Eastern Railroad Discussion > Altoona derailment-Amtrak operations?

An earlier message said the eastbound Amtrak on Saturday backed up to the loop and went to Johnstown and then presumably back to Pittsburgh. Did they haul the passengers all the way back to the Steel City before busing them?

Where did they stop the westbound on Saturday?

How about Sunday's trains?

DaleR

43 was out of Harrisburg pretty much on-time with 513 doing the honors.

Today was business as usual (except it took hours to get down the mountain) but what the original post was asking is where were the passengers bused from yesterday?


ernie

wmfan3798 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Today was business as usual (except it took hours
> to get down the mountain) but what the original
> post was asking is where were the passengers bused
> from yesterday?
>
>
> ernie


Yes Amtrak Passengers WERE BUSED to their destinations. 04T turned around at the Gallitzin Y yesterday & deadheaded to Pittsburgh to send passengers on their way east. & Im sure same for westbound 07T Amtrak. Those passengers were bused.

wmfan3798 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Today was business as usual (except it took hours
> to get down the mountain) but what the original
> post was asking is where were the passengers bused
> from yesterday?
>
>
> ernie


Yes Amtrak Passengers WERE BUSED to their destinations. 04T turned around at the Gallitzin "Y Loop track" yesterday & deadheaded to Pittsburgh to send passengers on their way east. & Im sure same for westbound 07T Amtrak. Those passengers were bused.

Saturday's 42 turned back to Pittsburgh as mentioned earlier. However, the passengers were NOT bussed........because there were no buses available due to Pitt and Penn State having home football games. So the passengers were allowed to detrain at any station between Johnstown and Pittsburgh, but were then on their own from there.

Saturday's 43 was terminated at Harrisburg, and those passengers were bussed.

42 was cancelled today, but the train was deadheaded east as an empty equipment move.

43 ran today, and lost only about 25-30 minutes getting through Altoona.


Jon

resqjon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Saturday's 42 turned back to Pittsburgh as
> mentioned earlier. However, the passengers were
> NOT bussed........because there were no buses
> available due to Pitt and Penn State having home
> football games. So the passengers were allowed to
> detrain at any station between Johnstown and
> Pittsburgh, but were then on their own from
> there.
>
> Saturday's 43 was terminated at Harrisburg, and
> those passengers were bussed.
>
> 42 was cancelled today, but the train was
> deadheaded east as an empty equipment move.
>
> 43 ran today, and lost only about 25-30 minutes
> getting through Altoona.
>
>
> Jon

Sounds like the company needs more bus charter relationships in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, etc. I wonder why the company didn't just buy MegaBus or Greyhound tickets for its Harrisburg and Philly etc passengers?

I can't imagine the idea of being dumped out in Greensburg etc played especially well. More "never again" passengers....

resqjon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Saturday's 42 turned back to Pittsburgh as
> mentioned earlier. However, the passengers were
> NOT bussed........because there were no buses
> available due to Pitt and Penn State having home
> football games. So the passengers were allowed to
> detrain at any station between Johnstown and
> Pittsburgh, but were then on their own from
> there.

I guess that's the bargain airline mode, incredible.

THINKING ABOUT THIS, I've got to back up a bit. The logic of allowing passengers to detrain at stops between Johnstown and Pittsburgh was probably logical anyway. It would allow folks to "return home" instead of getting dumped in Pittsburgh with those who boarded there. And as to those who were returned to Pittsburgh, that's the same thing which happens when an airline flight is cancelled with no substitution available. Not the best but at least you're stalled at your starting point.


>
> Saturday's 43 was terminated at Harrisburg, and
> those passengers were bussed.
>
> 42 was cancelled today, but the train was
> deadheaded east as an empty equipment move.
>
> 43 ran today, and lost only about 25-30 minutes
> getting through Altoona.
>
>
> Jon

As was noted, more "never again" folks. It becomes more and more apparent that travel by public transport in any form becomes a "travel at your own risk" exercise.

Thanks for the information.

DaleR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/14 16:55 by dbrcnw.