CHICAGO — Amtrak’s cold-weather cancellations in the Midwest continue to mount, with the cancellations now extending into Thursday, Jan. 23 — seven days after the first trains were cancelled.
The newest cancellations, according to an update at 4:20 p.m. ET today (Jan. 21, 2025); an update on Thursday, Jan. 23 has added new information on bus transportation.
Today, Jan. 21:
— The Illinois Zephyr’s 5:55 p.m. departure from Chicago to Quincy, Ill.; Amtrak said it is “seeking alternate bus transportation.”
— Lincoln Service train No. 305, the 5:20 p.m. departure from Chicago for St. Louis. Again, Amtrak is seeking bus transportation.
Wednesday, Jan. 22:
— Hiawatha cancellations have expanded from two (southbound trains 330 and 332) to six: 330, 334 (an 11 a.m. departure from Milwaukee), 336 (the 1:05 p.m. departure from Milwaukee), 331 (the 8:25 a.m. departure from Chicago), 337 (the 3:15 p.m. departure from Chicago) and 341 (the 8:05 p.m. departure from Chicago). Bus transportation will be provided. No. 332 is now not listed as cancelled. This is the third different set of cancellations that have been announced, so confirming train status is highly recommended.
— Wolverine cancellations have increased from two (trains 351 and 353) to four, adding Chicago-Pontiac trains 352 (a 2:15 p.m. departure) and 354 (a 5:50 p.m. departure). Bus transportation is confirmed for trains 351 and 353, but is not offered for trains 352 and 354. Train 355 was also a late cancellation, with bus transportation provided.
— Lincoln Service No. 300 (the 4:30 a.m. departure from St. Louis to Chicago) is cancelled; bus transportation will be provided. Chicago-St. Louis No. 305 is also cancelled, with no bus transportation.
— Illinois Zephyr trains 380 (Quincy-Chicago, departing 6:12 a.m.) and 383 (Chicago-Quincy) are cancelled. Bus transportation will be provided for No. 380 but is not available for No. 383.
— Both directions of the Borealis. Eastbound No. 1340 had been cancelled earlier and bus transportation is being provided; westbound No. 1333 was a late addition in an update Jan. 22 at 10:40 a.m. ET, with no bus transportation.
— Sunset Limited: While not included in the service advisory, Amtrak’s website indicates train No. 1, scheduled to depart New Orleans this morning at 9 a.m., has also been cancelled.
Thursday, Jan. 23:
As of Thursday morning, the number of cancelled trains offering alternate bus transportation has expanded.
— Borealis No. 1340 (St. Paul-Chicago). Bus transportation will be provided.
— Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha trains 330 and 332. Bus transportation will be provided
— Pontiac-Chicago Wolverine trains 351 and 353. Bus transportation will be provided.
— Lincoln Service train 300; bus transportation will be provided.
— Quincy-Chicago Illinois Zephyr No. 380; bus transportation will be provided.
— The northbound City of New Orleans, train No. 58, between New Orleans and Memphis, Tenn.
According to Accuweather.com, Thursday’s forecasts in Chicago currently calls for a high of 22 degrees and a low of 7, while St. Paul, Minn., will have a high of 11 and a low of 1, Pontiac calls for 24 and 8, and St. Louis is forecast for a high of 29 and a low of 12.
Earlier News Wire cancellation stories, which include other trains cancelled today and Wednesday, are available here and here.
— Updated Jan. 22 at 7:15 a.m. CT to include Sunset Limited; updated at 1:20 p.m. with cancellation of westbound Borealis and status of bus transportation; updated Jan. 23 at 7:08 CT with new bus information and information on City of New Orleans.
As a kid, I lived in suburban CT near NYC. The bankrupt New Haven ran in all weather. I went into city most every Saturday to railfan. One Saturday AM, it was snowing heavily, temp 19F. My train, the 8:10am express into the city peared out of the snow squall right on time and arrived GCT on time. Same for my PM return to CT.
Amtrak is disfunctional.
So, Lawrence, that’s two of us who findly remember the New Haven. It was long ago so I can’t specifically recall a bad-weather trip. What I do remember is that each time I bought a ticket, whether for the Providence Local, or to college from Route 128 to New York, I got where I was going. I don’t recall any significant delays.
Amtrak stinks. BTW I’m not at all amused by the posters on these pages (no names but we know who they are) who blame Republican presidents (past and present) for Amtrak’s mess. Amtrak Joe was president for four years until last Monday, and Mayor Pete was his SecUSDOT. I can’t understand how people can pile on Amtrak on these pages but give Joe and Pete a pass. Maybe Trump and Sean Duffy won’t do any better. We’ll see.
Yes, a “high” temperature of 22 degrees F and a “Low” of degrees in Chicago doesn’t sound THAT extremely low (?). The Chicago-area, and the upper-Midwest for that matter have experienced colder temperatures than that and somehow Amtrak and the railroads managed to operate through that “extreme” cold weather (at least in the “Old days”).
And if these winter weather conditions are so extreme such that Amtrak cannot operate and must annul their trains, why is it that that buses can still operate in these conditions?
Yes, maybe Amtrak had completely failed and it’s time to convert all of these corridors to intercity bus services ?
Sell all the trains and replace with luxury buses.
If you think being bustituted is bad, if the status of your train is ““seeking alternate bus transportation'”, you’re really screwed because it means there MIGHT not even be a bus and we (Amtrak) don’t really know, either.
As a kid I regularly rode with my parents New York Central trains from Chicago to Detroit and back through snow and ice around the snow belt around Lake Michigan. It sounds to me like Amtrak cancelled because they don’t have the equipment & cooperation of the host railroads. I rode from 1945 to 1952
I suspect they don’t have enough working equipment to cover most of these trains, and must figure out what combinations of cancellations will affect the lowest number of passenger miles over several days. Short haul trips are easier to replace with buses, and keep the equipment closer to Chicago Shops to maximize flexibility.
If you look at the Amtrak Service Delay reports, it seems as if about two-thirds of the serious delays and annulments stem from the cumulative effects of equipment breakdowns followed the need to rest or bring in other crews to replace those that “go dead” on the hours-of-service law due to the delays. The delays then impact the next scheduled departures for the equipment involved.
The rest appear be primarily a mix a of freight train breakdowns and congestion (and similar freight re-crewing problems), plus grade crossing accidents and pedestrian strikes. There are also the odd law enforcement incidents near the ROW, wire problems on the Northeast Corridor, etc. Sooner or later, the breakdowns and repairs begin to strip scheduled trains of locos and cars needed to operate.
The real problem is that Amtrak never knows from year to year what the politicans will do to their budgets, making any sort of logical equipment replacement program extremely difficult. Amtrak desperately needs new and additional locomotives and cars – until they get them, this situation is only going to get worse
I want to see better Amtrak management before the taxpayers are asked to spend many billions more on it then beyond what is happening now.
I just found Amtrak vice president Gerhard Williams’ comments further down in News Wire. His reasons seem to be over cautious to me. While indeed some train routes could warrant cancellations, Amtrak has thrown in the towel.
Amtrak management should be asked to provide the reasoning behind these cancellations. Temperatures in the twenties should not hobble rail transportation.