CHICAGO — Amtrak Midwest state-supported services have taken another weather-related hit, with cancellations today through Monday for a trains on a number of routes.
In an update posted at 9 a.m. today (Saturday, Jan. 20), Amtrak announced these trains have been cancelled in their entirety:
Lincoln Service (Chicago-St. Louis)
— Today, Sunday, and Monday: Trains 300, 301, 302, 305, 306, and 307; alternate transportation (i.e., buses) will be provided for all but train 300.
Wolverine Service (Chicago-Pontiac, Mich.)
— Today, Sunday, and Monday: Trains 351, 352, 353, and 354; alternate transportation will be provided.
Missouri River Runner (St. Louis-Kansas City)
— Today, Sunday, and Monday: Trains 311 and 316; alternate transporation will be provided.
Hiawatha Service (Chicago-Milwaukee)
— Today and Sunday: Trains 332, 333, 336, 337, 340 and 341; alternate transportation will be provided for trains 333, 337, and 340 only.
— Monday, Jan. 22: Trains 330, 331, 334, 335, 338, 339, and 342; alternate transportation will be provided for trains 331, 335, and 339.
Carl Sandburg (Chicago-Quincy, Ill.)
— Today, Sunday, and Monday: Trains 381 and 382; alternate transportation will be provided.
Saluki/Illini (Chicago-Carbondale, Ill.)
— Today and Sunday: Trains 390 and 393; alternate transportation will be provided.
— Monday: Train 390; alternate transportation will be provided.
As always, schedules are subject to change. Watch the Amtrak website and Amtrak Alerts on social media for updated information.
The National Weather Service has issued a “Hazardous Weather Outlook” for Chicago for excessive cold risk (wind chills of minus-10 to minus-25 degrees) today and Sunday morning, and elevated risk of ice accumulation Monday with a mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet.
Between Jan. 9 and 25 Amtrak cancelled 218 Midwest Regional trains to/from Chicago. This is more than had been cancelled in Jan. 1977 when several weeks of below zero weather resulted in ice covering the tracks serving Chicago’s 12th St shops and damaged scores of stream-heated cars.
My grandparents told me trains used to be the “all weather transportation option” back in the day. I feel like a medieval peasant looking at old Roman aquaducts while I pick off plague fleas…
Looking at a picture of the Afternoon Hiawatha with extra parlor cars during the blizzard of 1967 which shut down O’hare and Midway. Your analogy is great!
I wonder why VIA
runs in the cold but Amtrak can’t or won’t run in the rain?
With equipment built in 1954 and 1955 no less
For many years I lived along the old Michigan Central Line from Porter IN to Detroit. The trains always ran even, if they ran late. The south east coast of Lake Michigan is famous for blizzards and snow drifts. My school in Chesterton a twin town to Chesterton never closed in the early 50’s and neither did the trains.
“Would it behoove Amtrak to…”. Mr. Mulligan: That’s exactly what Coscia, Gardner, and Harris are trying to arrange. Just give ‘em a little more time. They’ll get there. Look, with all that’s going on domestically and internationally not the least of which are the increased rumblings of civil war if Donald Trump doesn’t win the election, whether Amtrak runs or doesn’t run is not exactly on anyone’s list of concerns except for those delusional fools and Amtrak shills at the NARP/RPA and its state affiliates.
Mr. Shapp,
It’s amazing how you zero in on the main problem at Amtrak is the clown show supposedly in charge, Coscia, Gardner, Harris and the rest of the hee haw gang.
Sadly another clown show called Congress will totally ignore Amtraks decline and fall.
Amtraks new slogan should be:
‘Amtrak, ride us while you can’.
You’re right about Amtraks biggest cheer leader RPA. NARP used to be a good organization. Jack Martin, please come back
FWIW: Traversing the Ohio turnpike coupla weeks ago I counted 14 snowplows.
Thank you for answering why the busses are available but trains are not. The other thing I don’t get is when a train does not run for 3 days, why is there a late departure on the next day they do run? Gee, it seems they had 3 days to have something ready to go and then there’s this extended delay.
Airline “mangement” (trying) to run a railroad.
Well these guys must not have been up to standard for air. For example, Chicago O’Hare did have 533 flights [52%] delayed, but only 33 [3%] outright cancelled on Friday. Reagan National had the highest cancellations 116 [26%], delays 251 [56%], followed by LaGuardia and Newark.
Why not just shut down the entire system until spring. What a mess.
Weather earlier today in SE Wisconsin: 10F, little wind, bright sunshine, no snow in the last week.
So why can buses make it through in winter but our shiny new Amtrak trains cannot???
For one thing, the bus engine will keep running to provide heat and light as well as transportation. Each bus will not need a spare engine as apparently Amtrak trains with Tier 4 diesels do. For another, State and County agencies go out of their way to keep Interstate and connecting highways open.
Would it behoove Amtrak to give up on rail outside the NEC and use buses instead of trains? Long distance services could overnight at hotels, stop at restaurants for meals.
At least all of the passengers could get a meal.