Passenger Trains > Impromptu MI Cancelation

Shortly after this was issued  https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1009836429860429824/ibHOuyY7_normal.jpg [color=inherit][color=inherit]Amtrak Alerts[/color][/color][color=inherit][/color]  [color=inherit]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1653392211772334080/fq42fVxW_bigger.jpg[/color][color=inherit]@AmtrakAlerts[/color]·1h  As of 11:44 am ET, Blue Water Train 365 is currently stopped east of New Buffalo (NBU) due to a vehicle incident. Updates to come.
This one was issued:

Amtrak Alerts

@AmtrakAlerts
·
51m
As of 11:15 am CT, Due to equipment availability issues, Blue Water Train 364, which is scheduled to operate on 6/6, between Chicago (CHI) and Port Huron (PTH), is now canceled. For further assistance, please call/text 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Another one followed to advise cancelation of 365 from Pt Huron tomorrow.  What - no spare equipment in Chicago for 364?
Nothing like throwing in the towel!
Andy

They can't even get a couple of buses ? 

Car went around the gates at AML MP 207.85 (Pardee Rd)... And novelty transportation just keeps chugging along!

PS: For the uniformed.. There is no spare equipment in CHI, hence the cancellation of 364(06).

UPDATE: Last road crossing at Galien, MI.. And I just have to laugh at how dysfunctional the conversations have been on the radio.. First thing the crew reported was the engine was shut down.. A few minutes later the DS asked if they had HEP up and running... Another thing, I couldn't come close to counting all the times the DS called wanting an update from the crew... Do you think the conductor is doing anything other than answering the AML DS?? Too much! hahah hahaaa



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/23 10:41 by PC1974.

If your wondering why one car running around the gates terminates 3 trains in Michigan, maybe you can tune in Friday and find out some answers.. See contact info below:

June 9, Webinar" Michigan's Passenger Rail Progress

Time: Friday June 9th at 10am PT, 11am MT, 12pm CT and 1pm ET

Michigan has made substantial investments in passenger-rail service,
for increased operational efficiency and time savings on the five current,
round-trip services that Amtrak operates in the state.

Continuing to make improvements to these routes remains a priority for Michigan,
as well as exploring the potential for increased or expanded service.
This includes improvements to rail infrastructure South of Lake,
which will allow for better passenger-rail operations and reliability.

Michigan plans to continue partnering with other Midwest states and Amtrak
to identify projects and improvements that will lead to better passenger-train service.

This event is free but requires registering in advance.

We’ll hear from Peter Anastor, the Director of the Office of Rail for the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Office of Rail operations include intercity passenger rail, crossing and safety regulation,
safety oversight of light-rail systems, and rail-related economic development programs.
Peter Anastor works to ensure that Michigan’s rail system meets the economic needs of
Michigan and is safe for the public, passengers, and railroad employees.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University
and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.


Register Here
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LKV2TdoLQUiTnuy1Cbpu_g?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=bc4a96f9-0e4d-409a-87b8-00e21212c7c9#/registration

It's paramount that they get more 110 mph running along the Wolverine route wherever possible. Something has to be done about the bottleneck in Porter from Amtrak's Michigan Line to NS's Chicago Line as well.

More 110mph? They were running 110mph when they struck the car today and ejected the driver... More of the same?

Careful not to be so quick to think problems only happen on the NS.. 350(02), 354(02) and 350(05) all departed CHI (Initial Terminal) late the past few days. And how about 354(04) and 355(04) both loosing a majority of their time on Amtrak property.. You need to watch more closely. Even though Amtrak thinks they are on the cusp of getting the run under 6 hours to extend the engineer runs.. Look at their "track" record!

Szabo promised us "sustained speeds of 110mph" over 80% of the route 11 years ago.. Still not happening in 2023, is it!

---

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It would be more paramount to have some spare engines available to replace the damaged/b-o'ed ones that come into Chi-town and some T&E personnel available to dogcatch or work for crews who need replaced/time off for whatever reason....more 110 mph territory means nothing if there is no train to run on it or crews to work said train.....
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/23 19:21 by bustermanning1.

