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It looks like Amtrak had a terrible day (in some cases several days)due to Hurricane Ike and the Metrolink accident. Amtrak's website lists the following trains as either annulled or operating on truncated (short turned) routes: Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, Lake Shore Limited, Capitol Limited, and Southwest Chief all due to Ike (the City perhaps still due to Gustav). The Coast Starlight due to the Metrolink accident. The press release doesn't mention the California Zephyr but the Weather Channel showed photos of major flooding around Aurora, IL which is on the CZ route as well as the SWC. Amtrak's train status web site does not provide departure info for # 5 out of Chicago today - not a good sign. This means 7 (maybe 8) overnight routes are impacted. Only the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, AutoTrain, Crescent, Cardinal, and Empire Builder appear to be operating as scheduled plus maybe the CZ. Thus around half of Amtrak's overnight routes had a service disruption on Sunday...perhaps a record.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Take the Cardinal off that list!!! My wife is currently enroute to Chicago on the Cardinal, and due to a track washout in northern Indiana (yes, due to the remnents of Ike!), they are going to be "bustituted" from Indianapolis to Chicago later this morning.
Railroad Bill Member # 5097
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Yes, my good buddies from Ashland were planning to leave this morning on the Capitol from Cleveland for a two week trip via SWC-Coast Starlight and Empire Builder. Amtrak called last night and cancelled their CL. Offered a bus to Chicago but then no guarantees what happens after that. They decided to cancel for a refund since tomorrow's Capitol and Chief sleepers were all sold out. Such is life on Amtrak when Mother Nature is in control Railroad Bill. Still hoping for the CONO in Oct.
wayne72145 Member # 4503
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I am beginning to get edgy about my trip next month on the Crescent and Sunset. Leaving DC on the 22nd and New Orleans on the 24th. Amtrak is always an adventure.
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