.The train route between New York City and Chicago was once the apex of luxury travel: Passengers boarded after walking on a red carpet laid out on the platform and nibbled lobster Newburg on fine china in the dining car.
The nearly 1,000-mile route has been far less sumptuous in recent years. And as of last week, for the first time since the late 1800s, what was once considered the ultimate modern journey — a straight-shot between two great global cities — is no more.
The article could hardly be called "deep investigative journalism", and appears a "break" for some Times Cub reporter to have a byline. Sources appear only to be several railfans and "Unter Informationsminister" Magliari.
palmland Member # 4344
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It is stil surprising that some of the biggest cities on the NEC (Philadelphia, Baltimore) don’t have a one seat ride to Chicago (Cardinal is tri weekly and for the immediate future originates in Washington).
While it would it would add a couple hours, I think the Capitol should become a single level train (once VII sleepers are available) and operate via Philadelphia then west on the route of the Pennsylvanian. If memory serves, Amtrak did that for a short time after experimenting with the routing via the Port Road. Now, of course, Amtrak owned Keystone route has much higher speeds. And yes, I’d trade Harpers Ferry and the Potomac for the Main Line and Horseshoe curve.
Regardless, we’re not likely to see again the likes of the Century, Broadway, or B&O’s Capitol Ltd. AOE type trains tried but could not make the economics work. Travel is just a commodity aka Southwest Airlines or Carnival Cruise lines,
sojourner Member # 3134
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I am totally confused by this post. I cannot access the full Times article, but the Lakeshore Ltd has not been canceled. You just need to take a train from Grand Central up to Albany and then you can catch it there.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Yes, Ms. Sojourner -- you are correct. Apparently only the NYP-ALB section of the LSL is currently suspended, and again only "temporarily" (whatever that means). As GBN commented, that article is "not exactly" the pinnacle of railroad journalism quality.
What confuses me though is the statement saying the Cardinal is only operating from WAS to CHI because of the same track repairs -- that does not make sense, since the NYP-CHI routes of the LSL and the Cardinal are NOT the same, not even the first several miles out of Penn Station.
I assume the track repair mentioned is somewhere around Spuyten Duyvil, the connection between the Metro-North line from GCT and the classic NYC Water Level Route, which the LSL uses. The Cardinal has never been routed anywhere near Spuyten Duyvil.
palmland Member # 4344
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I can see how you could be confused if you can’t access the article! But it seemed clear to me: “From the end of May until Sept. 3, the Lake Shore Limited, the most famous of the New York-to-Chicago trains, will run only between Boston and Chicago.”
I think the other trackwork in NYP itself is what affected the Cardinal. Or at least it was a plausible excuse to cut it back to Washington.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I don't know about the Cardinal, RRRRich. Because you're right; the trackwork is north of Penn and shouldn't affect the Cardinal, which runs the same route to DC as all the Regional trains from NYP do (and continues on the same route as the Crescent until Charlottesville). And there's no explanation of changes specific to Cardinal at the website that I could find, even though there has been the schedule change (take Regional or Palmetto to DC to catch Cardinal).
And BTW, from Boston to Albany, Amtrak is doing bustitution on the Lakeshore on weekends (only) because of different (freightline) trackwork!
Maybe it's all part of the Trumpian plot to get rid of Amtrak LD; a lot of people seem to think that. Similar things have been going on in other agencies, environment, housing, etc.
But actually, I've always thought the Cardinal should start in DC, or change trains there to a Superliner. It's a very pretty ride, esp eastbound, and should have an observation car.
But maybe they are now doing away with observation cars too! all part of the plot
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Of interest, WBBM 780/105.9 has aired this story at least twice. I heard such both yesterday during the 12N hour and today during the 5A.
Today's segment additionally included a "clip" with "Unterminister" Magliari:
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Delays or interruptions on Coast Starlight, City of New Orleans, Empire Builder and Lake Shore Limited, all between April and October, peak tourist time. Plus the dining changes to LSL and Capitol Limited. It strikes me as if there is a touch of the events leading up to the Berlin Airlift here. Hike up the inconvenience for an extended period and see what the result is. Am I being too cynical?
MargaretSPfan Member # 3632
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mgt -- No, you are not being too cynical; you are just being quite perceptive. It is the old "death by a thousand cuts" method of getting rid of something, and usually works quite well. Hope it does not work at all with Amtrak or anything else it is used on.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Might fine enjoyable; looks like irreverent non-fans documenting a ride on 448:
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