Lake Shore Limited - Empire Builder Connection?

[John L]

I'm booked to catch the Lake Shore Limited (449) this Thursday in Boston, arrive Chicago at 9:25 AM, and then get on the Empire Builder (27) at 2:15 PM. I saw that the 449 is usually quite delayed, though not usually enough to cause a problem. Does anyone have a guess what my chances are of missing the connection? Will they hold the train if it's close? (Starting to worry, since I have a meeting on the West Coast on Monday morning -- hope this forum is an OK place to ask!)

 

[Long Train Runnin']

This might help.

Status for train 449 arriving into CHI2014-07-28: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 12:00 pm Delay: 135 minutes

2014-07-27: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 2:00 pm Delay: 255 minutes

2014-07-26: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 12:32 pm Delay: 167 minutes

2014-07-25: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 12:26 pm Delay: 161 minutes

2014-07-24: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:16 pm Delay: 211 minutes

2014-07-21: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 11:38 am Delay: 113 minutes

2014-07-19: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 2:33 pm Delay: 288 minutes

2014-07-18: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:42 pm Delay: 237 minutes

2014-07-17: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:37 pm Delay: 232 minutes

2014-07-15: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:03 pm Delay: 198 minutes

2014-07-14: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:11 pm Delay: 206 minutes

2014-07-13: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:11 pm Delay: 206 minutes

2014-07-12: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 12:45 pm Delay: 180 minutes

2014-07-11: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:43 pm Delay: 238 minutes

2014-07-10: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 11:45 am Delay: 120 minutes

2014-07-09: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 5:13 pm Delay: 448 minutes

2014-07-08: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 3:03 pm Delay: 318 minutes

2014-07-07: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:35 pm Delay: 230 minutes

2014-07-06: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 2:24 pm Delay: 279 minutes

2014-07-05: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 12:26 pm Delay: 161 minutes

2014-07-04: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:13 pm Delay: 208 minutes

2014-07-02: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 1:49 pm Delay: 244 minutes

2014-07-01: Scheduled: 9:45 am Actual: 2:33 pm Delay: 288 minutes

Average delay is 223 minutes

Info from http://www.amtrakdelays.onlineschedulingsoftware.com/

 

[Bob Dylan]

You might want to consider either a layover night in CHI (on your dime) or taking the California Zephyr #5 from CHI to Sacramento and connecting with the Coast Starlight #14 to Seattle!

Both are guaranteed connections (Amtrak will take care of you if you miss connections)but the LSL has been living up to its old nickname of the Late Shore Ltd. as shown and the Builder is having a really Bad Year!!!

 

[the_traveler]

I'd say the clances of making the connection are good. If the LSL was close to departure time, and there were connecting passengers, I'm sure the EB would be held. But probably not if there's 10 hours between departure of the EB and the arrival of the LSL!

 

[John L]

You might want to consider either a layover night in CHI (on your dime) or taking the California Zephyr #5 from CHI to Sacramento and connecting with the Coast Starlight #14 to Seattle!

Both are guaranteed connections (Amtrak will take care of you if you miss connections)but the LSL has been living up to its old nickname of the Late Shore Ltd. as shown and the Builder is having a really Bad Year!!!

Does this mean that the LSL-EB connection isn't guaranteed? The Amtrak website sold it to me as a single ticket without any warning about this. I don't really mind EB delays after the connection, unless it ends up being >18 hrs late!

 

[the_traveler]

The LSL to EB connection is guaranteed.

 

[Bob Dylan]

The problem with missing the Connection in CHI if the Lake Shore is too late is that while Amtrak would put you up, give you food and transportation $$ and book you onto the next days Empire Builder ( IF Rooms are available??, you could end up in Coach!!!)That would make you a day late into SEA!!

I'd either book a day earlier from BOS-CHI-SEA to have a cushion between CHI and SEA or else do the Zephyr/ Starlight Route since there is an 8-12 hour layover in SAC and it's a guaranteed connection also!!!

The Empire Builder will continue to have 4-24 hour delays, Bustitutions etc for the next year to 18 months!

And the Zephyr/ Starlight route has wonderful scenery and the PPC car for Sleeping Car Pax on the Starlight!!!

 

[jebr]

The problem with missing the Connection in CHI if the Lake Shore is too late is that while Amtrak would put you up, give you food and transportation $$ and book you onto the next days Empire Builder ( IF Rooms are available??, you could end up in Coach!!!)That would make you a day late into SEA!!

I'd either book a day earlier from BOS-CHI-SEA to have a cushion between CHI and SEA or else do the Zephyr/ Starlight Route since there is an 8-12 hour layover in SAC and it's a guaranteed connection also!!!

The Zephyr has been having its own delays as of late, and the Zephyr leaves before the Builder out of CHI, so there's a (slightly) better chance of making the Builder.

OP: That being said, I'd stick with the original itinerary. There's a small chance that you'll miss the connection, but if so you'll be on Amtrak's dime and they'll give you a food voucher, a room for the night, and space on the next's day train (if there's no sleeper space available, though, you may have to take coach. )

 

[John L]

Thanks all for the info! I'm booked in coach anyway, so I guess if I get bounced to the next day it's not the end of the world. The meeting's a week long, they ought to forgive me for arriving a little late.

Thanks too for the Zephyr suggestion -- I'll keep it in mind if I end up having to reroute somehow out of CHI. Hoping to make that trip next summer either way!

 

[afigg]

This might help.

....

Info from http://www.amtrakdelays.onlineschedulingsoftware.com/

I think the list of CHI arrivals for the past month helps, but it is also depressing. The LSL is having a terrible summer for OTP.

 

[benale]

If you don't mind the extra train time, you could go to Washington DC from Boston and take The Capitol Limited. It leaves at 4:05PM and arrives in Chicago an hour earlier than the Lake Shore. #29 is also running late recently,but it is getting into Chicago earlier than #449. You said you were in Coach. The Capitol Limited is a Superliner, much more comfortable and spacious than The LSL.

 

[amamba]

I would be more concerned about the late arriving Empire Builder than the connection from the LSL to the EB.

I hope you make it in time for your meeting.