The Amtrak Website ( www.amtrak.com ) has a long announcement about resumption of service on Sunday, October 9 from New Orleans on the City of New Orleans and the Crescent. They do point out that taxis and other public transportation are not yet available within New Orleans and that "many other services are very limited".
Further, they mention that service on the Sunset Limited is not yet restored. "Plans for service to the west, via Beaumont and Houston, will be announced at a later date. Service to the east, via Biloxi and Mobile, will not be possible until 2006 at the earliest because of the extreme nature of the damage done to tracks, bridges and other infrastructure owned by CSX Transportation."
Frank in warm and windy SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Restoration of the Sunset Limited in 2006? A three a week train. A train with OTP that provides fertile fodder for Leno and Letterman. Accidents here, accidents there, that are dwindling the finite supply of Superliners. Amtrak's financial woes.
Will Katrina provide the excuse to sunset the Sunset?
Posted by royaltrain (Member # 622) on :
Who would actually travel to New Orleans? As the Amtrak website states, there are no taxis or other transportation. Are any hotels open, or restaurants? I was booked for NOL in December on the City of New Orleans and then connecting with the w/b Sunset Ltd. I cancelled those reservations and re-booked on the Texas Eagle to California. Obviously I'm not going to New Orleans for a long time, and I wonder how many passengers these trains will carry. I would think very few for the foreseeable future.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Actually, the resumption of service will occur tomorrow. As of a few moments ago, the website showed both #19(7) and #59(7) operating through to New Orleans.
I would presume Amtrak has rounded up enough employees in all crafts to resume the service.
Lastly, I agree Mr. Royal, why anyone would want to go near that dried out (for the moment; two months to go in the 'cane season) cesspool is beyond me. I don't know why anyone even wanted to go near it before.
For all I know, Franklin Graham has a point.
Prediction: the 2010 census will show Baton Rouge as the largest city in Louisiana.
Posted by SunsetLtd (Member # 3985) on :
Probably people who were displaced from Katrina.
Also The Sunset right now has the better on time percentage that the Coast Starlight. I don't want them to kill the Sunset. They should upgrade it just like the Empire Builder.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Wow!
I am surprised that Amtrak is able to return to New Orleans this quickly. Imagine though how light the ridership on those trains is going to be so long as New Orleans isn't a destination for the masses.
As for sunsetting the 'Sunset', I believe that we will see service resume from New Orlenas westward reasonably soon (by Thanksgiving possibly). I would not be surprised if service between New Orleans and Orlando does not ever return. I can't imagine the way that this scenario would play out BUT it seems that east of New Orleans the train only managed to actually run twice a week more often than not.
David Pressley
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
[QUOTE]Originally posted by notelvis: I would not be surprised if service between New Orleans and Orlando does not ever return.
You mean, give a new meaning to the "limited" part of Sunset Limited?
The eastern endpoint of the SL changing to New Orleans (or San Antonio or Houston) wouldn't surprise me either. Possibly a new train could be inauguarated to provide service to the east.
Do any Superliner counters or rr operation wonks out there in forum land have any ideas about whether there would be any benefits to dividing the SL in two? Would it free up enough Superliners to provide daily service on the western portion? Is there enough non-Superliner equipment (and is it practical) to have a regional-type (like the San Joaquins or Heartland Flyer) or Viewliner-type train do the eastern portion?
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
I believe New Orleans will be rebuilt, and things will eventually return to "normal." I'm glad to see that AMTRAK service is returning. With all due respect to Mr. Norman's feelings about New Orleans, there are some good things about that town!! I always enjoy overnighting there on my train trips, but I also think I understand Gilbert's viewpoint. I think eventually people WILL want to return there. I also agree with David Pressley ("notelvis") that service between New Orleans and Fla. may never return.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
>Lastly, I agree Mr. Royal, why anyone would want >to go near that dried out (for the moment; two >months to go in the 'cane season) cesspool is >beyond me. I don't know why anyone even wanted >to go near it before.
I for one would like to go to New Orleans as soon as I can afford to do so and was very sorry to have to cancel my planned first visit, and planned excusion on the Sunset Limited, especially under such sad circumstances.
The reasons I want to go: its music its food its architecture (which I hope has not been too terribly devastated in the French Quarter and Garden District at least) its history its unique cultural mix its linguistic eccentricities the aboveground cemetery the brass band funerals the descriptions of the train ride in (which sounded something like the approach to Venice in Italy) the streetcar named Desire the World War II museum my fondness for The Big Easy (it is probably my second favorite movie)
About the only things that never interested me very much were Mardi Gras and the Superdome.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
I'll go along with you regarding the WWII Museum, Ms. Sojourner; the rest let's say shall we "agree to disagree".
The last two times I have been there were to connect from the Sunset to the City on Orlando to Chicago trips. I never left the station either time.
You note, Ms. Sojourner, the movie "The Big Easy". I have seen it myself and thought it was simply "enjoyable Hollywood'. However, since the Katrina aftermath, I'm starting to wonder if the film was based a little more on fact than perchance I first thought.
However, to the rails; from reports elsewhere it appears the first arrival of the "reinaugurated City', or #59(7) arrived NOL 32 min late. The delay was likely account that the train was carrying a second deadhead consist that was cut at Hammond to protect #58(8), or the last NB "City of Hammond". Those cars and a locomotive had to be cut there. I have also learned that 59 added three Sleepers and a Diner that had been parked at Hammond being used as "camp cars' there by both Illinois Central and Amtrak personnel. Those cars were moved to New Orleans where they will see similar use as a temporary "camp' for Amtrak employees while being parked at NOUPT.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
WBBM 780 reported this morning that "The City of New Orleans arrived yesterday into New Orleans carrying 28 passengers"
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: WBBM 780 reported this morning that "The City of New Orleans arrived yesterday into New Orleans carrying 28 passengers"
That's 28 more than who arrived in New Orleans by rail the day before that! This step of resuming some passenger service to New Orleans is as important for Amtrak as it is for the city's recovery efforts.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Coverasge, including a "heartwarming' photo at the MSNBC site: