Can Amtrak really leave us stranded and refuse our refund request, too? @RescueTeam It was booked for April 18 (SF departure). Updated at 7:15 a.m. CDT on Thursday, Feb. 23, with status of the eastbound Chief that departed L.A. on Feb. 21. This follows abbreviated Chicago-Twin Cities operation for trains scheduled to depart Tuesday from both Chicago and Seattle/Portland. The Lake Shore Limited is also cancelled until at least Wednesday. Amtrak cancels some trips as national railway strike looms I would bet the mechanical issues were more human than mechanical. Amtrak passenger train strikes tractor-trailer in Sharon - VTDigger As usual, Mr. Singer, you are right on the money with your biting comments. 1 Amtrak Alerts @AmtrakAlerts A few inches. When people couldnt afford to travel by plane or train, the intercity bus was always there to provide an alternate route to get to where you needed to go. All rights reserved (About Us). Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service to resume Friday after flooding Would just become more bad press for these trains to be stranded in the middle of nowhere especially the Empire Builder in the midst of the blizzard warnings along that route or getting stalled behind freights encountering problems. Questions about refunds when Amtrak cancels a train But shes not happy her husband had to risk the roads two times, or that Amtrak seemed to keep her and others in the dark for too long about the reasons for the delays, or that Union Station kicked her and several other waiting passengers out into the cold. This *and* running a service in these weather extremes is really creating a potential life safety issue that Amtrak is utterly unprepared to handle. Thanks goodness I brought trip insurance! Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. So maybe it's not quite the ripoff that it used to be.) So was the westbound departure out of Chicago on Jan. 21, because Amtrak now lacks enough serviceable Superliners to act as a Windy City protect fleet for its western trains. And these are having long term economic, social, and political consequences. Amtrak Alerts (@AmtrakAlerts) / Twitter Ongoing construction projects keep the infrastructure in top condition and contribute to overall improvements in rail travel . How to buy Amtrak Tickets? Other long-distance woes The westbound Empire Builder approaches the Deerfield, Ill., Metra station on Jan. 20, 2023. Not every airport in every city has a dedicated or convenient transit line be in rail or bus to the inner or downtown section of that city or evven to the suburbs for that matter. Welcome to our Third World transportation network. The affected routes include some trains in the Northeast Corridor and a New Orleans route. Amtrak Coast Starlight service suspended in parts of - oregonlive People would and will travel by train if the opportunity and the service is provided and is available. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Other trains on these routes will continue to operate, though many are already sold out both Thursday and Friday. FILE - An Amtrak train sits at a platform beneath Penn Station in New York on Monday, May 13, 2013. Between Monday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 21, the Zephyr, Builder, and Southwest Chief each had at least one train that arrived into Chicago more than 7 hours after their scheduled mid-afternoon arrivals. They sure dont make railroaders and executives like they used to when railroaders and the railroads bravely challenged and ran their trains against the ravages of winter and snow and blizzards to provide service to their customers and people needing to get home for the holidays and visits with family and friends What a shame indeed But this was not an awesome time.. True it wasnt the fastest way or the most comfortable way of traveling but the bus got through somehow and cheaper too. Value fares allow you to get a full refund if you cancel eight days or more before departure. With one set of Auto Train equipment out of position, both departures were canceled the following day to reset the service; it has been mostly been running on time ever since. Flying naturally is faster and quicker if flying between the major hubs or major cities. Amtrak Cancellation Policy. Good thing I didnt, Id be stuck somewhere with no luggage and no hope of getting home. However, their souls are in another dimension as their remains are interred. Love those middle seats. Click the Status icon at the bottom ribbon and youll have two search options: By Train Number or By Station. (No, they don't.). The cancellations beginning Tuesday impact three routes that run between Chicago and the West Coast along Amtrak's Southwest Chief, California . CN reaches paid sick time agreements with four unions in U.S. 2023 National Garden Railway Convention is in Santa Clara, Second Vancouver, B.C., Cascades round trip set to roll Monday. Look at the caption above. The train that left Chicago on Monday, Jan. 16 lost 3 hours due to a locomotive failure before its first stop and another 12 hours west of Denver waiting for a recrew, and for boulders to be removed from the right-of-way. News & Reviews News Wire Weather leads to cancellations for Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, Other trains experiencing significant delays. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. News & Reviews News Wire Amtrak suffers more long-distance cancellations, delays: Analysis, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Capitol Limited routes hurt by weather, mechanical setbacks. HEP solves the loss of a steam generator for heating, so thats not the problem. They have demanded the railroads provide unpaid leave time so workers could tend to their personal business, such as doctors appointments, without being penalized. The carrier. It was finally annulled at Sacramento, Calif., running 16 hours late. The Amtrak service is the only rail connection between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. You are using an out of date browser. -To what extent were the worst possible decisions to reduce schedules and buy-out or lay-off seasoned operational/maintenance employees attributable to the basic lack of railroad experience in the corporate management and Board; how the dearth of competent and correct decision-making has caused the inordinate delay in conducting scheduled maintenance on equipment; cancelling trains; reducing consists; for the lack of experienced T&E crews, on-board staff, and maintenance/repair; what has been the dollar cost for recruitment and training? Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. I was dealing with an agent and getting no where on a refund, this was regarding the time it takes to get a refund. One Missouri River Runner round trip, the morning train out of St. Louis and afternoon departure from Kansas City, Mo., is also not operating those days. Amtrak plans to send upgraded, safer train cars to the Pacific NW before replacing the 50-year-old cars on its Northeast Corridor regional trains. The delay came getting longer and my gate was changed 3 times before the gates local board suddenly dropped all reference to my flight. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. the New Years weekend across the Amtrak system. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. And the email from them about the cancellation provided the same number 877-231-9448 for rebooking and refunds. Service Alerts - Amtrak Downeaster Related: Dangerous Flash-Freeze definitely in play for this evening: Close look at timeline. No, but even Amtrak in the earlier 2000's would rarely cancel trains or if they did there would always be bussing. The train, along with numerous other stops along the way, makes stops in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Kalamazoo. but that is looking at the models and knowing nothing about weather. Amtrak restoring canceled long-distance trains after strike averted I would say Wednesday afternoon till Friday night.. maybe saturday by 6am. Why I Want to Take Amtrak Trip After Seeing Its New Upgraded Trains -Retain an external accounting firm to perform an intensive audit of how Amtrak devised its accounting system in defiance of GAAP (Generally Acceptable Accounting Procedures); how Amtrak cleans-up the excessively high costs of its Northeast Corridor by allocating such costs incorrectly to the long distance and state-supported sectors. Of course no one at Amtrak ever anticipates the arrival of winter. Travel on Amtrak to Virginia Wine Expo at the Main Street Station in Richmond, Va. February 6, 2023. Normally, there are 10 trains operating per day, including direct services available. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. They had high hopes and expectations that the government could get it right and bury the passenger train. But it is becoming a bad habit from Amtrak mgmt of shirking their responsibility of providing transportation. And was able to get another night there. (Also, if you buy their ripoff insurance, the vouchers don't expire. When it wasnt safe at all to drive and roads and airports were all shut down, the passenger trains struggled through. 1 hour and 10 minutes late from Petersburg (PTB) due to earlier commuter train interference and speed restrictions along the route. Why were those funds not used for the intended purpose to maintain equipment, run trains, and maintain skilled employees? I cannot find anything on Amtrak's website about this. does it cancel trains.? Many airports in the. By the way it looks the nations intercity bus network is almost non exisitant as well. Phone: Refunds may be processed by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Biden touts NYC-NJ train tunnel that wont be built before 2035, Amtrak train delayed for 37 hours prompts riders to call 911 over hostage fears, Amtrak unveils new trains that will replace aging fleet, Amtrak lets railcar owners hitch a ride to its trains for a price, cost the economy an estimated $2 billion a day. CHICAGO None of the individual delays that befell numerous cross-country Amtrak trains during the last week were as lengthy or dramatic as the 37-hour ordeal experienced by more than 500 Auto Train passengers on Jan. 12. The lack of an action plan to care for Auto Trains marooned passengers during the long delay it took to position a qualified and rested crew prompted a Jan. 18 letter to Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner from four U.S. The Amtrak delays come as more than 1,500 U.S.-based flights were canceled on Thursday due to the massive winter storm, according to data from aviation company FlightAware. Enjoy moving trains in breathtaking scenes across the country, all year long. Find the best deals on Amtrak train tickets and book online directly with Wanderu. Amtrak Train Tickets, Schedules and Fares - TrainBuster Any ideas on what to do? I felt pretty bad for the track crew, and it made me wonder just how reliable the track fault detector really is. DETROIT (Reuters) -U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said it will temporarily cancel all of its long-distance trains starting on Thursday - along with some state-supported trains - because of a potential freight rail work stoppage that could start the following day. Winter Storm Updates: Death toll rises, 2,500 Wednesday flights canceled This what happens when the nation depends solely on just one form of transportation to get peopleto where they need to go. As they say, when in a hole, stop digging. Is it not time to finally acknowledge Amtrak is in a hole; and has no traction, no matter how many millions the feds have thrown at it since 2020. An Amtrak train is parked at the platform inside New York's Penn Station, the nation's busiest train hub, which will be closing tracks for repairs causing massive