Ispolkom
Engineer
My thought exactly. BNSF at least tolerates Amtrak.Just get that bazillion dollars ready for UP's daily demands.
My thought exactly. BNSF at least tolerates Amtrak.Just get that bazillion dollars ready for UP's daily demands.
Yep, Amtrak should just abandon an entire route and strand thousands of people that have bought tickets because of a handful of disruptions.The Builder has been suspended off and on all winter. Time to send the equipment down south where it can do some good. Add it to the SWC, the Eagle and the Sunset Limited. Turn the Builder into a coach only day train between MSP and Chicago and Portland and Seattle to Spokane. Forget the rest of the route until summer.
Thank you SO much for the clear information. I so wish that Amtrak would post such things on their website, so that we could all understand what's happening. I (and I think most passengers) are very understanding of delays as long as we are given the information updates. It would be great if Amtrak could send text message updates about departure times and delays like the airlines do. You would just sign up for it online, and then it would be generated automatically.The inbound Empire Builder (#27) just departed Wishram, WA at 9:50 this morning and should arrive in Portland about 2 hours late. That train will turn and become your departing #28 this afternoon, so I expect you will depart on time or nearly so. There are currently no blockages on the tracks between Portland and Chicago, so you should get through.
Yesterday's train encountered some sort of severe delay in North Dakota (probably blizzard-related) as westbound #7 and was presumably turned at Spokane (with passengers bussed to/from PDX and SEA). That is, unfortunately, a fairly regular occurrence since when the westbound #7/27 is over eight hours late it will not arrive in PDX/SEA in time to depart as #8/28. Rather than make the entire eastbound journey terribly late, the train is turned in Spokane.
Mark
I have been perennially annoyed with Amtrak's lack of information. Fortunately, it is possible to obtain at least some useful information about the Empire Builder anyway.Thank you SO much for the clear information. I so wish that Amtrak would post such things on their website, so that we could all understand what's happening. I (and I think most passengers) are very understanding of delays as long as we are given the information updates. It would be great if Amtrak could send text message updates about departure times and delays like the airlines do. You would just sign up for it online, and then it would be generated automatically.
We drove from Astoria yesterday leaving at 1pm. If we had known that the train had been turned (which it seems they knew by then), we would have been saved a two-hour drive and an overnight hotel stay in Portland.
The scene at the Amtrak counter at the train station is absurd. Everyone has to wait in line to get essentially the same information. We LOVE travelling by train, and wouldn't do it any other way, but just a little more info would help the customer service aspect so much.
Thanks again.
Meg
He works the EB as a supervisor, so he tends to know what's going on with the EB.*User "EB_OBS" on this forum apparently has access to inside information and often posts updates. That is the closest we get to obtaining accurate info from Amtrak.
Checking out the Amtrak's status page, it shows 28 is running. 8 is not. I'd say yes.. But Call Amtrak directly, and find out for sure.Does anyone know if the EB will be running from WIN-CHI thursday?
You live in Astoria? My wife and I spent our honeymoon there about a year ago - beautiful town and some of the best dining we've ever had!We drove from Astoria yesterday leaving at 1pm. If we had known that the train had been turned (which it seems they knew by then), we would have been saved a two-hour drive and an overnight hotel stay in Portland.
Thankfully for me, I have a ticket for the #28 car.Checking out the Amtrak's status page, it shows 28 is running. 8 is not. I'd say yes.. But Call Amtrak directly, and find out for sure.Does anyone know if the EB will be running from WIN-CHI thursday?
That is irrelevant in this case. East of Spokane, the #8 and the #28 are the same train. Either they're both runningThankfully for me, I have a ticket for the #28 car.
Cool. Good luck with your trip. As it happens, I have relatives leaving on the #28 out of PDX today, which will eventually beNot in jest. I actually didn't know how that worked.
Yes, I do live in Astoria! It's a great town, if a little too rainy at this time of year...You live in Astoria? My wife and I spent our honeymoon there about a year ago - beautiful town and some of the best dining we've ever had!We drove from Astoria yesterday leaving at 1pm. If we had known that the train had been turned (which it seems they knew by then), we would have been saved a two-hour drive and an overnight hotel stay in Portland.
That train will depart Seattle and Portland today. Aside from the bustitution between Seattle and Everett, WA there aren't any other blocking events that I'm aware of. The chances of it being a little late are fairly good. IF the train gets really late, like six or eight hours or more late, then the District Manager Stations, in that area, is really good about arranging for buses to depart MSP and further east stations, on-time. Either call the station or Amtrak customer service if you see that the train is running very late. Or shoot me a PM. When he schedules on-time buses I'm always included in the distribution.Does anyone know if the EB will be running from WIN-CHI thursday?
That is a shame, that was dinner out last night there. We stayed at the Cannery Pier Hotel and got driven down there in one of their classic cars and then walked back along the riverwalk to the hotel right at sunset. An absolutely perfect evening! We also ate at Fulio's and Clemente's and enjoyed them, but they couldn't match the view from Gunderson's!I wonder where you ate, because sadly, Gunderson's Cannery Cafe (where my husband and I got married and had our reception) burned down on December 16th, 2010. It's really, really sad because it was the best and prettiest restaurant in town. There are others, for sure, but there is a big hole now in our hearts (and bellies!) where their salmon used to be!
As of now as per Amtrak's Status page, it's 2 hours, and 55 min late.How is the WIN-CHI train looking today?
I guess "technicality" is Amtrak-speak for "wrong."I got a phone call by Julie. She called me at 10:19 am central saying my train was cancelled and my bus took off at 10:11 am. I was thoroughly scared. I called the Winona station and they told me it was a technicality call, but the train is running and at the estimated time was correct on the website. So I don't care. It's running and I'm all packed and ready to rock!
Enjoy your trip!I got a phone call by Julie. She called me at 10:19 am central saying my train was cancelled and my bus took off at 10:11 am. I was thoroughly scared. I called the Winona station and they told me it was a technicality call, but the train is running and at the estimated time was correct on the website. So I don't care. It's running and I'm all packed and ready to rock!
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