WASHINGTON — Amtrak has begun another round of weather-related train cancellations, announcing three cancellations for Tuesday, Feb. 11, and seven for Wednesday, Feb. 12, because of a pair of winter storm forecasts.
According to an advisory posted today (Feb. 10, 2025) at 4:20 p.m., cancelled on Tuesday are:
— The eastbound Empire Builder scheduled to depart Seattle/Portland for Chicago.
— The Washington-Roanoke, Va., portion of Northeast Regional train No. 171, which originates in Boston at 8:12 a.m.
— Train No. 85 (Boston-Richmond, Va.), a 10:20 a.m. departure from Boston, in its entirety.
Cancelled on Wednesday are:
— The westbound Empire Builder departing from Chicago.
— Richmond-New York train No. 86, a scheduled 5:35 a.m. departure.
— Washington-New York trains No. 130, a 6:30 a.m. departure, and No. 112, a 7:45 a.m. departure
— New York-Washington trains No. 119, an 11:13 a.m. departure, and No. 131, a 12:10 p.m. departure.
— Train No. 134 between Roanoke (departing at 6:15 a.m.) and Washington; the Washington-New York portion is still scheduled to operate.
Amtrak’s service advisory says the cancellations are “for the safety of Amtrak customers and employees,” and that “no alterantive transportation [is] being offered despite our efforts.” The company does note that the Chicago-Twin Cities Borealis is currently still scheduled to operate on that portion of the Empire Builder route.
Non-weather cancellations today, according to the Amtrak Alerts feed on X.com, include one round trip of the Piedmont between Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., and Vancouver-Seattle Amtrak Cascades train No. 519, all for mechanical/equipment issues. Also, the Amtrak website reports that today’s westbound departure of the Sunset Limited is currently stopped west of Lafayette, La., awaiting a new crew — apparently after being involved in a grade-crossing accident earlier today, according to images on the KMDL Radio website. Amtrak says “BNSF crews have completed the engine swap.” The train is currently estimated to reach Lake Charles, La., at 7:30 p.m., five hours, 35 minutes late.
Watch the Amtrak website, or the Amtrak Alerts and Amtrak Northeast feeds on X.com, for further updates.
— Updated at 6:15 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. with Sunset Limited information.
With the higher Wednesday snow totals expected to the south and east of Chicago, and with there being no Hiawatha or Borealis cancelations on the same rails used by the Empire Builder, the EB cancelations seem to be related more to recovery from last week’s tardiness than to avoid issues from the upcoming storm.