disruptions to commuters in New . Enjoy moving trains in breathtaking scenes across the country, all year long. Perhaps Amtrak is being proactive. Did that, and there's been no response save for a form email that claims they respond to queries seven days a week. Tove Danovich didnt think she had cause for concern as she boarded the Portland-bound train Wednesday evening. @yvr1 do you have a number for the refunds department by any chance? Im on 7 heading to Essex now and this morning I got the call that my Thursday train is canceled. Ive met many really nice SWA employees, whether flight deck, cabin, check-in or gate. Statement by Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner January 31, 2023. If Amtrak truly kept all the mech staff on during covid with the money Congress gave them shouldnt they have used that time to work on maintenance & repair backlogs? However. Thread starter MIrailfan; . CHICAGO While sub-zero cold and blizzard conditions had begun to moderate somewhat across much of the Midwest toward the end of the holiday weekend, Amtrak has continued to cancel trains on less than 24 hours notice for mechanical and manpower issues, as well as the weather. But my flight wasnt even listed on the Board at all! Or not. Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. if you cancel your ticket 8 days or more . WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak will cancel trips on three long-distance routes starting Tuesday because of a potential freight rail strike later this week, and. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Earlier this year, I was stuck at Denver because a United plane was taken out of service in Houston for mechanical reasons. A blizzard is predicted. To be notified of service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor follow @AmtrakNECAlerts on Twitter. Ensure a safe, slow approach from others with this railroad-themed logo mask! Otherwise, there will be a 25% cancellation fee charged if cancelled less than eight days prior to departure. At the time Amtrak, cited employee shortages prompted Driving 50 or more miles from your home to the airport can be a hassle or tiring. California Zephyrs continue to operate between Chicago and Emeryville, Calif., but are experiencing various delays, according to the Amtrak Alerts feed, for issues including freight train interference, mechanical delays, and crew rest issues. Snow is forecast for SE Wisconsin. Severe weather is also being cited for the cancellation of the eastbound Empire Builder from Seattle and Portland today through Friday, Feb. 24. Bags of good quality are sold as well. While the 352 and 353 trains are cancelled, not all Amtrak trains running between the above destinations have been cancelled on those days. I haven't heard yet about westbound departures form Chicago I suspect that's a possibility as well. Is it possible that cancelling the train is not actually Amtrak - that the cancellation is actually due to problems with or direction from the host RR? Members of one railroad workers union rejected a tentative deal with the countrys largest railroad companies on Wednesday, which include Union Pacific, Berkshire Hathaways and Norfolk Southern. If you try to book SEA-CHI for 12/20 or 12/21, it shows cancelled. Amtrak suspends San Diego-Los Angeles service due to shifting ground Get great snapshots of railroading history in Art Petersons newest book. Southbound train 690; Northbound train 691; Ticketed passengers should contact Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL to be reaccommodated on alternate trains or to request a refund. The westbound Empire Builders today and Thursday have also been cancelled. I gave some thought to flying to Denver for Christmas. Or not. That would have made Amtrak mgmt numbers fudging more difficult & reflect the lame recovery of the NEC. Without incentives and encouragement by the governments of Canada and the United States to operate passenger trains, the railways found maintaining infrastructure to stay competitive was a herculean task and uneconomical. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. There's an option to "cancel trip" on the Manage booking page on Amtrak (why? And it only takes a few dominoes to make the rest to start falling. Amtrak said the early cancellations before a strike were meant to avoid passengers becoming stranded mid-route on multiday trips. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? The train left a Washington D.C. suburb on Monday and was supposed to arrive Tuesday morning in Central Florida. All of them were at least 2 hours late. If anything a good faith effort of running the trains Chicago to St Paul or other short turn station stop would show they care about the service more than protecting their image. continues to be updated on Amtraks website. I live 50 miles from the nearest commercial airport and there are a couple of options for getting home from there. Amtrak Stations: Refunds may be processed at stations with Amtrak ticket offices. We'll be on train 7 on the 29th and are hoping not to be bumped Actual forecast low temperatures (not windchill) for northern Montana and North Dakota this coming week will be -20 F to -30 F. Amtrak has cancelled Departures from Portland and Settle on 12/21. Read: Start revving up: Here's when TRON Lightcycle / Run opens at Magic Kingdom. I booked San Francisco-Chicago on the California Zephyr about eight months ago. Amtrak cancelled my trip, but no refund in sight - Train Travel Forum The. Senator with a huge fat blue D next to his name, Charles Schumer. Ya we are suppose to get a big snow storm later this week here in chicago.. privacy policy. Amtrak delays cancellations - Trains Magazine - Trains News Wire Four other trains between Washington and Springfield,. Doesn't look like a scam. How can a train that left Los Angeles be a westbound? 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