Passenger Trains > Empire Builders Cancelled

Number 8 into Chicago the 14th and 15th cancelled. Amtrak 7 out of Chicago the 15th and 16th cancelled on account of no equipment in Chicago to turn into 7. 

No transportation between the Twin Cities and Chicago however? Shouldn't Amtrak at least step up to provide a stub train "mini-builder" 807/808 as has been done in the past when there are issues west of St. Paul? Two days of no service on such a busy corridor seems bonkers to me... I understand nothing can be done about weather but the west coast should not affect a persons trip between St. Paul and Chicago. 

Also while on the topic, what happened to the plans for a 2nd St. Paul to Chicago train in addition to the builder? If this train was in service, then this corridor would be unaffected by the cancelled Empire Builder service. 

Here is my take of train 7(13) departing Glenview, IL on time at 2:40pm today the 13th. Let's see how far this train will go west. Engine 207 is facing east in case the power needs to be run around to head back east short of Seattle/Portland. 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/20 22:39 by sethamtrak.

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that is bad

Amtrak is poorly operated with the wrong management at the top to start with and this has been a problem for many years with stupid middle management also.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Finally they turned a unit so the units don't have to be turned on a wye....... Amtrak didn't have it as easy in Whitefish, MT. 

And it's in full winter consist mode right now. The first eastbound through to MSP (Twin CIties) is going to be jammed packed with passengers. But Amtrak will likely post it as a sold out train or service disrupted train since it is originating in Spokane. 

I find it hard to believe that the Anderson/Gardener regime would cancel this train in its entirety for TWO FULL DAYS and not provide some sort of corridor service between MSP and Chicago. This after all, is a corridor they were looking to develop, and did at least have a set out coach on it. 

Also, the eastbound Empire Builder, at the turn of the century, used to pinch hit for the eastbound Southwest Chief and have its Seattle section "run-through" to become the same day eastbound Capitol Limited departure. LIkewise, the eastbound Empire Builder's Portland section, after receiving a couple of extra cars, could also pinch hit for the southbound City of New Orleans (when the eastbound Texas Eagle consist ran late). Warrington had quite the choreography  at one time going on at Chicago. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/20 05:10 by jp1822.

Working extra hard to overcome such a situation and thinking out of the box are no longer priorities with the LD trains.  Think this would be allowed on the NEC?  Remember, crap flows from the top.

-John

In addition, Beech Grove is understaffed and thus takes a long time to do their rebuilds.  Plus all the Superliner cars, which Amtrak refuses to rebuild, because they were damaged in wrecks.  

MEKoch Wrote:
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> In addition, Beech Grove is understaffed and thus
> takes a long time to do their rebuilds.  Plus all
> the Superliner cars, which Amtrak refuses to
> rebuild, because they were damaged in wrecks.  

Amtrak has been collecting extra cars that had come off Western LD Transcons in Chicago in prep for the winter (e.g. the Empire Builder consists had one sleeper and coach taken off). Same for Capitol Limited. So Amtrak has extra Superliner cars around right now that they could have put a Twin Cities to Chicago train together.........

Until Congress properly funds Amtrak, this and other problems will always be around.

Was that a sleeper substituting for the trans dorm ?

Posted from iPhone

CM1 Wrote:
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> Until Congress properly funds Amtrak, this and
> other problems will always be around.

Ha..All those loosers want to do is play games with each other....They have done nothing this year....

Sleeper in place of the trans-dorm. They can squeeze a few more full bedrooms out of it vs having a transition sleeper. 

Seth- 

sethamtrak Wrote:
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> Sleeper in place of the trans-dorm. They can
> squeeze a few more full bedrooms out of it vs
> having a transition sleeper. 
>
> Seth- 

GOOD! It's needed!!!!

sethamtrak Wrote:
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> Number 8 into Chicago the 14th and 15th cancelled.
> Amtrak 7 out of Chicago the 15th and 16th
> cancelled on account of no equipment in Chicago to
> turn into 7. 
>
> No transportation between the Twin Cities and
> Chicago however?

How stupid! No excuses! We are in many ways no longer a First World Nation and a leader in rail transportation or for that matter aviation--I'm MAXed -out! 

Shameful......


AND....back in the first world, Germany just signed off on 86 Billion Euro in new rail infrastructure investment.........sigh
 

Train 28 of Jan 15 is operating Portland - Spokane,  but over two hours late account mechnincal. !