- Joined
- Dec 8, 2014
- Messages
- 16
So my son and I have reservations for a trip in May from Grand Rapids to New Orleans connecting of course in Chicago. I get an e-mail from Amtrak saying the return trip from Chicago to GR has been changed from leaving Chicago at 4:55 PM to leaving at 6:30 PM. OK, fine I think, I don't care and people on day or weekend trips to Chicago will get to spend more time in Chicago. A couple of minutes later I get another e-mail that says I'll be leaving GR at 6:00 AM rather than the up till now usual 7:40 AM. OK, this is a long trip so I don't much care if I have to get up a couple of hours early for this one.
But then I started thinking, is this going to be the regular schedule for the Pere Marquette? I punch in a couple future dates and it looks like it is. That early morning departure is sure going to make weekend trips to Chicago less popular (unless maybe you live in Benton Harbor.) And how is this going to work out for the train crew? Usually the crew that leaves Chicago is the crew for the return trip the next morning. With this new schedule the train arrives if it is on schedule at 11:39 PM. That means time between arrival and departure is less that 6 1/2 hours. Is this enough rest time for the crew? Even if it is, this isn't a train that has a very good on-time record. Doesn't sound like a very practical schedule change either for passengers or crews.. Anyone know the thinking behind the change?
But then I started thinking, is this going to be the regular schedule for the Pere Marquette? I punch in a couple future dates and it looks like it is. That early morning departure is sure going to make weekend trips to Chicago less popular (unless maybe you live in Benton Harbor.) And how is this going to work out for the train crew? Usually the crew that leaves Chicago is the crew for the return trip the next morning. With this new schedule the train arrives if it is on schedule at 11:39 PM. That means time between arrival and departure is less that 6 1/2 hours. Is this enough rest time for the crew? Even if it is, this isn't a train that has a very good on-time record. Doesn't sound like a very practical schedule change either for passengers or crews.. Anyone know the thinking behind the change?