Is Amtrak cancelling the 421 Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited route?

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randomguy65

Train Attendant
Joined
Jul 11, 2015
Messages
27
So I took this trip last year on The Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited, from Los Angeles to Fort Worth, and there's a possibility I might take it again. When I went to go check pricing, all trips for this train (422) are showing up as cancelled or not bookable. The train was technically the Sunset Limited leaving LA, with cars reserved for Eagle passengers. When the train arrived in San Antonio, it would be split up with the Eagle cars joining a new consist heading north to Austin, while the SL continued east to Houston.

I've yet to speak with an Amtrak agent but does anyone have any more information regarding why I can't book this trip?

EDIT: Looks like the timetable changed for the Sunset, which now leaves LA a 7:26 PM instead of 10:00 PM. This shouldn't cause an unbookable trip though. 
 
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Are you sure you are trying to book #421 on one of the days it goes to LA, not just to SAS (which it does daily)? I also think I heard that there were some days that it doesn’t operate due to scheduled track work.
 
Are you sure you are trying to book #421 on one of the days it goes to LA, not just to SAS (which it does daily)? I also think I heard that there were some days that it doesn’t operate due to scheduled track work.
Yeah I think this might be the issue. I'm trying to schedule in the last 3 weeks of January but it might be maintenance related.
 
Some one with time check but believe that one RT during several mid weeks is cancelled for the maintenance blitz !
 
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EDIT: Looks like the timetable changed for the Sunset, which now leaves LA a 7:26 PM instead of 10:00 PM. This shouldn't cause an unbookable trip though. 
The earlier departure time is just a temporary thing do to track work.

But to answer your first question, everything I'm seeing shows 421/422 as running on all the days it's supposed to. So I don't know what you're seeing, but everything looks nice and peachy to me.
 
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Also remember that “train” 421 consists of only the 1 thru coach and 1 thru sleeper that are transferred in SAS to continue to LAX. Those may be sold out, but you could possibly still take 21 and 1 (if those are available) - but you must change between trains in SAS yourself.
 
Is Amtrak cancelling the 421 Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited route?
Yes, 
For a few weeks what looks 21/421 SUN departure (out of CHI) will have no 421.
I booked some time ago a cross country flight to LAX then Jan 15 CS#14 (LAX>on the 28thSEA), Jan 17 EB#8(SEA>CHI), then SUN Jan 20 TE#421(CHI>DAL) home.
Got a TEXT on Dec 28 that the 421 was canceled with no other options and to call. They did end up downgrading me from my room on the canceled #421 to the #21 Transition/Dorm, (at least I didn't have to fly back)    

Rep said the reason the #21 would not be running with the the #421 was unannounced track work "South(West)" of SAS. 
I am leaving CHI on SUN. When I looked on Amtrak again for the subsequent #421's it appeared to only effect the SUN departures and not the Tue or Fri departures. Also seemes to be canceled for several weeks.  
hope this helps...

Not sure about the 422 nor how this is going to effect the 1/2 but I would think it would...
 
Are you sure you are trying to book #421 on one of the days it goes to LA, not just to SAS (which it does daily)? I also think I heard that there were some days that it doesn’t operate due to scheduled track work.
Yeah I think this might be the issue. I'm trying to schedule in the last 3 weeks of January but it might be maintenance related.
Looking at the last three weeks of January, there are only two days on which the TE isn't running: the 20th and the 27th. Both 421/422(20) and 421/422(27) aren't running, in addition to the respective Sunset Limiteds they should be paired with. Also interesting is that the 21st is the one and only day in which 1/421 arrives into LAX at 8:40 AM (instead of 5:35 AM).  I guess that is padding due to the track work, but I don't understand why it's just that one day.
 
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I'm looking at the last three weeks of January, and 421 and 422 are showing up on all the days it should. No idea what you're seeing.
Mine is/was the #421 leaving CHI(to DAL) in 2 weeks SUN Jan 20, now moved to the #21. Canceled for sure... Cusomer Relations said trackwork as the reason for the cancellation.
I just checked again and #421 Sun Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb 24 all still show canceled. Only SUN departures out of CHI seems effected. Tue/Fri normal. 
 
Looking at the last three weeks of January, there are only two days on which the TE isn't running: the 20th and the 27th. Both 421/422(20) and 421/422(27) aren't running, in addition to the respective Sunset Limiteds they should be paired with. Also interesting is that the 21st is the one and only day in which 1/421 arrives into LAX at 8:40 AM (instead of 5:35 AM).  I guess that is padding due to the track work, but I don't understand why it's just that one day.
Whoops. I don't know how this happened, but I was WAY off. Here is the (quite long) list I have compiled of every Texas Eagle run affected, which turns out to be from January 18th to March 8th.

