
Service disruption on the Southwest Chief
#1
Posted 24 June 2010 - 12:28 AM
I'm gonna be boarding 4 at Newton next week, so I'm a bit nervous. Don't want to get stuck on a bus from Newton to Chicago. It looks like 4 won't be arriving in Newton tonight, nor tomorrow night.
#2
Posted 24 June 2010 - 08:27 AM

#3
Posted 24 June 2010 - 08:55 AM
Being in Amarillo, this would usually make me happy to see Amtrak here. However, we are scheduled to be getting on #3 in Lamy on Saturday (6/26). Looks like we may have to be bused to Albuquerque.
#4
Guest_Guest_*
Posted 24 June 2010 - 11:07 AM

#5
Posted 24 June 2010 - 11:17 AM
#6
Posted 24 June 2010 - 11:25 AM
#7
Posted 24 June 2010 - 12:53 PM

Edited by jimhudson, 24 June 2010 - 12:55 PM.
"..My heart is warm with the friends I make,and better friends I'll not be knowing,
Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,No matter where its going!.." -Edna St. Vincent Millay
#8
Posted 24 June 2010 - 01:00 PM
#9
Posted 24 June 2010 - 01:20 PM
Did some test bookings CHI-LAX and LAX-CHI. Both of todays Chiefs (#3/#4)are shown as SOLD OUT), there are partial routings on the TE/SSL through SAS(sleepers SOLD OUT) and the last option is CHI-LAX vis PDX on #27/#11 with all sleepers SOLD OUT! It will be interesting to see when service is restored, as the OP said why bustitite when the Chiefs could be routed on the Transcon through Amarillo to ABQ to/from LAX???
FWIW, I was checking bookings on Friday morning's train, and it had coach sold out on Wednesday morning, and only one family room available for the eastbound segment. Westbound on Sunday still had upper level coach and two sleepers. Full train! I've seen sleepers booked, but it's been a while (or maybe I haven't been looking) for Coach to be sold out.
#10
Posted 24 June 2010 - 02:03 PM
I suppose the trainmaster's info could be wrong or not updated, but I sure hope it is correct and the problem is getting fixed quickly.
#11
Posted 24 June 2010 - 02:23 PM
That does not make any sense to me. Every other time something like this has happened, they rerouted on the transcon. Course, this could also explain why they are not on the schedule to come through here.
I am wondering what happened to #3(23). Perhaps they made it through before it happened.
Edited by printman2000, 24 June 2010 - 02:24 PM.
#12
Posted 24 June 2010 - 02:58 PM
#13
Guest_kspeed55_*
Posted 24 June 2010 - 03:15 PM
#14
Posted 24 June 2010 - 04:20 PM
#15
Posted 24 June 2010 - 05:01 PM
Yeah, some trains appear to be very full these days. In another thread I mentioned that in SAS a man in front of me was trying to buy a coach ticket and was told nothing was available for the next week. Of course I have no idea if it was just a few segments that were sold out or the whole route. Still kind of amazing though. Sleepers I expect to be iffy, but coach class is rarely completely full. On a ride back home from AUS on the Eagle I had a neighbor in coach tell me the the train was completely full until they reached Dallas. Not a single solitary seat that she could take to get away from a heavy snorer all day and night. Weird. On my trip to ELP on the Sunset Limited a couple weeks ago the coach seats were nearly full from the looks of it. Much larger numbers of folks at the stations than I'm used to as well. Seemed half the town in Alpine was at the depot. Maybe Amtrak could renovate that building since it's apparently playing host to a substantial number of riders, especially relative to the size of the town. In any case we might be looking at a continued upswing in traffic for 2010. Just imagine if Amtrak was able to run more trains or add-on a few cars to current trains. Would have been nice.FWIW, I was checking bookings on Friday morning's train, and it had coach sold out on Wednesday morning, and only one family room available for the eastbound segment. Westbound on Sunday still had upper level coach and two sleepers. Full train! I've seen sleepers booked, but it's been a while (or maybe I haven't been looking) for Coach to be sold out.
.
#16
Posted 24 June 2010 - 09:54 PM
Edited by eee, 24 June 2010 - 09:54 PM.
#17
Posted 25 June 2010 - 08:23 AM
#18
Posted 25 June 2010 - 01:39 PM
For me and my family it means about 1.5 hour bus ride from Lamy to Albuquerque. Not too bad, but we will miss one of my favorite things. Waiting on the train to arrive.
#19
Posted 25 June 2010 - 04:34 PM

Rafi
#20
Posted 25 June 2010 - 05:10 PM
On another forum, someone saying they are on #3(24) was informed of a "bus bridge" from La Junta to Albuquerque. I assume that means stopping the train in La Junta, putting everyone on buses and getting back on the train in Albuquerque.
That does not make any sense to me. Every other time something like this has happened, they rerouted on the transcon. Course, this could also explain why they are not on the schedule to come through here.
I am wondering what happened to #3(23). Perhaps they made it through before it happened.
What is meant by the "transcon"
Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, Maple Leaf, Southwest Chief, Adirondack,
California Zephyr, Ann Rutledge, Lakeshore Limited, Pioneer,
Empire Builder.
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