Empire Builder flood disruptions
- Thread starter anir dendroica
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amamba
Engineer
But Alan, there are many times that Amtrak does things that are really obtuse, like stop just short of a station when there is a long delay and not let people off. My husband was stuck on an NEC train once, just feet from the PVD station, for many long hours. There was no HEP (I don't know what the deal was), so they sweltered and sat with no operating toilets. The staff all went and hid, and no one was given any updates. It is a combination of being able to see the destination and absolutely no communication from the staff that infuriates pax.
I do liken it to being stuck on a plane sitting on the tarmac. At this point, the federal government has established reasonable amounts of time that the airplanes are allowed to do that. Offhand, I don't know what they are, but my understanding is that after a certain amount of time they have to provide food and/or water or return to the gate, and if not, there are fines.
I understand that there are ROW issues, and obviously it is dangerous to have tons of pax walking along the tracks, but I also feel for the pax in a situation where the conditions on the train are unbearable and the delays have been many hours. I just think sometimes amtrak needs to handle it better, and in the cause of Claude on FB, I think they should have provided free food at some point during a 23 hour delay (if I understood his post correctly, it sounds like he did not receive any complimentary food).
anir dendroica
OBS Chief
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2009
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Photos of the Amtrak route from BNSF:
http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/weather/2011-04-14.pdf
Supposedly both the Hillsboro and Devils Lake subdivisions are back in service today, but I'm guessing there will be extensive slow orders.
Adding insult to injury, much of North Dakota is getting covered by snow today.
Mark
http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/weather/2011-04-14.pdf
Supposedly both the Hillsboro and Devils Lake subdivisions are back in service today, but I'm guessing there will be extensive slow orders.
Adding insult to injury, much of North Dakota is getting covered by snow today.
Mark
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EB_OBS
Conductor
Cool, that's some of the PDF I was trying to figure out how to post. The one I have has 41 photos.
Ryan
Court Jester
R
rick
Guest
I'm getting concerned. We are ticketed on 27 on May 8th from Chicago to Portland and will connect with The Coast Starlight to LA. We made these reservations last September and chose to ride the long way to LA. I really hope things are better in three weeks. I know Amtrak calls you a couple of days ahead of time if the train won't run,but at that point I would imagine the sleepers on the other Westbound trains..California Zephyr, Southwest chief and the Texas Eagle are sold out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll even put up with "bustitution" from Pasco to Klamath Falls if the train is running late. I just want it to be running!
Cristobal
Lead Service Attendant
Looking at those pics makes one wonder why anyone ever decided that it was a good idea to run both a highway and a railway across a 'sea' of water.
Just kidding, of course, but I had no idea that people living in that area were being subjected to those kind of conditions somewhat frequently. It really does almost looks like a huge, inland sea.
ACVitale
Service Attendant
WOW! That is some very clear and extensive photography that shows the real challanges being faced. I can only imagine what those who live in those communities are going thru....
amtrakwolverine
Engineer
In that case I would get off the train if it means jumping out the emergency window. So i get arrested its better then passing out from the heat with no remorse from the crew.
TraneMan
Conductor
The status map is not working??
M
michael
Guest
Train #8 departed Whitefish on time today!
Tumbleweed
OBS Chief
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R
Rick
Guest
Train 27 was two hours late into Williston ND. Two hours I can handle. Our trip on #27 from Chicago to Portland is three weeks away. Hope the Builder will keep running on a daily basis!
Passed out is better than dead. It's also better than sitting in jail with a broken leg.
amtrakwolverine
Engineer
@ alanB
passed out from heat exhaustion in the middle of summer because of No HEP and 2 feet from the station I'm getting off the train if it means jumping out the window. 2 feet from the station is BS.
passed out from heat exhaustion in the middle of summer because of No HEP and 2 feet from the station I'm getting off the train if it means jumping out the window. 2 feet from the station is BS.
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TVRM610
Conductor
While I certainly hope you were joking bout the window I still feel compelled to say...
If there is no immediate danger (and the AC turned off is not what I mean by immediate danger, I mean the fire is going to burn you alive, or the water is going to drown you type of danger) never ever attempt to open an emergency window.
If you were to actually remove a window because the car was "too hot" you would almost surely be arrested and charged very large fees. Not only for the damage, but for operating emergency equipment when an emergency did not in fact exist.
While you still shouldn't do it, opening a door in a vestibule is at least not going to damage the car like removing a window. Plus the hop down is alot more manageable. Still doesn't mean its safe or legal, but alot smarter than a window.
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