During the affected period, an Eagle (#421) departing Chicago on a Friday or Tuesday, do so at the standard 1:45 PM, but arrive into Los Angeles at 8:40 AM, instead of 5:35. All trains departing on a Sunday are cancelled.

- 421(1/15) - Normal

- 421(1/18) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(1/20) - Cancelled

- 421(1/22) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM 

- 421(1/25) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(1/27) - Cancelled

- 421(1/29) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/1) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/3) - Cancelled

- 421(2/5) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/8) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/10) - Cancelled

- 421(2/12) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/15) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/17) - Cancelled

- 421(2/19) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/22) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(2/24) - Cancelled

- 421(2/26) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(3/1) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(3/3) - Cancelled

- 421(3/5) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(3/8) - Arrives LAX 8:40 AM

- 421(3/10) - Normal

Meanwhile on the eastbound (#422), Friday and Wednesday departures leave LAX at 7:26 PM instead of 10:00, but are scheduled to arrive in Chicago at the standard 1:52 PM. As with the westbound, Sunday departures during the affected period are cancelled.

- 422(1/16) - Normal

- 422(1/18) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(1/20) - Cancelled

- 422(1/23) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(1/25) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(1/27) - Cancelled

- 422(1/30) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/1) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/3) - Cancelled

- 422(2/6) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/8) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/10) - Cancelled

- 422(2/13) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/15) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/17) - Cancelled

- 422(2/20) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/22) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(2/24) - Cancelled

- 422(2/27) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(3/1) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(3/3) - Cancelled

- 422(3/6) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(3/8) - Leaves LAX 7:26 PM

- 422(3/10) - Normal
 
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Yes, 
For a few weeks what looks 21/421 SUN departure (out of CHI) will have no 421.
I booked some time ago a cross country flight to LAX then Jan 15 CS#14 (LAX>on the 28thSEA), Jan 17 EB#8(SEA>CHI), then SUN Jan 20 TE#421(CHI>DAL) home.
Got a TEXT on Dec 28 that the 421 was canceled with no other options and to call. They did end up downgrading me from my room on the canceled #421 to the #21 Transition/Dorm, (at least I didn't have to fly back)    

Rep said the reason the #21 would not be running with the the #421 was unannounced track work "South(West)" of SAS. 
I am leaving CHI on SUN. When I looked on Amtrak again for the subsequent #421's it appeared to only effect the SUN departures and not the Tue or Fri departures. Also seemes to be canceled for several weeks.  
hope this helps...

Not sure about the 422 nor how this is going to effect the 1/2 but I would think it would...
I’m kind of surprised they had to downgrade your room. On days the 421/422 doesn’t run, the normal 21/22 sleeper is a regular full sleeper. It just stays with the consist and runs back north to Chicago. I’d be very surprised if they don't utilize a full sleeper. 
 
I’m kind of surprised they had to downgrade your room. On days the 421/422 doesn’t run, the normal 21/22 sleeper is a regular full sleeper. It just stays with the consist and runs back north to Chicago. I’d be very surprised if they don't utilize a full sleeper. 
Maybe the sleeper is already full/sold out considering that there most likely were other pax from 421 being moved to 21.  Guessing the downgrade is from a bedroom to a roomette, as I don't consider a roomette in the transdorm a downgrade from a roomette in a regular sleeper.
 
Maybe the sleeper is already full/sold out considering that there most likely were other pax from 421 being moved to 21.  Guessing the downgrade is from a bedroom to a roomette, as I don't consider a roomette in the transdorm a downgrade from a roomette in a regular sleeper.
True, I guess I assumed the downgrade was from a bedroom to a roomette, as that’s the only true downgrade accommodation wise. But my point is to look at a Texas Eagle train on any day of the week they are the same. There is always 1 Transition Sleeper and 1 full Sleeper. The only difference is how they are numbered. So since RayF had space on 421, which is the 2130 car, the only thing that should have happened would be to put him on the 2120 car, which is the normal 21 sleeper, in the same room. The only other explanation is they’re not running a full sleeper at all, and that would be bizarre. 
 
