Is the Crescent being annulled in ATL this year?

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crescent_bound?

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Hello all,

I have tickets on the Crescent from NYP-NOL on January 7th, 2015 in a bedroom.

I know the train has been annulled in ATL in recent years during the week. Will this happen again? I have checked various dates and it appears that all seats for the train south of ATL are 'sold out', which suggests the train will not be going past ATL, as that many sell-outs seem unlikely. Nothing is posted yet on Amtrak's service disruption site.

Does anyone have any insights? While I am looking forward to taking the train, I would like to know about a cancellation as soon as possible so I can book flights.

Thanks in advance
 
If you have tickets already, that says to me it will operate. In the past, if it was not operating there was "no alternate transportation" - no bustitution. Since you have a reservation, I'd say you will have a train.
 
Thanks for the reply. I bought my tickets months ago.

I am just concerned that there seem to be no seats/rooms for sale on the ATL-NOL section on every weekday that week, and other days that month. Seats are available on the weekend. The pattern seems similar to last years schedule of track work.
 
crescent_bound? said:
Thanks for the reply. I bought my tickets months ago.

I am just concerned that there seem to be no seats/rooms for sale on the ATL-NOL section on every weekday that week, and other days that month. Seats are available on the weekend. The pattern seems similar to last years schedule of track work.
Click to expand...
I think that you are correct and the Crescent will only run to ATL during the week due to annual trackwork on this line!
I suggest you call Amtrak and if this is true if you are flexible in your dates perhaps you can book a Sleeper to NOL on a weekend day when the Crescent runs the entire route! IIRC there is no alternate transportation offered from ATL-NOL ( ie bustitution) during this trackwork!
 
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I agree with Jim. They will call you, I'm sure, but too late in the game to make decent alternative plans. Call now. Just because you have confirmed tickets doesn't mean they didn't schedule something afterwards. They won't cancel track work just to ensure your tickets are as printed. ;)
 
I had tickets for BAL-NOL the last two years, and as the date neared, I "got the call" from Amtrak. Needless to say, I was pissed. Enuff time to make alternate plans, (barely) but why take the rezzy in the first place,.
 
Depending on your time and budget constraints you may want to see about connecting in Chicago. Despite bad weather and NS inspired delays you have almost an entire day to make the connection from the Lake Shore to the Chicken Bone (CONO). And if you are like many of us in here, you get to enjoy more time on 2 trains :)
 
Olympian, you could make the case though that if the train is annulled Amtrak should be re-accommodating the OP on those trains (if they so choose) for no additional fare. If the LSL is out of Bedrooms, then there's the Cardinal available as well. If the Cardinal is out of bedrooms then there's BC to DC for a trip on the Capitol.

It is also possible they have blocked out space anticipating that's when NS will begin the trackwork blitz, but are waiting for the final dates. With the OP's travel date being so close to New Year's it may not kick off until 1/12 in which case their trip would not be effected.
 
battalion51 said:
It is also possible they have blocked out space anticipating that's when NS will begin the trackwork blitz, but are waiting for the final dates. With the OP's travel date being so close to New Year's it may not kick off until 1/12 in which case their trip would not be effected.
Click to expand...
In 2014, appears that the block outs for #19 getting to New Orleans began on Monday, January 6, 2014 and continued to the first week of February. Amtrak Status Maps Archive database listing of #19 Crescents that arrived in NOL between January 1 and February 8. The gaps are the Monday to Thursday arrivals.

Code: 
History for Amtrak 19 at NOL

Origin Date Sch AR            Act AR Comments
12/31/2013 01/01/2014 7:32 PM 7:04PM Arrived: 28 minutes early. 
01/01/2014 01/02/2014 7:32 PM 7:29PM Arrived: 3 minutes early. 
01/02/2014 01/03/2014 7:32 PM 9:30PM Arrived: 1 hour and 58 minutes late. 
01/03/2014 01/04/2014 7:32 PM 9:57PM Arrived: 2 hours and 25 minutes late. 
01/04/2014 01/05/2014 7:32 PM 9:24PM Arrived: 1 hour and 52 minutes late. 
01/09/2014 01/10/2014 7:32 PM 8:30PM Arrived: 58 minutes late. 
01/10/2014 01/11/2014 7:32 PM 7:46PM Arrived: 14 minutes late. 
01/11/2014 01/12/2014 7:32 PM 9:05PM Arrived: 1 hour and 33 minutes late. 
01/16/2014 01/17/2014 7:32 PM 8:06PM Arrived: 34 minutes late. 
01/17/2014 01/18/2014 7:32 PM 7:25PM Arrived: 7 minutes early. 
01/18/2014 01/19/2014 7:32 PM 7:42PM Arrived: 10 minutes late. 
01/23/2014 01/24/2014 7:32 PM 9:04PM Arrived: 1 hour and 30 minutes late. 
01/24/2014 01/25/2014 7:32 PM 8:20PM Arrived: 45 minutes late. 
01/25/2014 01/26/2014 7:32 PM 10:19PM Arrived: 2 hours and 43 minutes late. 
01/30/2014 01/31/2014 7:32 PM 9:03PM Arrived: 1 hour and 28 minutes late. 
01/31/2014 02/01/2014 7:32 PM 9:42PM Arrived: 2 hours and 10 minutes late. 
02/01/2014 02/02/2014 7:32 PM 7:32PM Arrived: on time. 
02/06/2014 02/07/2014 7:32 PM 9:04PM Arrived: 1 hour and 31 minutes late. 
02/07/2014 02/08/2014 7:32 PM 8:09PM Arrived: 39 minutes late.
 
Thanks to all.

I have called twice. The agents don't have any knowledge of the train not operating. They tell me it is set to operate, while acknowledging it is 'sold out' all those days. They both looked a while, and asked other departments, so I appreciate their effort.

Thought about taking the LOL and CONO, but that is probably too much train for the wife. My concern is that flights are very cheap now, and likely to be higher if Amtrak cancels close to departure. I can fly first class for $240/each, $140 in coach.
 
Another example of internal communications failures at Amtrak. It seems pretty clear that they're annulling the trains on weekdays, but nobody at Customer Service can find out about it. That's so not good.
 
In this case I'd just fly,( I'm not a fan of the current state of the flying experience but it's a short flight!) those are very good fares and you'll be in NOL quickly! ( I'm envious!)

Second the comment about Amtrak's Communication System, both internal and external!
 
If you wanted to avoid flying, reaching Atlanta's two intercity bus pickup points isn't hard. Take bus route 110 from the Amtrak Station south (same side of the street as the station) to Arts Center, then take any southbound MARTA train to Civic Center station for Megabus, or Garnett for Greyhound.
 
Amtrak called today saying the train has been cancelled. I had hedged my bet and bought Delta first class seats for $240/each last week. They are now $290, so I am glad I bought them then.

I was looking forward to my first LD trip, but $480 for two first class seats looks good compared to $776 for a bedroom.

Amtrak has not yet posted the service alert on the site.
 
I have given credit to Amtrak before for taking care of customers when things go wrong. But to not be able to give out the proper information when it is known the train will be annulled on certain days would make me hit the ceiling.
 
I'm just going to end up taking the LSL/CONO it seems. But I got a cheap bedroom (cheaper then a roomette) on the CONO so no complaints here!
 
Amtrak has posted it now, effective Monday, Jan. 5 in both directions. There is a big red CANCELED

showing. BUT... that about all. No explanation. I guess they think everyone reads AU, right? Always a good idea to check AU before making any kind of plans.
 
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