Passenger Trains > The Empire Builder saga continues

There is no 807 stub train to St Paul today. Only an eastbound 8 running about 3 hours late into Chicago today cut short from Spokane. This will turn into 7 of the Friday the 17th out of Chicago. Amtrak says passengers on 7/27 of the 16th between Chicago and St. Paul will be accommodated on a bus departing CUS tonight at 9:15pm and will overnight and arrive in St. Paul at 6am. This seems to be what Amtrak meant by their tweet:

"UPDATE: Alternate transportation will be provide between Chicago (CHI) and St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) for Train 7/27 that was scheduled to depart Chicago (CHI) on 1/16 only."

They could at least run a bus that left Chicago around 2:15pm and not force passengers into an overnight bus ride. Or even easier run a stub 807 to St Paul and have 8 into Chicago friday bring the consist back to Chicago. Amtrak is not trying to make themselves look good with no service to St Paul for over 48 hours then run a bus instead. 

Seth- 

I am aware of all of the problems that the Empire Builders have been experiencing in Washington state.  What is the problem being experienced between Minneapolis and Chicago that has caused the Empire Builders to be cancelled?

Both of those cities are west of Harrisburg, PA, and therefore have been deemed irrelevant.

lynnpowell Wrote:
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> I am aware of all of the problems that the Empire
> Builders have been experiencing in Washington
> state.  What is the problem being experienced
> between Minneapolis and Chicago that has caused
> the Empire Builders to be cancelled?

This is not new information - at least to Amtrak. This cancellation has been known to Amtrak since Monday. With the recent winter reductions of coaches and sleeper, there's equipment available in Chicago to put a substitute train in place from Chicago to MSP (Twin Cities) for the Empire Builder. Amtrak has chosen to ignore that option. I am sure the ridership numbers and financials for the Empire Builder will look great this month, compared to last year!!! That will help support Amtrak's narrative on the LD trains and that perhaps further reductions in consist equipment should take place, when in fact the opposite is true. Amtrak got pressured to put some sort of "alternative service" in play for 1/16/2020, because there's nothing going out of Chicago westbound on 1/17/2020 either.

Not only could Amtrak put a corridor train in place between Chicago and MSP (Twin Cities), it could have put a substitute train set in place to traverse even further West all the way to Spokane or Seattle/Portland if needed. 

Also, isn't the main issue for why the train can't get over the entire route (aside from lack of equipment for equipment turns) is that Steve's Pass in Washington has been blocked with, or experienced, heavy snow fall. But a consist (which is reduced in size this time of year) could go through to Portland, as far as I know. I find the Empire Builder to be no joke with patronage. This train can fill itself up pretty well across the route. Empire Builder is certainly service west of Harrisburg, PA, as mentioned by another poster. Thus the care factor as proved from this situation is zilch.  

Yeah why can't they run the full consist to Portland and send them up on the cascades?

Posted from Android

Unfortunately, there is on board service personnel available in Chicago without arriving trains since the Chicago Seattle portion is based in Seattle. Must we blame everything on the Amtrak management?

Can't they go down the cascades too?

Posted from Android

irhoghead Wrote:
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> Both of those cities are west of Harrisburg, PA,
> and therefore have been deemed irrelevant.

Exactly.  Just another train that takes assets away from the NEC.

goduckies Wrote:
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> Yeah why can't they run the full consist to
> Portland and send them up on the cascades?
>
That makes too much sense.

TAW

TennesseeTraveler Wrote:
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> Unfortunately, there is on board service personnel
> available in Chicago without arriving trains since
> the Chicago Seattle portion is based in Seattle.
> Must we blame everything on the Amtrak management?

Yes becsuse they're to blind to look at what goes on outside the NEC!

Posted from Android

Have to say today's #7 is doing pretty good across North Dakota considering is came through blizzard warnings where many highways are/were closed.  Saturday.  #8 at MSP not so good but at least itis moving.