QUINCY, Ill. — Amtrak has announced the suspension of two Midwest trains. No. 380, the morning Quincy to Chicago Illinois Zephyr, and No. 381, the morning Chicago to Quincy Carl Sandburg have been cancelled through Jan. 16, 2023, reports KHQA-TV. Passengers holding tickets for these trains will receive full refunds or be able to rebook without penalty. Bus service will be provided as an alternative to the trains during the cancellation period.
According to Derrick James, Amtrak government affairs director, the Illinois Zephyr-Carl Sandburg morning train cancellations, effective yesterday, are due to the lack of qualified operating crews at the Quincy crew base. For this is the reason both morning trains were cancelled, because the route must be crewed from Chicago.
The afternoon counterparts — No. 382, the Carl Sandburg running Quincy to Chicago, and No. 383, the Illinois Zephyr from Chicago to Quincy — will continue to operate. Amtrak, however, advises checking their website for the current schedule.
How do the bus timings compare with the rail? It may behoove Amtrak to substitute more frequent bus service for trains especially on routes with frequent delays.
Gee, maybe someone at Amtrak read my comments on my son’s Sandburg issues yesterday and decided to just pull the train off for two months? Ya I know, wishful thinking.
Amtrak is Complete Joke of Railroad.