportation will be available.

Amtrak facilities along the route of the City of New Orleans and along the route of the Sunset Limited west of New Orleans that were closed because of  Hurricane Ivan will reopen, effective tomorrow (Sept. 17).  Other facilities along the route of the Crescent and the Sunset Limited northeast and east of New Orleans remain closed, including staffed and unstaffed stations, until plans are announced to resume services.

Amtrak thanks the Orleans Levee District, the office of the New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin and New Orleans Emergency Preparedness for their cooperation.  The four primary railroads used by Amtrak trains in the area: Canadian National (Illinois Central) Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) and CSX Transportation, are working closely with Amtrak on service restorations plans.

Amtrak passengers are invited to visit the www.amtrak.com website or call 800-USA-RAIL for additional information and further updates.

 

[AlanB]

Today's update from Amtrak:

September 17, 2004  AMTRAK RESTORES MORE SERVICE TO AND FROM NEW ORLEANS

Crescent and City of New Orleans trains to operate full routes  

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak will restore more service to and from New Orleans that was temporarily suspended due to Hurricane Ivan.  New Orleans is served in four directions: the City of New Orleans daily to and from Chicago, the Crescent daily to and from New York City and the three-days-weekly Sunset Limited to and from Los Angeles and Orlando.

The Crescent will resume service to and from the northeast tomorrow (Sept. 18) from New York City and on Sunday (Sept. 20) from New Orleans.  Full service to and from the north by the City of New Orleans has been returned and plans are in place to restore service to and from the west on the Sunset Limited.

However, service to and from the east via by the Sunset Limited is not yet available.

Amtrak is notifying customers of the following:

Crescent, Trains 19 & 20, daily via Washington, Atlanta and Birmingham:

The southbound Crescent (Train 19) that is scheduled to leave New York City tomorrow (Sept. 18) will operate over its full route to New Orleans.  The northbound Crescent (Train 20) that is scheduled to leave New Orleans on Sunday (Sept. 19) will operate over its full route to New York City.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59, daily via Memphis, Jackson (Miss.) and Hammond (La.):

Service restored in both directions today (Sept.17).

Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2, three-days-weekly via Jacksonville, Houston and San Antonio:  

The westbound Sunset Limited (Train 1) that is scheduled to leave Orlando on Sept. 19, Sept. 23, Sept. 26 and Sept. 28 will originate from New Orleans instead.

The eastbound Sunset Limited (Train 2) that is scheduled to leave Los Angeles Sept. 17, Sept. 19, Sept. 22 and Sept. 24 will operate to New Orleans, where the train will terminate, instead of Orlando.

No alternate transportation will be available.

Amtrak facilities along the route of the Crescent that were closed because of Hurricane Ivan will reopen.  Facilities along the route of the Sunset Limited east of New Orleans remain closed, including staffed and unstaffed stations, until plans are announced to resume services.

The four primary railroads used by Amtrak trains in the area are Canadian National (Illinois Central) Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) and CSX Transportation.

The CSX property east of New Orleans was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ivan.  Amtrak has been notified that a service interruption of two weeks has been estimated while railroad infrastructure repairs are carried out.  

Amtrak passengers are invited to visit the www.amtrak.com website or call 800-USA-RAIL for additional information and further updates.