Passenger Trains > #390, #392, #393, late again, not even long distance trains

309 miles, 5:30

#390 Saulki 1:08 late into Chicago, left Carbondale 1 minute late
#392 Illini 1:00 late into Chicago, left Carbondale on time
#393 Illini 1:00 late into Carbondale, left Chicago 21 minutes late

Ret. Navy Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, IL

???? Can you please tell us why they were late? If not, your post merely sounds like a childish anti Amtrak rant.

I'm 74 I don't mind being called childish and I'm not anti Amtrak, I don't think the trains being late are Amtraks fault. Perhaps someone who knows more about what goes on along the 309 miles could better answer why the trains are always late.

Ret. Navy Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, IL

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4195539

Read your old posts and learn the answer. Your age is none of my business.

OTP for these trains are the worse for short haul trains, ridership been decling  because of  OTP.

OTP september  was 36.3 % for the IIIini/Saluki

USNChief Wrote:
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> ......I'm not anti Amtrak,.... Perhaps someone who knows
> more about what goes on along the 309 miles could
> better answer why the trains are always late.

Then why are you previously reporting late trains that don't travel on the 309 mile route you are referring to? Your claims aren't making any sense.

As much as we may not like negativity, the good USNChief has a point.  Amtrak trains are generally running late.  Being interested stakeholders, proponents of Amtrak, and taxpayers, it would seem that accountability and a plan to resolve such issues are in order.  Some of us are trying to find ways to enable more money to be directed to Amtrak operations.  So, such remarks and conversations can be seen to be productive and that Amtrak passengers and supporters are active and involved.

Personally, I don't mind late trains because I relax on trains.  Someone else is driving and I can do other things during the trip instead of being constantly aware of kamikaze drivers, black ice and other potential co-morbidities.  However, I admit preaching to the choir that value, service, comfort, safety and reputation drive Amtrak's acceptance in the marketplace - as well as that double-edged sword called sustainability. 

So, should we just remain silent; or become change agents and work together to help enable positive feedback to inspire results for Amtrak's success, and the passengers that depend on Amtrak? 

 

I hate to bring this up to the Navy Chief, but I doubt the poor OTP of these trains is  front page news.
It would seem that Amtrak, the State and the Host Railroad can't get it together. Reschedule the darn
things or do something.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/17 22:27 by The_Chief_Way.

How does Amtrak schedule its crews for these lines? Are they home based in Carbondale, and do a one day north, next day south? Or do they arrive 1.45pm and turn a few hours later to go north?

If Amtrak, CN, and the state can't work out a schedule it's obvious they need to allow more time on the road.  Or, pay a bigger incentive.

(Didn't Amtrak take CN to the DOT on these issues a few years ago?)

I appreciate these posts especially being from Illinois. I love Amtrak but just had 16 people on the train with me(City of NO) and they all hated the poor performance, the bad service, the broken and smelly superliner sleeper and the terrible food. I'm a railfan and it also irritates me
Joe

USNChief Wrote:
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> 309 miles, 5:30
>
> #390 Saulki 1:08 late into Chicago, left
> Carbondale 1 minute late
> #392 Illini 1:00 late into Chicago, left
> Carbondale on time
> #393 Illini 1:00 late into Carbondale, left
> Chicago 21 minutes late

Thank you for your postings.
The Amtrak lurkers know that we are watching.

In a nutshell:

1. CN has a speed restriction of 70 miles per hour over every light/gate equipped crossing on the Champaign and Chicago Subdivisions for these trains, except between Kinmundy and Champaign (almost 100 miles)... it's 60mph there.

2. CN runs their trains first.

3. CN usually parks trains on the main at Champaign.  This means that if the Amtrak trains meet there, one ducks in behind a freight and backs out after the other passes.  Duck in and back out moves are not uncommon elsewhere as well.

4. The "land barges" CN runs can be too long for some of the passing sidings.  There is more traffic moving these days than when IC decided tearing out half the railroad was a good idea in 1990-1991.  But at least Ed Moyers still has an intermodal yard at Harvey named after him.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

And that makes it all better.

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
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.  But at least Ed Moyers still has an
> intermodal yard at Harvey named after him.

I thank Mary for providing the first answers in the thread. On my four 2016 trips, and on occasions where I was paying attention while driving nearby, the evidence that freight was getting priority was there.

I made two 2016 threads that referred to this. On this one, 24 minutes was lost because CN likes storing trains on one of the two mains at Markham.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4106152,4106152#msg-4106152

Then as described in this thread, I witnessed two things mentioned in the above comment - a massive freight getting priority, and Amtrak being forced to do a pull in/pull out move.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4027653,4028796#msg-4028796