NEW ORLEANS — Amtrak’s City of New Orleans continues to operate over only a portion of its route as Canadian National crews continue to repair damage in the wake of Hurricane Ida.
An Amtrak advisory notes that effective with the Wednesday, Sept. 8, southbound departure from Chicago, the train will operate to Jackson, Miss., with northbound service originating from Jackson as of Thursday, Sept. 9. The train had previously been terminating and originating in Memphis.
Amtrak is not providing substitute transportation for the 188 miles between Jackson and New Orleans.
Service to New Orleans has been restored for the Crescent and Sunset Limited.
Meanwhile, Amtrak should revert to the original name of the train, ‘Panama Limited’. The train name ‘City of New Orleans’ previously belonged to Illinois Central Railroad’s daytime coach-only train.
The phrase ‘Panama Limited’ carries more dignity than be named for a city overrun with poverty and crime.
So then Willie Nelson would sing, “Ridin’ On The Panama Limited, Illinois Central Monday morning rail?” Doesn’t have that ring to it.
Willie would also have to change the second line to “Amtrak evening departure.”
While New Orleans has seen its share of bad luck at least since Katrina, I think it unfair to run it down as you have. New Orleans just like Chicago and most big cities have problems with poverty and crime. But my wife and I love visiting New Orleans and have always found it and it’s people to be very hospitable and friendly. If you’ve never been there I recommend it.
Are the highways closed? Is the station closed? Is there a reason not to run a bus connection? I would think the number of passengers on the train would be considerably reduced without some form of service to New Orleans.
Because there aren’t any buses or people to staff them? Because fuel is in VERY short supply? Remember that people who live in NOLA are stretched THIN (I’ve been living in MS and TX since the storm, courtesy of my company which is fitting the loging bill).
Power has been restored to most of the city but large portions of the area south and west of NOLA are still without power. This storm was HUGE. We rode it out in our house, but will never do that again. It was frightening.
And ultimately because casual travel to NOLA isn’t something that should be happening for at least another couple weeks. This doesn’t happen overnight.