Passenger Trains > Starlight Tehachapi detour?

Just got a call from Amtrak regarding my reservation on the southbound Coast Starlight Tr.14 that would have arrived Oakland, CA on 10/24. They wanted me to get off at Sacramento and take a Capitol the rest of the way to Oakland due to "track work." After a few more questions, the agent indicated that the Starlight would be missing quite a few stops due to replacing track panels in tunnels, but would be continuing onto LA via a different route. Hmmmm...can anyone confirm that this means a Tehachapi detour?

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> Just got a call from Amtrak regarding my
> reservation on the southbound Coast Starlight
> Tr.14 that would have arrived Oakland, CA on
> 10/24. They wanted me to get off at Sacramento
> and take a Capitol the rest of the way to Oakland
> due to "track work." After a few more questions,
> the agent indicated that the Starlight would be
> missing quite a few stops due to replacing track
> panels in tunnels, but would be continuing onto LA
> via a different route. Hmmmm...can anyone confirm
> that this means a Tehachapi detour?


Um, Evan, isn't the southbound Starlight #11, not 14?
C.

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

CarolVoss Wrote:

> Um, Evan, isn't the southbound Starlight #11, not 14?

Er, um, well, uh, just goes to show you can't trust anyone these days doesn't it? Let that be a lesson to you! So, uh, to resume, the original question still stands, will the southbound Starlight Tr.11 be detouring via Tennessee Pass on 10/24? ;^)

Or maybe they'll have to go further east and down Saluda...

I think you're right. Amtrak.com shows no Starlight #14 on the 24th LAX-OKJ. However, it does show LAX-SAC with a 2130 arrival.

I would say yes. On the Internet as you look up the availability train 11 arrives in LAX at 615p. There has been no announcement by Amtrak either to the public or internally. Also showing no stops between SAC-LAX. I am sure an announcement will be made at the right time, or knowing management just calls to the passengers and the employees will not even know.

Looks like there is going to be multiple detours. They are currently planning for the follow trains to reroute via Tehachapi:

11(23)
14(24)

11(25)
14(26)

11(28)
14(29)

Of course as with anything on the railroad, these are subject to change.

Train 11 on 10/26 is detouring with a 6:15 Arrival as I got a ticket from Sac to LAX.

Chris

jkchubbes Wrote:
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> Well will they be nice enough for a BFD stop again
> or not?

Sorry, but currently no BFD stop. The train will be using the UP down the valley instead of the BNSF route that the San Joaquins use.

silagi Wrote:
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> jkchubbes Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well will they be nice enough for a BFD stop
> again
> > or not?
>
> Sorry, but currently no BFD stop. The train will
> be using the UP down the valley instead of the
> BNSF route that the San Joaquins use.

That would be a fun trip. I wonder where they will be changing the crew at?

Just now got this email from TUT:

PRESS RELEASE
9:30PM
OCTOBER 14, 2008
RENO, NEVADA

Today the dates for the next Tehachapi detour have finally
been set between Amtrak and Union Pacific management
personnel. TUT learned today that a few minor details
must be worked out before the announcement will be made
to the public and the railfan community.

We can tell you that the detour will be near the end of
October, so we suggest you keep the last week of October
open for some rare mileage detours. We can also tell you
that on this detour the Coast Starlight is sceduled to run over
the UP between Kern Jct (Bakersfield) and Elvas Tower
(Sacramento) and not over the BNSFlike it did on the
detour operated in April.

Stay tuned, as we will send out a special Newsletter via e mail
when we receive the OK to let the cat out of the bag and we will
also post it on our website. We hope this will be within the next
24 to 48 hours.

Trains Unlimited, Tours
Management Team
1-800 359-4870
www.trainsunlimitedtours.com

So far Amtrak.com is showing no #14 between LAX and coast stops on the 26th but IS showing #11 between SAC and coast stops on the 25th. Haven't checked the other dates yet. Funny, the Hill is almost mundane now but I'd sure as heck ride the UP down the valley!

Edit: Same thing on Richard's other dates. Amtrak.com shows #14 NOT available LAX-SLO but #11 IS available SAC-SLO. Maybe the system's not updated yet.

pecosvalleychief Wrote:
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> So far Amtrak.com is showing no #14 between LAX
> and coast stops on the 26th but IS showing #11
> between SAC and coast stops on the 25th.

Train #11(25) is the one that departs from Seattle on the 25th, and from Sacramento on the 26th. The one you were looking at is the one that departs Seattle on the 24th, and departs Sacramento on the 25th. Train #11 departing Seattle on the 25th will be the one traveling down the valley since it departs from Sacramento on the 26th.

silagi Wrote:
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> Looks like there is going to be multiple detours.
> They are currently planning for the follow trains
> to reroute via Tehachapi:
>
> 11(23)
> 14(24)
>
> 11(25)
> 14(26)
>
> 11(28)
> 14(29)


Which translates to detours on:

Fri. October 24, 2008 - Starlights #11(23), #14(24)
Sun. October 26, 2008 - Starlights #11(25), #14(26)
Wed. October 29, 2008 - Starlights #11(28), #14(29)


So I think Norm should charter the Tioga Pass on one of these detour dates (preferably the Sunday) and run a themed Halloween PV trip. Would be a lot of fun with costume dressed-up passengers representing the "ghost of the Espee" in riding up/down the old SP Valley line! Heck, I'd dress up and ride as the official Ghost of the Espee - just need to get creative crackin' on my costume...

~~~

Just coat yourself in a thick layer of soot Ryan, and you'll be good to go.

I take it this is for the Coast tunnels getting the same treatment as the FRC and Donner?

Why the UP routing through the valley? Should make for a long slow ride.

Brian

How do you book a seat it keeps showing bus diversion? thanks

tc Wrote:
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> How do you book a seat it keeps showing bus
> diversion? thanks

If you can be specific, I'll be happy to help you out.

What date?
What train?
What departure city?
What arrival city?

TC, if you're booking between Los Angeles on the one hand and Sacramento and points north on the other hand, the Amtrak reservation system shows Trains 11 and 14 as the first choice. If you're trying to book to any other point that's between Los Angeles and Sacramento, then Arrow won't let you book it, since Trains 11 and 14 are being detoured. It would only show the bus options.

Brian Wrote:
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> Why the UP routing through the valley? Should make
> for a long slow ride.

On another group it says that the detour is due to work on the coast line, and that BNSF says they don't have the capacity to add 11/14 through the valley.

But "quicker" than via the coast. On the detour dates Amtrak.com shows #11 arriving LAX at 6:15 pm rather than 9:00 pm; and #14 arriving SAC at 9:30 pm rather than 11:59. Fares between LAX and Sacto and north remain as usual for the Starlight.

I assume there will be NO passenger stops between SAC and LAX in the SJ Valley?

Harry

thanks for the help I wanted to leave L.A. north and hope at the other end to catch something back from the first stop which would probably be sac, and any date but the friday. Thanks