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We are booked on #27 from Chicago to Portland on May 8th and we will connect to the Coast Starlight in Portland to Los Angeles. I've been noticing the westbound Builder is arriving on the West Coast hours beyond the expected arrival time or I'm seeing a service disruption on the status site.
How is the EB handling passengers who make a same day transfer from 27 to 11? Is the flooding occuring now and does anybody know what the situation will be about a month from now? If we don't make that connection in Portland our whole week of vacation in Southern California will be in jeapordy, being we have pricelined hotels our entire trip.
I noticed 27 came in six hours late Sunday. Will Amtrak put us up in a hotel in Portland and book us on the next days Coast Starlight? I'm getting concerned being we are less than a month from our trip we booked ten months ago.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. Graynt, I presume that "Pricelined" means that you're "in for a penny, in for a pound'.
At this time, it appears that #7-27 will next depart CHI on Apr 14, but of course that is subject to instant and immediate change. I understand, but had best defer to the West Coast local knowledge we have here, that the 'Bus-Tee-Toot' used to protect the 27-PDX-11 connection is Pasco to Kalamath Falls, where potentially eight hours could be recovered. In this case, passengers will be deprived from viewing the Columbia River as well as the passage over the Cascades from Eugene to Kalamath Falls.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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Elsewhere there is word that Amtrak and BNSF have agreed to a permanent reroute between Fargo and Minot via New Rockford, ND. This bypasses the flooded area so I'd think the Builder will run as scheduled in the near future. In fact, that route may be a bit faster. Of course, other issues could arise to cause problems but hopefully not. Later this month you should call Amtrak and ask if there is any information about this. If it appears the EB won't be running, they could perhaps reroute you on the California Zephyr to allow your California trip to be saved. But it's very likely this won't be necessary.
notelvis Member # 3071
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I'm hoping that the issues involving the Empire Builder will be resolved by mid-June when I am ticketed to ride.
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