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):
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; Amtrak is seeking buses for trains 352 and 354.
— 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, but bus transportation is not mentioned.
— 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 and is being sought for No. 383.
Thursday, Jan. 23:
Cancellations do not currently include alternate bus transportation unless noted.
— Borealis No. 1340 (St. Paul-Chicago).
— Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha trains 330 and 332.
— Pontiac-Chicago Wolverine trains 351 and 353.
— Lincoln Service train 300; bus transportation will be provided.
— Quincy-Chicago Illinois Zephyr No. 380; bus transportation will be provided.
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.
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.