CHICAGO — Amtrak has cancelled one of two daily round trips between Chicago and Quincy, Ill., as of today (Thursday, July 30) and at least through Wednesday, Aug. 7.
So far, the only acknowledgement on Amtrak’s website is that the affected Carl Sandburg trains during the period are shown as “sold out.” Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari tells Trains News Wire that alternate transportation is being provided for already-ticketed passengers, and that the trains are not running due to a “high shop count.” In such extended busing situations, the company opts to restrict future sales rather estimate motor coach capacity that will be needed. This practice also allows service to be restored if that becomes possible during the scheduled outage.
The cancelled morning outbound and evening inbound trains to and from Quincy, Nos. 381 and 382, are some of the most lightly patronized of all the Chicago-based state-sponsored frequencies.
The move follows initial terminal delays and maintenance issues that have continued through the month [see “Significant delays, cancellations disrupt Amtrak’s network,” News Wire, July 12, 2024, and “Lack of equipment leads to cancellation …,” News Wire, July 16, 2024].
The most recent examples of departure issues include:
— Lincoln Service No. 307 on July 16 from Chicago left at 10:05 p.m., 2 hours, 55 minutes late. Its 3-hours-plus late arrival caused a 1-hour tardy departure of the first train out of St. Louis the following morning
— Wolverine No. 355, cancelled from Pontiac, Mich., on July 16. No. 351 departed 3 hours, 37 minutes late for Chicago the following morning after a minor derailment while switching the cars from 355.
— Empire Builder from Chicago on July 25 returned to Union Station after departure due to “mechanical issues involving the toilets” and left 3 hours late. Meanwhile, the train departing two days earlier did fine until it ran into heat restrictions and freight congestion across Montana. It then lost more time at Spokane due to mechanical problems and later mandatory crew rest west of the Cascade Tunnel. The train’s termination more than 10 hours late at Everett, Wash., caused the belated cancellation of the eastbound Builder on July 25. This cancellation became official — rather than just a delayed departure — more than 5 hours after the Builder was supposed to leave Seattle. In turn, the westbound train from Chicago on Sunday, July 28, did not operate. The last annulment was attributed to “the severe lateness of inbound equipment.”
— Silver Meteor was more than an hour late departing New York’s Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall on July 16, 18, and 20. The Miami-bound train on July 21 left at 7:27 p.m., 4 hours, 12 minutes late.
— Acelas departing Washington, No. 2162 on July 19 and No. 2108 on July 21, both left more than 1 hour, 15 minutes late.
Other trains such as the Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and Texas Eagle all suffered periodic mid-route delays of 4 hours or more during the last two weeks of July, increasing the strain on Amtrak’s stretched-thin fleet and the personnel charged with maintaining it.
Amtrak has generally improved timely text message and email outreach to ticketed passengers while seldom explaining the precise reason for extended tardiness. However, travelers who have been substantially inconvenienced by unforeseen last-minute delays may take that experience into consideration when weighing their options for the next trip.
As known, either equipment/staff shortage or freight delays can seriously hit and create disruptions for Amtrak’s sensitive Carl Sandburg train service.
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Let us recall that The Illinois Zephyr is the longest continuously operated state-sponsored train, having started in November 1971. The Carl Sandburg was added as the route’s second daily round trip in October 2006. According to Amtrak, during fiscal year 2023, the Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg carried a combined 114 521 passengers, a 14.7% decrease over fiscal year 2022.
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Not this guy again. Incessant “copy and paste” useless “facts”. Last go-round there was speculation that ole’ Gunny isn’t even a live person – a bot instead. Geeze. I know free speech is a constitutional right in the USA, but puh-leeze, do us all a solid and GO AWAY!!
That’s 79 people a train. Wonder how many of those people ride past Galesburg.
The “lightly used” Carl Sandburg is a political animal used by Illinois to appease the Quincy/Western Illinois politicians. The other instrument of political appeasement is Interstate 72 from Springfield to Quincy, the least used interstate highway in the state. A recent audit showed it never should have been built.
Western Illinois University (in Macomb) may be the reason for the train. Many many universities are located in towns with no train service —– including Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois, to name two.
Eastern Illinois is in Charleston and the Amtrak station is over in Mattoon. Believe it or not, EIU says to call a cab and for $24 it will take you over.
As for NIU, the City of DeKalb periodically petitions the State of Illinois to fund a Metra route out to them. So far it only goes as far as Elburn on the UP-West Line. I don’t think DeKalb County is ready to join the RTA taxing district just yet. The new Rockford service just skirts the county line to the north. Sandwich and Somonauk in the far south of the county want the BNSF-Aurora service extended out to them. The loser would be the second largest town of Sycamore. They lost their 2 railroads (CNW and CGW) years ago.
The Carl Sandburg is funded by the State of Illinois. Will Amtrak reimburse Illinois for the days that they did not operate the train?
Landon, I too would very much like to know the answer to that. Anyone on here know how the PRIIA209 is structured?
Haven’t heard anything more about progress with choosing a builder/design for the supposed Superliner equipment replacement at this rate the current cars won’t last until they arrive if they ever do arrive.
I thought Mayor Pete and Amtrak Joe were supposed to reinvigorate Amtrak. Seems to me Amtrak is falling apart. Seems that we can depend on the Hiawatha/ Borealis but nothing else.
VIA and Amtrak are contenders in a race to the bottom. BTW Galen, both countries have been run by the ultra-ultra-ultra left wing for years, so please don’t blame Republicans (or whatever is left on the center-right in Canada).
“ultra-ultra-ultra left wing” per Charles. Charles the GOP is more to blame for Amtrak woes and you know it. What happened under tRump with Amtrak, I thought you might remember. The GOP has been trying to dismantle Amtrak for 50 years now with no plan other than making people miserable like they usually do. Look in the mirror you’re miserable and won’t admit you were taken by a 34 Time Felon. I hate when people bring up politics on this site yet I won’t sit idly by while curmudgeons like Charles spew half truths and lies.
” I hate when people bring up politics on this site yet I won’t sit idly by while curmudgeons like Charles spew half truths and lies.”
Half truths & lies? It’s what they do!
Why on earth did Amtrak sell off a bunch of serviceable Amfleet cars a few years ago that are now running in Mexico?
Good question!
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Perhaps they could some day be used for international passenger service with the U.S. ????