I am thinking of taking the Amtrak 97 to Miami. will start in Albany NY and change in penn station. Would think airports would close due to bad weather before a train was cancelled. Planning on going to catch a Cruise so important I get there. I know the train is always late. That's ok. If it is very late do they serve the dinner meal. Arrival time is 6:39PM.
How often is Amtrak 97 cancelled during the winter?
- Thread starter jon46
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on most of the track Amtrak travels, the host RR determines if passenger services have to curtailed due to high winds knocking down trees on the tracks or interrupting signal operations. Now, this doesn't happen very often, but blizzards, hurricanes, etc. will affect ALL transportation methods.
If the train is very late, dinner will be served, but may be the beef stew emergency provisions.
If the train is very late, dinner will be served, but may be the beef stew emergency provisions.
I travel on the Silver Meteor quite often and have seen more cancellations due to hurricanes and flooding than cold weather. However, there were some recent cancellations as a result of arctic blast. The train is not always late. I arrived in Winter Park, FL early on Tuesday.
If you have the time, you may want to arrive a few days before your cruise.
If you have the time, you may want to arrive a few days before your cruise.
Get the straight poop on its on time performance here: https://juckins.net/
Heed Pennyk's good advise. I always arrive by train the day before a cruise. Always.
Heed Pennyk's good advise. I always arrive by train the day before a cruise. Always.
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acelafan
Conductor
I've been on #19 and #1 recently so haven't had a chance to look at this question until now.
Looking since November 1, 2017 for #97 arrivals into Miami, it was canceled on Jan 4 and Jan 5:
https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/history.php?train_num=97&station=mia&date_start=11%2F01%2F2017&date_end=01%2F20%2F2018&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&sort=schAr&sort_dir=ASC&co=gt&limit_mins=&dfon=1
Then the next day (Jan 6 2018) it had its latest arrival during that time - 10 hours and 7 minutes late (4:46 AM) with a few other big delays around that time:
https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/history.php?train_num=97&station=mia&date_start=11%2F01%2F2017&date_end=01%2F20%2F2018&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&sort=d_ar&sort_dir=DESC&co=gt&limit_mins=&dfon=1
The average arrival delay has been 2 hours and 2 minutes late:
https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/average_delays.php?train_num=97&date_start=11%2F01%2F2017&date_end=01%2F20%2F2018&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&stat=avg&chartsize=2&dfon=1
Median arrival delay 84 minutes late:
https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/average_delays.php?train_num=97&date_start=11%2F01%2F2017&date_end=01%2F20%2F2018&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&stat=med&chartsize=2&dfon=1
Like anything, it's good to have a backup plan or at least think about what you'd do in case something went seriously wrong. My flight home from LAX back to ATL this past week was canceled due to 1" of snow in Atlanta, and so it's good to be flexible (or at least not complain bitterly about it, doesn't do any good...)
cpotisch
Engineer
Biggest delay on #98 that week was January 3 train, which arrived in NYP 19h 58m late - three cars derailed. I was one of the pax.
The Silver Meteor is seldom canceled or severely (>4 hrs) delayed, but under no circumstances should you plan to arrive the same day that your cruise departs... whether you're getting to Florida by rail, air, or I-95. Murphy's Law applies.
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Anytime I have a firm departure for a major event I plan to arrive the day before. Too many uncontrollable variables.
VentureForth
Engineer
FWIW, both trains get into Miami (6 pm-ish) after most cruises board (2 pm-ish for a 4:00 departure) and will require an overnight in Miami.
To the OP, I'd invest in the travel insurance in any case.
Unfortunately, we ended up cancelled on the 98 on Jan 9 when there was the derailment in Savanah on the 8th. The 98 and 97 were cancelled for 2 days.
This is a most unusual circumstance. Unfortunately it affected us and while we had allowed leeway at the other end, the 2 day shutdown required us to fly to LA to make our Panama Canal cruise.
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This is a most unusual circumstance. Unfortunately it affected us and while we had allowed leeway at the other end, the 2 day shutdown required us to fly to LA to make our Panama Canal cruise.
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