PORTLAND, Ore. — The latest in Amtrak’s series of weather-related operating cancellations in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest — caused by a mudslide, cold, and snow — will extend until at least Tuesday morning, based on information available as of Sunday evening, Jan. 21.
A mudslide south of Kelso, Wash., on BNSF Railway’s Amtrak Cascades corridor resulted in the cancellation of all passenger trains between Seattle and Portland, Ore., beginning Saturday, Jan. 20, through morning departures on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The Coast Starlight is the first southbound train set to resume the full route.
Meanwhile, week-long Michigan Wolverine and Chicago-St. Louis cancellations that continued over the weekend [see “Amtrak Midwest routes see three days of cancellations,” News Wire, Jan. 20, 2024] are also set to last through Tuesday morning as idled equipment begins resuming cancelled round-trips out of Chicago that day. Two westbound morning trains from Pontiac, Mich. (Nos. 351 and 353) and one from St. Louis (No. 300) are showing “sold out” Tuesday, often a precursor to cancellations as Amtrak prevents further ticket purchases for trains at risk of annulment.
The most significant recent weather challenges in the Chicago area have been several feet of lake-effect snow south of Lake Michigan beginning Friday, but this has not deterred the Michigan trains that have been running or Amtrak’s Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited. Norfolk Southern freight traffic is also getting through.
What has been an issue through days of sub-zero nighttime temperatures is Amtrak shop forces’ inability to get trains out of Chicago close to on time.
On Tuesday, Jan. 16 — the first day after most long-distance trains began operating again — the California Zephyr departed 3 hours late and four other trains left about 2 hours late. The following day, the Southwest Chief departed 3 hours, 35 minutes late at 6:25 p.m. and delays to seven other trains ranged from 57 minutes (the California Zephyr), to 2 hours, 54 minutes (the Texas Eagle).
Thursday’s longest delay was 55 minutes (Wolverine No. 350). The Blue Water to Port Huron, Mich., had a rough time on both Friday and Saturday, leaving nearly 3½ late both days, at 7:24 p.m. and 7:27 p.m., respectively.
But the Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids, Mich., and Milwaukee-bound, reduced-schedule Hiawathas left mostly on time through the period. Sixteen of 21 Amtrak trains leaving from Friday, Jan. 19, through Saturday, Jan. 20, departed as advertised.
One glaring exception: the first westbound Empire Builder since Jan. 10, couldn’t get out of the gate until 5:11 p.m. on Saturday, 2 hours, 6 minutes late. The good news: Sunday’s Builder left on time.
AMTRAK just discovered that it snows in the Great Lakes region. New York Central Railroad etc. etc. dealt with this climate every winter.
Perhaps to oversimplify, let me explain snow to the guys and the gals at Amtrak’s operations desk in Delaware. (Me having lived most of my life in SE Michigan or SE Wisconsin.) SE Wisconsin, on the west shore of Lake Michigan, like for example Milwaukee, is cold and has, usually, not too much snow, Milwaukee’s snow falls on the southeast or east shores of Lake Michigan, which tends to be slightly warmer. This would be northern Indiana or else Michigan’s western counties.
Further east, you get the exact same thing. SE Michigan, for example Detroit, is near or at the western tip of Lake Erie. This region is very cold and tends to have not all that much snow. Detroit’s snow falls on the opposite shore of Lake Erie, like Cleveland, where it tends to be a bit warmer.
I’ve never lived near Lake Ontario, but I assume it has much the same pattern. As you go east, Rochester – Syracuse – Utica, there’s tons of snow. As far as I know, this area isn’t particularly cold compared to other regions that far north.
There, folks, is a thumbnail sketch of winter weather south of the Great Lakes. AMTRAK, here’s my advice: plan for it and deal with it.
they do deal with it like all the east coasties, snow prediction, cancel everything 48 hours in advance. Meanwhile the freight keeps on running on CSX, just keep the high priority out of the yards.
It snowed in Wilmington last week, first measurable snow in almost 2 years.
Acela trains are serviced indoors, in train-length garages at Wash, Sunnyside and Boston. Yet they are annulled before the outdoor Amfleets.