Word today is that the Southwest Chief has been suspended between Kansas City and Chicago account flooding. Pretty soon, the Texas Eagle?
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
From the website:
June 17, 2008 10 am CDT
Amtrak service is disrupted at Fort Madison and Burlington, Iowa, and south of St. Paul, Minn., due to flooding on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
Affected are the Amtrak Southwest Chief route between Los Angeles and Chicago, via Kansas City; Amtrak California Zephyr route between the San Francisco Bay and Chicago, via Denver and Omaha; and the Amtrak Empire Builder route between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, via St. Paul.
In addition to closing railroad routes and stations, flooded highways are making the provision of alternate transportation by chartered motorcoach impossible in some cases.
Passengers are urged to call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL if they have travel plans on the three routes below, through June 20. Those passengers with telephone contact information in their reservations are being called by Amtrak and offered options including future travel dates.
Southwest Chief, Trains 3 & 4
Service by the Southwest Chief between Kansas City and Galesburg, Ill.,is temporarily suspended due to flooding on the BNSF Railway route in Iowa, effective June 17.
Alternate transportation by chartered motorcoaches will be provided between Kansas City and Galesburg, with the exceptions of La Plata, Mo., and Fort Madison. Passengers ticketed at those stops are being offered travel at other Amtrak stations in Illinois.
California Zephyr, Trains 5 & 6
Service by the California Zephyr between Chicago and Denver is temporarily suspended due to flooding on the BNSF Railway route in Iowa, effective June 13.
Alternate transportation will be provided between Denver and points in Nebraska, including Omaha, by chartered motorcoaches. No alternate transportation is available to or from points in Iowa. Alternate transportation between Chicago and other points in Illinois will be provided by other Amtrak trains.
Empire Builder, Trains 7/27/807 & 8/28/808
Service by the Empire Builder between St. Paul and Chicago is temporarily suspended due to flooding on the Canadian Pacific Railway route in Wisconsin, effective June 10, and the closing of a detour route on the BNSF Railway, effective June 15.
Alternate transportation by chartered motorcoach will be provided between St. Paul and Chicago, with the exceptions of Portage, Columbus and Milwaukee, Wisc., and Glenview, Ill. Passengers ticketed at those stops are being offered travel at other Amtrak stations. Amtrak Hiawatha Service trains are available as alternate transportation to and from Glenview and Milwaukee.
Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for schedule information and train status updates.
Posted by Printman2000 (Member # 4338) on :
If you notice, it now says between Kansas City & GLALESBURG, not Chicago (they changed it this morning). That might mean the SWC will be making it to Chicago on an alternate route.
Posted by kjkober (Member # 1423) on :
Stub train for Galesburg to Chicago. Busses between Kansas City and Galesburg. Sleeper service et al between Kansas City and LA.
I'm on Thursday's Chicago to LAX and am hoping we get to Kansas City before bed time
I lose dinner Thursday night.
Posted by Printman2000 (Member # 4338) on :
kjkober, where did you find that info? I am on #4 tomorrow and Thursday.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
We should note that Chicago and Kansas City are a major city pair that is not directlly connected by Interstate Highways. To use Interstates Galesburg to KC, one would forst operate (compass North) in I-74 West to Rock Island, thence I-80 West to Des Moines, and Finally I-35 South to KC. But the alternative of using two lane Missouri State Highways would result in an "over hill over dale" experience.
Oh well, I guess the highwaymen don't get everything they want...just almost everything.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
At approximately 335PM CT, an Amtrak WB passenger train passed my home.
Consist appeared to be that from the Midwest Corridor pool, namely P-42, six Amfleet and Horizons, F40 NPCU on the rear.
Such would appear to be running on #3(17)'s schedule and, as of now, "more or less" on-time, however at present, there is no record in Train Status of either a #3 or #1003 departing CHI.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Somehow, I don't think the folks at Amtrak's Whistle Stop webpage are going to be getting much new positive experiences from these busstitutions...
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Oh well, at least there was an "Amflee-tution" for the Chief.; enjoy Dinner at some truck stop, everyone.
Posted by kjkober (Member # 1423) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)