Passenger Trains > Cardinal Schedule Change

I was notified of a schedule change for the Cardinal leaving Cincinnati for two upcoming trips. Instead of leaving Cincinnati at 1:41 am arriving in Chicago at 10:00 am, it leaves at 2:21 am arriving at 10:25am. I had noticed this difference over the past few weeks, but assumed it was a temporary change. Since my second trip is in August, it appears to be permanent. The later Chicago arrival concerns me because I now have less than 4 hr connection time and have been four hours late a few times in the past. I also like to have time in Chicago to get my Beggar's deep dish pizza. Does anyone know why the schedule changed?  I also read that a few recent Cardinals didn't have a standars sleeper car, but I'm taking coach on these trips because the roomettes aren't worth the additional $200. 

Bridge  wprk over Ptomac  River  a  good  guess. Tight  window  there  for  all  trains!!

The Cardinal has a Viewliner II.  Always.  And a baggage dorm and a few rooms in that car are sold to passengers.  I am booked in it during July.

I beleve the schedule change is explained by this:  Effective January 12, 2026, the Amtrak Cardinal (operating Sunday, Wednesday, Friday) has schedule changes due to the Long Bridge Project, with the train leaving Washington Union Station later, at 11:40 a.m.instead of 10:59 a.m.. This is part of broader adjustments for the construction of the Potomac River crossing
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/26 13:15 by Chessie1963.

Chessie1963 Wrote:
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> The Cardinal has a Viewliner II.  Always.  And a
> baggage dorm and a few rooms in that car

NOT Always. The Cardinal has been a Viewliner II (or even I) free zone several times this month. You read that right. The long distance network Cardinal has been a whopping FOUR cars at least twice this month - possibly 3 or 4. 2 Amfleet Coaches, an Amdinette and a Viewliner Bag/Dorm. The ONLY sleeping accommodations on those trains would be any room they sold in the dorm.

Posted from iPhone

Well I'll be damned.  And yet, many Viewliners are in storage.  

Makes sense.

scraphauler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Cardinal has a Viewliner II.  Always.  And
> a
> > baggage dorm and a few rooms in that car
>
> NOT Always. The Cardinal has been a Viewliner II
> (or even I) free zone several times this month.
> You read that right. The long distance network
> Cardinal has been a whopping FOUR cars at least
> twice this month - possibly 3 or 4. 2 Amfleet
> Coaches, an Amdinette and a Viewliner Bag/Dorm.
> The ONLY sleeping accommodations on those trains
> would be any room they sold in the dorm.
>
> Posted from iPhone

I highly doubt that the lack of sleeper is due to reduced demand, although the high roomette fares are probably having an impact. I usually paid for the roomette but it is no longer worth it for shorter trips, and the terrible meal service doesn't help. Half the time you can't eat in the cafe car due to staff taking up all the tables. Am Management really appears to be trying to ruin this great train. 

Chessie1963 Wrote:
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> Well I'll be damned.  And yet, many Viewliners
> are in storage.  

How many viewliners are in storage?

With no full sleeper there is no ADA accessible room. What is Amtrak's obligation to providing accessible service?

Posted from Android

From what I can discern, about 25-30 of them.  I am not certain on that number, but that is where AI puts it, and I think I have heard that number elsewhere.

sethamtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well I'll be damned.  And yet, many Viewliners
> > are in storage.  
>
> How many viewliners are in storage?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/28/26 05:36 by Chessie1963.

Cardinal13 Wrote:
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> I highly doubt that the lack of sleeper is due to
> reduced demand, although the high roomette fares
> are probably having an impact. I usually paid for
> the roomette but it is no longer worth it for
> shorter trips, and the terrible meal service
> doesn't help. Half the time you can't eat in the
> cafe car due to staff taking up all the tables. Am
> Management really appears to be trying to ruin
> this great train. 

They’ve already ruined it. And then CSX throws in delays as icing on the cake. The fact that they don’t have extra sleepers at New York and Chicago just blows my mind. They have plenty of those cars on the property. Far more than they need for everyday service. Any real company would keep some protection equipment at major terminals. This bunch doesn’t care. Just let them eat cake and do without. They also refuse to run more than two coaches on the train, even around holidays and in the summer. It’s never been this short in the history of the train. They clearly don’t care about this route whatsoever. At least they got back to occasionally washing it. And of course we all know the food is mediocre at best, and the crews do whatever they want. Maybe you can eat at a table, and maybe they won’t let you depending on the mood of the day. What a way to run an operation. No standards whatsoever.

Posted from iPhone

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> From what I can discern, about 25-30 of them.  I
> am not certain on that number, but that is where
> AI puts it, and I think I have heard that number
> elsewhere.
>
> sethamtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Chessie1963 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Well I'll be damned.  And yet, many
> Viewliners
> > > are in storage.  
> >
> > How many viewliners are in storage?

Here we go - there are 46 Viewliner Sleepers (combo of I and II Viewliner Sleepers) that are REQUIRED for revenue service based on current revenue assignments. There are a total of 75 Viewliner I and II Sleepers in inventory. That means that 29 Viewliner I and II Sleepers are in a reserved/unassigned/stored status. Amtrak has the most Viewliners it has EVER had, and yet the lowest Viewliner Sleeper utilization EVER (61%). Do you think this would fly in a private business with stockholders wanting a return on on of the top most highest generating revenue assets??? NO!!!!! Get the darn things fixed and in service - allocate the money to Beech Grove who can somehow transform Viewliner 1988 prototype sleepers to Amtrak corporate cars but can't an allocation of money from corporate to get ALL Viewliner Sleepers in service. Can't find parts for Heritage equipment (oh, they are too old), but yet Amtrak operates two Heritage 10-6 sleeper corporate cars in their business fleet. Yes, some Viewliners have problems - fix'em - don't park-em!!! Beech Grove staff can do wonders with passenger cars and locomotives - if they are given the funding........

The Lake Shore Limited was also missing it second Viewliner Sleeper the other day - same time that the Viewliner Bagg-Dorm sleeper was the sole sleeper offering a few revenue rooms. Demand is greater than that or Amtrak would NOT have chosen to add the Viewliner Bagg-Dorm to the Cardinal, which helps to add sleeper capacity. Lets face facts! Get the Viewliner Sleepers fixed (I and II) and get the rest of the Viewliner II Diners out in some sort of service - even to provide a premium service due to their double row of scenic windows. Not keeping equipment in rotation or service just creates more of a problem to get them in service.

The Cardinal - most scenic train that Amtrak operates east of Chicago should have an Amfleet II Diner.....even if just to serve as a sleeper-lounge. 

JP, as usual, you nailed it.  Completely incompetent management.