Passenger Trains > Question about Amtrak # 4

I thought that when 3/4 went to a 3 day a week schedule on-time performance would improve. That has not been the case. As near as I can tell #4 is usually less than an hour late into La Junta but then seems to lose another hour or two east of La Junta and thus arrives Kansas City 2 or more hours late. Any idea why #4 loses time east of La Junta? Thanks. 

That's four #4's in a row of 2 hours late or more in a row!  Not cool!

WichitaJct Wrote:
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> I thought that when 3/4 went to a 3 day a week
> schedule on-time performance would improve. That
> has not been the case. As near as I can tell #4 is
> usually less than an hour late into La Junta but
> then seems to lose another hour or two east of La
> Junta and thus arrives Kansas City 2 or more hours
> late. Any idea why #4 loses time east of La Junta?
> Thanks. 

Never heard that on-time performance would improve!!! One can wish!!!

Little change on days they run, same freights, same track, same same same.

Now, on the days they don't run there is less traffic so freights may run better - but one train each way doesn't make much difference.

WichitaJct Wrote:
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> I thought that when 3/4 went to a 3 day a week
> schedule on-time performance would improve.

Well, if you measure by the actual number of late trains over a specific time period, you would likely be correct.  However, if you use the more conventional method of looking at the percentage of trips operated that are late, I would expect little difference between tri-weekly and daily operation.  Nearly all of the factors that lead to late trips are unchanged - track speed restrictions, boarding delays, equipment failure, interference from other trains, accidents, etc.  The only change I can think of that might have some impact is that now there are two days a week when 3/4 doesn't need to make a same-day turn at LA.  (Saturdays remain same day turn days).  However, train 4 departure delays due to late arriving equipment seem to have been pretty unusual already.  Chicago has a full day to make the 4/3 turn, so late inbound equipment delays on the eastern end are even more unlikely.

Dave

Same sick locomovites, maybe less people to service the equipment,  tie and railwork  Lamy - Dodge City.

Mr. Flynn has told us on several occasions,  that chronic lateness is a sin the Freight Railroads are guilty of.

He has more-or-less said, that the freight railroads handle Amtrak trains shamefully -- a big problem that has never been addressed.

(Amtrak data reveals that Locomotive failure in an insignificant cause of delay--compared to "freight train interference".).

 

Why would they be doing track work Lamy to Dodge City? Why would BNSF want to invest in a line that sees so little traffic? 

mundo Wrote:
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> Same sick locomovites, maybe less people to
> service the equipment,  tie and railwork  Lamy -
> Dodge City.

A quick peek at eight recent Amtrak departures from several cities show all departed on time or early.

Good job, Amtrak.

Posted from Android

How has the weather been?  Bad weather, flash flood and high wind warnings can cause lengthy delays.

WichitaJct Wrote:
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> Why would they be doing track work Lamy to Dodge
> City? Why would BNSF want to invest in a line that
> sees so little traffic? 

Much speculation on that topic recently.  Likely answer is to keep any thoughts at bay, of moving Amtrak to the Clovis sub.

Funny timing that the trains go tri-weekly just as BN is headlong into the signal and surfacing project.

Andy

Work on the line is part of the agreement and funding by the states.

East of La Junta Front Range traffic (primarily coal) is directional running to Boise City before turning south.  Also some freight traffic for grain and other traffic from Kansas City.

Some people just don't get it, and Ronald's claim on locomotive failures, it's still an issue with no. 3 since Chicago still hasn't learned to properly service a train!

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/20 22:33 by ProAmtrak.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some people just Don't get it, and Ronald's claim
> on locomotive failures, it's still an issue with
> no. 3 since Chicago still hasn't learned to
> properly service a train!

Care to enlighten us as to what specifically Chicago could do to prevent these locomotive failures?

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WichitaJct Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I thought that when 3/4 went to a 3 day a week
> > schedule on-time performance would improve.
>
> Well, if you measure by the actual number of late
> trains over a specific time period, you would
> likely be correct.  However, if you use the more
> conventional method of looking at the percentage
> of trips operated that are late, I would expect
> little difference between tri-weekly and daily
> operation.  Nearly all of the factors that lead
> to late trips are unchanged - track speed
> restrictions, boarding delays, equipment failure,
> interference from other trains, accidents, etc.
>  The only change I can think of that might have
> some impact is that now there are two days a week
> when 3/4 doesn't need to make a same-day turn at
> LA.  (Saturdays remain same day turn days).
>  However, train 4 departure delays due to late
> arriving equipment seem to have been pretty
> unusual already.  Chicago has a full day to make
> the 4/3 turn, so late inbound equipment delays on
> the eastern end are even more unlikely.
>
> Dave

Departures due to late arriving equipment in LA were always solved with "robbing Peter to pay Paul" - meaning LA mechanical forces usually just swapped Sunset Limited equipment to "make-up a consist" for the outgoing Southwest Chief. Course, like Chicago, now LA likely has access to more equipment in the yard to "make-up" a consist if needed.     

The weather has been unusually quiet lately. 


Pig-Mauler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How has the weather been?  Bad weather, flash
> flood and high wind warnings can cause lengthy
> delays.

DevalDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Some people just Don't get it, and Ronald's
> claim
> > on locomotive failures, it's still an issue
> with
> > no. 3 since Chicago still hasn't learned to
> > properly service a train!
>
> Care to enlighten us as to what specifically
> Chicago could do to prevent these locomotive
> failures?

Cutting corners to get a train out of 14TH St. is one example!

Posted from Android

I  suspect the  major  tie  work  has  begun. This  resulted in  delay  2  years  ago.  And  will  until  completed.  Maybe a  better  RR  coming!! I will be down there in a month and  check it out. I  know  some of the  work was to  be on Raton Pass.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DevalDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ProAmtrak Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Some people just Don't get it, and Ronald's
> > claim
> > > on locomotive failures, it's still an issue
> > with
> > > no. 3 since Chicago still hasn't learned to
> > > properly service a train!
> >
> > Care to enlighten us as to what specifically
> > Chicago could do to prevent these locomotive
> > failures?
>
> Cutting corners to get a train out of 14TH St. is
> one example!
>
> Posted from Android

Chicago servicing of train sets and locomotives - even with a tri-weekly schedule - is bound to hit an all-time low now, as Amtrak has surely cut back on staff in the Yard too! Everything was to be brought down to the operating level Amtrak presently is enduring. So there's surely layoffs and furloughs at Chicago, LA, and even Beech Grove rail facilities. Still the rat race to get train sets out, just fewer people and forces to do it. Forget repairs, that's going to cost money and Ross Rowland has pointed out - Amtrak's heading for a cash flow melt down. Course I think Amtrak is always in a cash flow crisis of some sort. Operating in a pandemic is even worse though.