Amtrak needs to take some Amfleet 1's off NEC trains and move to the Midwest. Forget robbing cars from LD trains - they are low density coaches that don't help and create a greater imbalance to the system. This is just maddening. Amtrak could have left Acelas in place for NEC capacity and taken NEC Amfleet 1's to move to the Midwest - rather than cannibalizing some Acela train sets that could have been used for basic capacity on NEC. Leave the Amfleet 1's in the Midwest till the Ventures are up, running, and there's some reliability.

Lease commuter coaches and put them on the Milwaukee to Chicago route (and shorter Amtrak routes) and move the Amtrak equipment there to other Midwestern routes. Amtrak has leased both commuter coaches and even NJT electric motors (and did so very quickly with little lead time) in the past; surely this knowledge can be used to lease locomotives and commuter coaches for shorter Amtrak runs as needed to protect BASIC service.... The Hiawatha's were running with eight (8) Horizon cars - now reduced to three!!!

This just continues on and on in a bad saga with no solutions. Again, maddening! 

The above are quicker solutions than trying to get the parked cars in Hialeah AND Beech Grove back in service, but that needs to happen too - concurrently. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Get some solutions Amtrak!!!

Amtrak's boasted HUGE employee hiring gains in its Capital Fullfillment department, yet other departments remain HUGELY under-staffed. Are efforts properly focused? Why hire planners to design equipment when there appears to be no work force to fix and maintain the equipment. 

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak needs to take some Amfleet 1's off NEC
> trains and move to the Midwest. 

Michigan should get together with some other Midwestern states
and perhaps California to purchase a fleet of corridor cars and engines.
Perhaps Siemens would take the job on.

Englewood Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Michigan should get together with some other Midwestern states and perhaps California to purchase a fleet of
> corridor cars and engines. Perhaps Siemens would take the job on.

That sounds good on paper, but knowing Amtrak they would want to get their nose in it. Want control or ownership of the cars so they can hold the states hostage.. Amtrak would likely require design modifications that turn the product to sh*t! Nah, it's a bad idea...

PC1974 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Englewood Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Michigan should get together with some other
> Midwestern states and perhaps California to
> purchase a fleet of
> > corridor cars and engines. Perhaps Siemens
> would take the job on.
>
> That sounds good on paper, but knowing Amtrak they
> would want to get their nose in it. Want control
> or ownership of the cars so they can hold the
> states hostage.. Amtrak would likely require
> design modifications that turn the product to
> sh*t! Nah, it's a bad idea...

Amtrak Back East complained about the Cascades for years - non-AmStandard trains, non AmStandard food, non-AmStandard service, non-AmStandard maintenance. Amtrak Back East mechanical complained that the design for the Seattle coach yard included things that we didn't need because Chicago got along fine without them. FRA complained that the state did all the planning for the Cascades service on their own without waiting for funds to pay for FRA 'guidance.'

Well, over a decade after finishing a plan that was supposed to have been completed five years ago but is something like 10% complete, there has finally been a complete turnover of personnel at Washington DOT, Amtrak Seattle, BNSF, those pesky Talgo trains are gone (I have been assured by DOT management that the Siemens cars can do anything a Talgo train can  do and DOT management hgas assured folks I don't know what I'm talking about), the cars will be AmStandard, as will be the food and service, and DOT is starting over on a new 20 year plan with proper FRA 'guidance.'

All is now right in the AmWorld.

TAW

Let me first start out by stating a simple fact... People become confused when they hear the initals F R A... Let me assured you the real meaning is: Friends of Railroad Management... The FRA is a simply a group of college graduates... WAIT! I say no more...

PC1974 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let me first start out by stating a simple fact...
> People become confused when they hear the initals
> F R A... Let me assured you the real meaning is:
> Friends of Railroad Management... The FRA is a
> simply a group of college graduates... WAIT! I
> say no more...

Understood… Got that T-shirt too.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

After Amtrak got away with the 19 hour breakdown disaster without threats and retribution from Michigan DOT, Amtrak now knows they can get away with anything without repercussions because Mich DOT views train service merely as an opportunity to award capital contracts and boast of high speed sound bites, not much concerned with the day to day service output, whether it be delays, planned or unplanned trains cancellations, or bustitutions