Now that the major trackwork is done and the remaining work is mostly signalling, has anyone had occasion to ride this line? Are there any noticeable speed increases or is the line smoother? I used to ride this lots going back and forth from school and to Chicago from St. Louis. Parts of it were nice, but other parts were very bumpy.
thanks
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
I'm travelling that way August 29 from Austin to Joliet and returning September 1. If you want to wait till September 3, I can give you the scoop.
Posted by catalantalgo (Member # 1836) on :
About this time a year ago, I went Austin to St. Louis. We left Austin about 3 hours late and it didn't get any better. The new Ft. Worth station was pretty nice looking, although incomplete at the time. I am curious how you will be routed between Ft. Worth and Dallas. UP trackwork had the train routed over the commuter owned tracks at times this summer.
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Unfortunately, on our May 2 trip to Milwaukee and East Glacier Park, we traveled over UP. It took us 4 1/2 hours to get from Ft Worth to Dallas, thanks to the roadwork and lack of dispatching skills by the UP employees. (UP dispatcher response = SHAZAMMM, You mean Amtrak needs to get to Dallas, from Ft Worth at 3:00 pm?? Who knew????)
I'll let you know which route I take when I get back, September 3rd.