Passenger Trains > SW 3 Canceled Today

Just a curiosity question, I was booked for the Southwest Chief scheduled to depart Chicago today, but received a notification it was cancelled. Would anyone know the circumstances? I managed to rebook for the next day. However now I'm book in the transition/crew car (340) versus the traditional sleeper.

One inch snowfall predicted on Mars today. #3 cancelled as a precaution.

Using Amtrak in the past I had good results.   However, I always used it with the expectation that it would run and arrive somewhat around the time scheduled, for long distance allowing 3 hours.
ie. I was using as dependable transportation allowing for types of delays I might encounter with air.

I did not book Amtrak my last trip when I could have.  I am not going to allow an extra day or two just in case or take the chance at arriving at some weird hour.

Bob Jordan



 

jjkr Wrote:
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> Just a curiosity question, I was booked for the
> Southwest Chief scheduled to depart Chicago today,
> but received a notification it was cancelled.
> Would anyone know the circumstances? I managed to
> rebook for the next day. However now I'm book in
> the transition/crew car (340) versus the
> traditional sleeper.

Better in the Transition Sleeper, bigger shower.

wind delays from previous runs?

guess not just looked



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/28/23 11:01 by dan.

Amtrak alerts said due to weather. However, that could just be the “catch all” wording for a host of multiple issues.

Posted from iPhone

I had heard about the larger shower in the transition sleeper. And since I'm retired, delays for me aren't a big concern. I've been on trips for others however its not the same. 

irhoghead Wrote:
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> One inch snowfall predicted on Mars today. #3
> cancelled as a precaution.

Yes, very good!  No doubt this is not far from the truth.  It is the "Safe Space" generation in charge now, after all.  "Better Safe Than Sorry".

They save a ton of money by not running the train.  Fuel, crew, wear and tear, rent from the Class 1s, etc.

Andy

Ammanagment at it again, yeah a lot of snows predicted, but they ran 3 and 4 through storms like this before, I for one am fed up with todays Amtrak, they're all a bunch of whimps over there in DC!

Posted from Android

A friend who is an engineer on German passenger was called into the office and chewed out for delaying his train by 6 mins. and thus delaying trains all over the system--headways are that tight in Europe!

#3(1) and #4(1) have now been cancelled as well.  Per AmtrakAlerts as of 8pm CT.  "Ongoing severe weather conditions" the explanation.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/28/23 21:10 by illini73.

RRBMail Wrote:
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> A friend who is an engineer on German passenger
> was called into the office and chewed out for
> delaying his train by 6 mins. and thus delaying
> trains all over the system--headways are that
> tight in Europe!

in japan customers get apologizes for a 45 sec delay a poster wrote

The Japanese Shinkansen system is about as close to perfection as one could ever ask for. Watch some documentaries on YouTube about it and you can tell their culture there permits such perfect performance. Here in the US there would be someone complaining they missed the train or cause problems to create a delay. We live in a much different society.... Sadly

illini73 Wrote:
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> #3(1) and #4(1) have now been cancelled as well. 
> Per AmtrakAlerts as of 8pm CT.  "Ongoing severe
> weather conditions" the explanation.

It's not even that bad, what's their lousy excuse. "Were trying to be safe" yeah understandable to a certain extent, crap like this really wishes Airline Boy wasn't even hired!

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/23 09:48 by ProAmtrak.

Seems like they may have sneeked #4(28) through this morning before the heavy stuff,
but #3(28) definitely would have gone right into the storm this afternoon/evening.
Disappointing they can't run Chicago-Kansas City round trip!

mp51w Wrote:
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> Seems like they may have sneeked #4(28) through
> this morning before the heavy stuff,
> but #3(28) definitely would have gone right into
> the storm this afternoon/evening.
> Disappointing they can't run Chicago-Kansas City
> round trip!

4(28) was canceled out of LAX. It did not run either.

mp51w Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Seems like they may have sneeked #4(28) through
> this morning before the heavy stuff,
> but #3(28) definitely would have gone right into
> the storm this afternoon/evening.
> Disappointing they can't run Chicago-Kansas City
> round trip!

This is a critique of mine - If Amtrak does cancel a LD train, they are axing it for the entire route and duration. That doesn't ALWAYS have to be, particularly on said segments of the CA Zephyr, Southwest Chief, or Empire Builder:

- Chicago to Twin Cities (even to Minot)
- Chicago to Kansas City (even to Albuquerque)
- Seattle/Portland to Whitefish (this is a popular single overnight route leaving now in the evening and next day morning arrival)
- Emeryville to Reno (or even Salt Lake City)
- Chicago to Denver
- LAX to Flagstaff

I understand there may be crew rest involved when dealing with end points, BUT when Amtrak had a better staffed extra board, this was not a problem. And this WAS also more common practice than what exists today. Amtrak's hiring OBS and T&E crews, but the whole extra board issue needs to be reviewed. However it will stay at bare bones as long as management bonuses are also directly or indirectly linked to it. The performance bonuses need to be a bit better aligned - and this may come with a more complicated formula than what exists at present. Someone just needs to take the time to articulate. 
 

You guys who are comparing Amtrak to German and Japanese railroads are using the wrong examples.
Compare Amtrak long distance trains to stuff like the Trans Siberian Express, it's a much more realistic comparison.

PHall Wrote:
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> You guys who are comparing Amtrak to German and
> Japanese railroads are using the wrong examples.
> Compare Amtrak long distance trains to stuff like
> the Trans Siberian Express, it's a much more
> realistic comparison.

Or how Amtrak was Pre Airline Boy!