CHICAGO — Amtrak has expanded its list of train cancellations in and out of Chicago because of a forecast of “extremely cold temperatures” to include an extensive number of state-supported services to Illinois and adjacent states.
The company had previously announced cancellations of the Empire Builder in both directions between Chicago and Spokane, Wash., for today (Jan. 17, 2025) through Monday, Jan. 20 [see “Storm cancellations, maintenance failures …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 13, 2025]. While the Builder is once again accepting reservations as of Tuesday, Jan. 21, some cancellations of state-supported trains have now been made through Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Cancelled in an advisory updated at 8 p.m.. ET today are the following trains (additional trains have been added in updates on Sunday, Jan. 19). Alternate transportation is being provided as noted; that information has also been updated several times.
The Chicago-St. Paul, Minn., Borealis:
— Westbound train No. 1333 on Saturday, Jan. 18; in both directions (trains 1333 and 1340) Sunday through Tuesday, Jan. 19-21. Alternate bus transportation will be provided all days.
Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee:
— On Saturday, Jan. 18, northbound trains 339 (a 5:08 p.m. departure from Chicago) and 341 (8:05 p.m.). Bus transportation will be provided.
— On Sunday, Jan. 19, southbound trains 332 (an 8:05 a.m. departure from Milwaukee) and 336 (1:05 p.m.) and northbound trains 337 (3:15 p.m.) and 341. Bus transportation will be provided.
— On Monday, Jan. 20, and Tuesday, Jan. 21: southbound trains 330 (6:15 a.m. departure), 334 (11 a.m.) and 336, and northbound trains 331 (8:25 a.m.), 337, and 341. Bus transportation will be provided both days.
— On Wednesday, Jan. 22, southbound trains 330 and 332 are canceled, a change as of Jan. 20 from the original plan calling for cancellation trains 339 and 341. Bus transportation will be provided.
Wolverine service between Chicago and Pontiac, Mich.:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19, eastbound trains 352 (departing Chicago at 2:15 p.m.) and 354 (departing 5:50 p.m.). Bus transportation will be provided. Update: Also cancelled on Sunday, according to Amtrak Alerts, are train 350 (a 6:45 a.m. departure from Chicago), because of equipment issues; train 353 between Jackson, Mich., and Chicago, because of crew issues, and train 355 (a scheduled 5:28 p.m. departure from Pontiac) because of equipment unavailability. Bus transportation will be provided for No. 353; Amtrak said at 10:15 a.m. it was attempting to arrange bus transportation for No. 350. No mention is made of alternate transportation for No. 355.
— On Monday, Jan. 20, and Tuesday, Jan. 21: eastbound trains 352 and 354; westbound trains 351 (a 5:43 a.m. departure from Pontiac) and 353 (an 8:50 a.m. departure). Bus transportation will be provided both days.
— On Wednesday, Jan. 22, westbound trains 351 and 353. Bus transportation will be provided.
The Chicago-Quincy, Ill., Carl Sandburg:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19, and Monday, Jan. 20: Westbound No. 381 (a 7:40 a.m. departure from Chicago) and eastbound No. 382 (a 5:30 p.m. departure from Quincy. Bus transportation will be provided both days.
The Los Angeles-New Orleans Sunset Limited:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19: Eastbound No. 2 is cancelled.
— On Monday, Jan. 20: Westbound No. 1 is cancelled.
The Chicago-San Antonio Texas Eagle:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19: Northbound train No. 422 is cancelled.
— On Monday, Jan. 20: Southbound No. 21 is cancelled between Fort Worth, Texas, and San Antonio.
— On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Northbound No. 22 is cancerlled between San Antonio and Fort Worth.
Amtrak cautions that additional cancellations or delays may occur because of the weather. Watch the Amtrak website or Amtrak Alerts and Amtrak NEC Alerts on X.com for additional updates.
The Chicago-New Orleans City of New Orleans:
— Monday, Jan. 20: Southbound No. 59 is cancelled.
— Tuesday, Jan. 21: Northbound No. 58 is cancelled; southbound No. 59 is cancelled between Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans.
— Wednesday, Jan. 22: Northbound No. 58 is cancelled between New Orleans and Memphis.
The current Accuweather.com forecast calls for lows between -1 degree and 3 degrees in Chicago Sunday through Tuesday; of minus-1 to to minus-15 Saturday through Monday in St. Paul, Minn., and of 2 to minus-4 in Pontiac Sunday through Tuesday.
