posted
I am due to take the Coast Starlight on Saturday from LA, going to Eugene. I saw on the Trainorders website that service was cancelled yesterday, with both 14 and 11 turning back. The chit chat on the message board said the cause was a UP derailment of 38 cars near Klamath Falls. I just called Amtrak, and they told me the problem was a rockslide, and all they needed to do was clear rocks off the track.
Rockslide, Phooey ! I just found a webpage that describes the wreck, and has pictures. Here is the link:
Update - 11 AM EDT - Amtrak now says 14 today goes only to SAC, 11 only to EUG, and SAC to LAX. Hopes to have normal (?) service on Saturday. I hope !
Posts: 133 | From: Canaan, CT | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Judging from the photos, that's a huge "OOPS!"
But why not take the train as far north as KFS, instead of SAC? That's what they've done in the past.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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quote:Originally posted by rY.: Wow, I guess that's the answer to "can it get any worse?"
When the kids were growing up this was a question we learned to never ask. We found that when we did, we did not like the answer.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
I've had some experience with some monumental "service disruptions."
Amtrak (following is one of my rare compliments to a government bureaucracy) has always got me "there." Despite derailments, fires, and floods, it's always got me to the end point of my ticket. They've always provided me with alternative means to getting to my destination. Usually by bus (many, many times). At times by cab. And, though I havn't taken them up on it, I've been there when they've offered to (forgive the "f" word) fly people to their destinations.
The point: Amtrak's policy used to be we'll get you there (by whatever means required). That has been my experience.
But this current Starlight situation?
Is this the first time Amtrak's position has been " Hey, s... happens. We'll dump you off at X, and it's up to you to get to Y. Ain't our responsibility, no matter what your ticket says?"
Have any forum members, in your rail travels, ever experienced this "stranding" policy?
Posts: 445 | Registered: May 2002
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Have any forum members, in your rail travels, ever experienced this "Hey, Bud, we got you to 'here', now you're on your own to get to 'there'" position?"
To put it in more simpler terms, is this the first time Amtrak hasn't honored it's transportation contract to get you 'there'?.
I believe our friend Jonathon had such an experience last year when the tunnel fire occurred near Oakridge. Jonathon was in Seattle at the time, and could only get as far back as Eugene. If I remember correctly he and his dad had to take Greyhound the rest of the way home.
It took a few days before Amtrak established a bus bridge between Eugene and Klamath Falls. In the interim, people like Jonathon were put out on their own. Disgraceful, in my opinion.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Maybe this "Amtrak stranding" policy can be developed into a new TV reality show.
You know, just dump a trainload of people in a strange place (Eugene, for example, is a strange place). And follow their plight as they try to get to wherever "there" is.
Now, that would be TV worth watching.
Posts: 445 | Registered: May 2002
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posted
Service Alert: Coast Starlight - Full Service Restored to Coast Starlight Route Saturday, July 29
Updated 8 p.m. ET, Friday, July 28, 2006
All Amtrak Coast Starlight service resumes normal operation beginning with train 11 departing Seattle on Saturday July 29, and train 14 departing Los Angeles on Saturday July 29, 2006. This service was temporarily interrupted due to Union Pacific freight derailment, north of Klamath Falls, Oregon on Thursday, July 27.
posted
Unfortunately, this is an example of a corporate policy adopted a couple years ago, that basically curtails any effort to provide alternate transportation except for trains already enroute. This is another corporate policy designed to make Amtrak more fiscally "responsible".....
Posts: 332 | From: Long Island, NY USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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