True, I guess I assumed the downgrade was from a bedroom to a roomette, as that’s the only true downgrade accommodation wise. But my point is to look at a Texas Eagle train on any day of the week they are the same. There is always 1 Transition Sleeper and 1 full Sleeper. The only difference is how they are numbered. So since RayF had space on 421, which is the 2130 car, the only thing that should have happened would be to put him on the 2120 car, which is the normal 21 sleeper, in the same room. The only other explanation is they’re not running a full sleeper at all, and that would be bizarre. 
But the 2120 car was probably already sold out and/or other pax from the 2130 car were already reassigned to the 2120.
 
But the 2120 car was probably already sold out and/or other pax from the 2130 car were already reassigned to the 2120.


Got a TEXT on Dec 28 that the 421 was canceled with no other options and to call. They did end up downgrading me from my room on the canceled #421 to the #21 Transition/Dorm, (at least I didn't have to fly back
Umm, he had a room on the 2130 car, so one of the 2120 rooms should have been his. 

Like I said above, on 421 days the sleeper is just renumbered, so either way it’s the same car. 
 
Umm, he had a room on the 2130 car, so one of the 2120 rooms should have been his. 

Like I said above, on 421 days the sleeper is just renumbered, so either way it’s the same car. 
This isn't entirely correct . On 21/22 days between CHI and SAS one can be in the Regular Revenue Sleeper or the Transition Dorm.( which is the #21/#22 Sleeper on #421/#422 days).

I've often been in Both Sleepers on the same #21/#22 trip  changing between  Cars when the Train is full or very busy between CHI and SAS.
 
The TE runs with a sleeper numbered 21/2220? I would have sworn that the full sleeper on the TE was always car 21/2230, as is the case with most other Superliner routes?  :huh:
 
The TE runs with a sleeper numbered 21/2220? I would have sworn that the full sleeper on the TE was always car 21/2230, as is the case with most other Superliner routes?  :huh:
That's true but my point is you can also be assigned to the Transdorm on #21/#22 days on the Daily  TE and that the Tranadorm is the #21/#22 Sleeper on #421/#422 days.

Hope they clarifies???
 
This isn't entirely correct . On 21/22 days between CHI and SAS one can be in the Regular Revenue Sleeper or the Transition Dorm.( which is the #21/#22 Sleeper on #421/#422 days).

I've often been in Both Sleepers on the same #21/#22 trip  changing between  Cars when the Train is full or very busy between CHI and SAS.
Sorry, that’s not was I was trying to convey. Yes the transition sleeper is always available, and is just booked differently. My point is he was downgraded (I assume from a bedroom) to the transition, so when they changed the regular sleeper (from 421/2130 to 21/2120), he should have been automatically transferred. 

The TE runs with a sleeper numbered 21/2220? I would have sworn that the full sleeper on the TE was always car 21/2230, as is the case with most other Superliner routes?  :huh:
Yep, they are numbered differently per which train they are assigned to.  ;)
 
I’m kind of surprised they had to downgrade your room. On days the 421/422 doesn’t run, the normal 21/22 sleeper is a regular full sleeper. It just stays with the consist and runs back north to Chicago. I’d be very surprised if they don't utilize a full sleeper. 
Regarding the room downgrade:
I had originally booked the TE #421 car 2130 in Room "D". When I called after getting their #421 cancelation notice on Dec28 the rep said that there were no bedrooms available left on the #21 (I checked the website before calling and it did say sold out at the time) but she said there were 2 roomettes left on the train. Roomette 17 or 18 in the Transition Sleeper car 2132 so they booked me there and refunded the difference.

[SIZE=11pt]Update just now: I’ve been checking each day since and tonight I saw one room available on the #21. After calling Amtrak again they were able to book me back into a bedroom, room “E” on car 2120. Guess I got lucky…[/SIZE]
 
Regarding the room downgrade:
I had originally booked the TE #421 car 2130 in Room "D". When I called after getting their #421 cancelation notice on Dec28 the rep said that there were no bedrooms available left on the #21 (I checked the website before calling and it did say sold out at the time) but she said there were 2 roomettes left on the train. Roomette 17 or 18 in the Transition Sleeper car 2132 so they booked me there and refunded the difference.

[SIZE=11pt]Update just now: I’ve been checking each day since and tonight I saw one room available on the #21. After calling Amtrak again they were able to book me back into a bedroom, room “E” on car 2120. Guess I got lucky…[/SIZE]
Perfect!! Good to hear. 

I hope it just took them a little while to populate the 2120 inventory. Although it should have been done immediately. 
 
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