— Updated at 7:15 p.m. CT with information on alternate bus transportation; updated Jan. 18 at 10:30 a.m. CT with addition of bus transportation for Carl Sandburg passengers’ updated Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m. with addition of bus transportation on most remaining trains; updated at 2:02 p.m. CT with Sunset Limited cancellations, and at 2:13 p.m. with additional Wolverine cancellations; updated at 6:20 p.m. with Texas Eagle and City of New Orleans cancellations. Updated Jan. 20 at 5:05 p.m. to reflect changes in Hiawatha cancellations on Jan.22.
Why cancel the City of New Orleans to the sunny south?
It’s the off season in Canada,amtrash should borrow some beautiful 70 year old Budd cars from Via Rail ,they run very well in the cold.
So let’s get this straight. It’s okay to work the freight trains with staff in year around temperatures but it’s not okay to run passenger trains when it gets cold outside in the winter in the Midwest.
I’ll just say this. I’ve lived in Illinois or Wisconsin for 72 of my 74 years. (The US Army wanted me in Virginia for two year’s active duty way back when.)
This weather is nothing special. It’s January in the Midwest. It’s going to be cold. And 0 degrees F isn’t all that cold.
If you can’t run your trains at around 0 F, you are not serious about running trains,
Borealis having one less car is more likely to be due to the shortage of viable cars, the Horizon cars are 30+ yrs old & never were as reliable as Amfleet cars.
https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/amtrak-cancellations-more-than-just-weather/
My wife has spent much time in Northern Wisconsin including back before 5/1/1971 when CNW still ran trains up in the far north woods. I asked her if the trains ran in the -50F. She said yes, they did.
That was long ago. Memories can be selective, and nothing was as good as the good old days. I’m sure that the Flambeau 400 and other such Northwoods CNW trains had their off days as we all do. But I can’t dismiss what she said. Trains are supposed to run in the cold.
I knew an American (he lived in Canada) who did a lot of train riding in the far reaches of our neighbor to the north. (One winter with me along.) He told me once a conductor wouldn’t let him off the train, not because the connecting train was annulled (it wasn’t), but because he’d freeze to death waiting for it.
My home is in SE Wisconsin. Generally it’s to terribly cold. Sometimes it has been (especially around 1989 – 1995). If Amtrak was cancelling trains back then, I have no recollection of such.
Sorry, fat finger. Last paragraph I meant to write “Generally, it’s NOT terribly cold.”
There are now webcams available in certain locations thanks to an organization called Steel Highway. The cams are on 24 hours and you can look back up to 12 hours.
One is located across from the depot in Columbus. I check it regularly to see how the Builder and “Boring-Alice” are performing. Borealis now runs with four cars instead of five, probably due to lower ridership.
The Builder often run OT or close westbound and surprisingly often On Time eastbound as well. When EB Builder is late, it is really late. When it finally gets in, sure enough, there is a BNSF freight engine pulling a Charger and a P40.
Maybe Amtrak could swallow its pride, admit the Chargers are no good in winter, and arrange for BNSF or other cold-weather freight engine to lead two older more reliable Amtrak diesels for HEP on a slower winter schedule.
The Chargers are no good in extreme cold. Meanwhile, I hear the F125’s used by Metrolink in California have troubles with the extreme heat. Maybe the two should consider a swap? Even if it’s just a trial of a few units?
If a motorcoach breaks down on the Interstate public svcs will be there to assist if Amtrak train breaks down in the middle of nowhere they’re on their own.
Amtrak best hope that none of the buses are involved in a serious incident with injuries and ————
I agree with Amtrak chargers are not built for extreme cold plus the cars they don’t have accurate heating. Not only that cold weather can damage switches and it can cause sliding on the track and damage wheels. Until the weather improves or Siemens mobility delivers some upgrades to the chargers all equipment is grounded and no trains are allowed to leave Union Station.
So sad they are canceling trains due to extreme weather. Then offering alternative bus service. Says it all. Buses can run but trains can’t.
Old equipment (try starting a 40 yr old car in those temps) & new technology not suited for extreme cold, maybe mutual understanding with some RR’s since they will obviously have problems of their own to deal with that there would be no help available in the event of a breakdown.
OK. It’s cold. Trains can’t run? What’s the real problem?
Forecast for Milwaukee area (where I live) is zero snow, normal winter cold, for the next few days. Other than stashing winter clothing in the Subaru (this is winter and this is Wisconsin) I have made no changes to my routine.
By this post this morning I hereby do formally and officially retract all my recent posts in support of the Borealis.
Oh and BTW if a bus can run on the Borealis route why can’t a train run.