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I got it confirmed from several Amtrak sources that starting in a few weeks... Chicago will no longer be mechanically responsible for the Texas Eagle. The equipment will run-through from Washington to San Antonio through Chicago and back. The train will stop for about 2.5 to 3 hours in Chicago and switch crews and stock up on food. There will be significant schedule changes including an 11:55am departure for the southbound Eagle and a 3:30pm arrival for the northbound Eagle. This will include a 2+ hour stop in STL for the 1,500-mile inspection. This will eliminate a train Chicago mechanical is responsible for AND save a trainset or two.
George Harris Member # 2077
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This is getting close to the old Missouri Pacific Texas Eagle schedule at it was in the early 60's. If they can manage to keep this, it would result in decent morning arrivals / afternoon after business hours departures on the Dallas end.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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This practice of running train sets has been done in the past. Back in the day ('80's) when Amtrak still had some interest in marketing LD trains, they established a run through Empire Builder-Capitol Limited. The set never left CUS and passengers were allowed to remain on-board during the three or so hour layover.
Previously also, there was a Capitol Limited-City of New Orleans equipment only run through, but they scrapped that.
Now I must wonder if the 29-59 and v.v. didn't work, why will this 29-21 be any different?
An additional thought; how will they handle adding the CHI-LAX Sleeper and Coach line on the days it operates. For whatever reason, Amtrak is loath to handle equipment switching in stations.
Finally, WAS-SAS-WAS; "long time to go" without a little "Splish Splash".
lordsigma Member # 197916
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This probably explains how they’re bringing these two back to daily by saving equipment and shifting away from the severely short staffed Chicago Mech. I’m guessing a big reason the Starlight is going back to daily is because Chicago mechanical isn’t responsible for it.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I've now learned that arrivals at stops South of St. Louis are unchanged. Dallas arrival remains at 1150A and San Antonio 955P. What has happened is that St. Louis has become a two hour "service stop" transferring the work away from Chicago. So far as "splish splash"; well that waits until the 29/21-22/30 set returns to Washington and I would guess the 421-422 set returns to Los Angeles.
Now did anyone REALLY think they were doing this change for MARKETING reasons? It's time to accept that Amtrak is no longer interested in marketing the LD's. Operational efficiency is "what it's all about".
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