Passenger Trains > Empire Builder

I have been following the tragic story of the Empire Builder timekeeping for months. Today #8 got out of St. Paul down a couple of hours, but it keeps bleeding time on the way to Chicago, and is now down over four hours.

This train cannot catch a break.

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been following the tragic story of the
> Empire Builder timekeeping for months. Today #8
> got out of St. Paul down a couple of hours, but it
> keeps bleeding time on the way to Chicago, and is
> now down over four hours.
>
> This train cannot catch a break.


Perhaps service should be annulled.

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have been following the tragic story of the
> > Empire Builder timekeeping for months. Today
> #8
> > got out of St. Paul down a couple of hours, but
> it
> > keeps bleeding time on the way to Chicago, and
> is
> > now down over four hours.
> >
> > This train cannot catch a break.
>
>
> Perhaps service should be annulled.

Here we go again. Always looking for an excuse for less Amtrak service, and to deprive people of their transportation choices, however inadequate.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/14 16:42 by Ptolemy.

I agree, CP has been havin' their fair share of bottlenecks and they need to get that fixed, like restoring the DT and keep it CTC instead of what the Soo did back in the late 80s!

Well...I don't think it should be annulled. I DO think that Amtrak needs to do something more than just lengthen the schedule (which starts today). Amtrak has let the railroads kick its trains around too much lately, IMHO. Then again, I have no idea of the conversations that may be taking place between BNSF and Amtrak.

I have hope it will get better.

Actually I think BNSF is getting 7 and 8 over the road better than it has been, even though winter this year took a brutal hit (still would be happy on those trains that trying to get out of an airport) but CP hasn't been the usual CP since E. Hunter Harrison took over!

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
) but CP hasn't been the usual CP since E.
> Hunter Harrison took over!

This too shall pass..

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> reindeerflame Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Chessie1963 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I have been following the tragic story of the
> > > Empire Builder timekeeping for months. Today
> > #8
> > > got out of St. Paul down a couple of hours,
> but
> > it
> > > keeps bleeding time on the way to Chicago,
> and
> > is
> > > now down over four hours.
> > >
> > > This train cannot catch a break.
> >
> >
> > Perhaps service should be annulled.
>
> Here we go again. Always looking for an excuse
> for less Amtrak service, and to deprive people of
> their transportation choices, however inadequate.

People don't have a right to "transportation choices"

Starting yesterday, Amtrak padded the schedules of the Builder about three hours. We'll see if that improves the timekeeping. See the new schedule on the Amtrak website under timetables.

Art House
Gettysburg, Pa.

calzephyr48 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> ) but CP hasn't been the usual CP since E.
> > Hunter Harrison took over!
>
> This too shall pass..

Story from Mpls StarTrib reporting on train delays in general.

"Rail execs deny any preference for crude"

"Officials from BNSF Railway Co. offered few assurances of when they can solve problems that could cost farmers in Minnesota and neighboring states hundreds of millions of dollars.

In a hearing before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, the executives blamed bad weather and poor forecasting for agricultural shipping problems. Yet Steven Bobb, BNSF’s chief marketing officer, admitted that astronomical growth in oil shipments out of North Dakota’s Bakken field has combined with record harvests, increased containerized shipping and surging coal demand to create delays that will not end anytime soon."

“I do not see a return to pre-2013 [shipping speeds],” Bobb testified, speaking of a “new normal.”

IMHO and experience upper management using the phrases "not end anytime soon" and "new normal" speaks volumes. This could end up being the mantra rationale of freight railroads vis-a-vis Amtrak, Commuter rail and Corridor service delays going forward. Years long, piecemeal improvements in ROW infrastructures on 500 - 2500 mile long routes may not significantly improve future operating LD schedules.

aehouse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Starting yesterday, Amtrak padded the schedules of
> the Builder about three hours. We'll see if that
> improves the timekeeping. See the new schedule on
> the Amtrak website under timetables.
>
> Art House
> Gettysburg, Pa.

Guess there's nothing to see from Cut Bank to Spokane, especially in winter darkness. (/sar)

West...................East
7:21P Cut Bank, MT 7:45A
7:53P Browning, MT 7:10A
8:15P East Glacier Park, MT 6:54A
9:11P Essex, MT–Izaak Walton Inn 5:55A
9:53P West Glacier, MT (Apgar) 5:16A
10:26P Ar Whitefish, MT Dp 4:46A
10:46P Dp Whitefish, MT Ar 4:26A
2:29A Libby, MT (MT) 2:26A
1:19A Sandpoint, ID (PT) 11:35P
3:10A Ar Spokane, WA (PT) Dp 10:30P

calzephyr48 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> ) but CP hasn't been the usual CP since E.
> > Hunter Harrison took over!
>
> This too shall pass..

It better happen quick, seems he's not fixing CP, but ruining it, besides delaying 7 and 8 because of those massive freights they've been running now, how have they delayed every other train with trains reminiscent of SP's lumber drags of the 70s-80s!

altoonafn Wrote:
>
> People don't have a right to "transportation
> choices"


I hope that this was sarcastic.... if not why would you, me or anyone else not have a right to transportation choices? Also, why does it seem a majority of folks on this forum seem to hate Amtrak so much? I commented once before about the constant negativity and bashing that happens to Amtrak. Start voting pro-rail politicians and then maybe we can work on a "perfect" Amtrak. We the People need to work on getting our America back on track and start working on true alternatives to Gasoline.

I think some of the folks on this board are suffering from dysthymia with episodes of major depression. Thus their negative attitudes toward passenger trains and Amtrak.

That or they're just too ignorant to know the truth!