California Zephyr busing

[moosejunky99]

i saw this info on a website... hopefully it is good news.. i'm also on the CZ in October...

https://www.chron.com/travel/article/California-Zephyr-Amtrak-route-closed-mudslides-16357722.php

 

[Rover]

i saw this info on a website... hopefully it is good news.. i'm also on the CZ in October...

https://www.chron.com/travel/article/California-Zephyr-Amtrak-route-closed-mudslides-16357722.php

I went to this site based on a link from your story.

Glenwood Canyon likely to remain closed for ‘weeks’ as I-70 assessed, repaired following numerous mudslides

State of Emergency declared to free up funds

https://www.postindependent.com/new...-70-damaged-from-mudslides-assessed-repaired/

 

[moosejunky99]

at the bottom of your news story..

Rail impacts

Union Pacific Railroad tracks through Glenwood Canyon were also impacted by mud and debris flows, shutting down both freight and passenger service through the canyon since late Thursday.

Amtrak spokesman Mark Maggiori said Monday the California Zephyr line is temporarily suspended and is not running on an alternate route, as has been the case with past closures in Colorado.

“Sometimes we will re-route through Wyoming, but UP can’t support that at this time,” Maggiori said.

UP spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said Monday that about 80% of the debris has been cleared from the tracks, and that they should be able to resume rail service through Glenwood Canyon by midweek.

“Crews continued to clear debris Monday caused by last week’s mudslide through Glenwood Canyon,” she said. “Barring any additional delays caused by severe weather or unforeseen events, Union Pacific estimates the track will reopen sometime this week, perhaps by Wednesday.”

 

[Willbridge]

Another mudslide, this one near Empire Junction (US40/I-70 interchange) has closed the DEN<>GJT highway detour route. No estimate yet as to when it'll be cleared.

 

[Rover]

Another mudslide, this one near Empire Junction (US40/I-70 interchange) has closed the DEN<>GJT highway detour route. No estimate yet as to when it'll be cleared.

Safety Closure Lifted...

 

[AFriendly]

“Sometimes we will re-route through Wyoming, but UP can’t support that at this time,”

Generally, big yellow seems to be operating like a 40-mile short line these days. What's infuriating is that Amtrak supposedly just won a legal battle to get the Class 1s to deliver its trains on time more often, but UPs response seems to be to not deliver them at all. This is the second Amtrak train that's suspended until further notice due to them. Newsflash: wildfires and bad weather happen every year and are getting worse. Time to put your big boy pants on.

OK...rant and bad pun dispensed...I feel better now...

 

[ShiningTimeStL]

I'm not sure this one is entirely Uncle Pete's fault, based on what some others have said--overflow traffic from the Coast Line, etc. They typically play nice on the MO River route for some reason, but I agree they're bad everywhere else. The new FRA guidelines will allow them to be fined for it. Not sued, fined. They won't care until it actually happens, then there will inevitably be a massive legal scheissfest with much wailing and knashing of teeth. Hold on to your butts... (I think NS already took the hint, based on how much better the Crescent has been doing lately)

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Based on what I've heard, I suppose the tracks through Glenwood Canyon will open significantly earlier than I-70 will?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

5(2) left Denver this morning with an all clear and then had to return to Denver due to another slide. They’re still getting a lot of rain in the mountains.

 

[Rover]

Based on what I've heard, I suppose the tracks through Glenwood Canyon will open significantly earlier than I-70 will?

5(2) left Denver this morning with an all clear and then had to return to Denver due to another slide. They’re still getting a lot of rain in the mountains.

One thing I was considering, is the safety of the Amtrak passengers on a train where getting to the train in case an emergency, would be difficult by road with the I-70 closures and mud slides.

 

[moosejunky99]

Yes. They have to protect the equipment and passengers and employees then risking a derailment.

 

[west point]

PSR may have reduced the number of qualified crew below what up needs for just it diverted freights ? Would a diversion thru Wyoming require 4 different pilots ? DEN - Cheyenne; Cheyenne - somewhere; Somewhere to Ogden ; and Ogden - SLC ? Does UP have the various changes covered. Only takes one segment shortage .

It may be sometime in the future that Amtrak will need to qualify crew on the Wyoming diversion for cases like this one ?

Also with the Z route closed are some of those UP crew members on furlough or reassigned temporarily ? What about Amtrak crew ?

 

[moosejunky99]

Based on what I've heard, I suppose the tracks through Glenwood Canyon will open significantly earlier than I-70 will?

I saw on google maps. I-70 is closed till late October because of the slides.

 

[jis]

https://www.postindependent.com/new...yon-to-freight-travel-following-debris-flows/
Amtrak to be restored on Friday apparently.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

https://www.postindependent.com/new...yon-to-freight-travel-following-debris-flows/
Amtrak to be restored on Friday apparently.

Unless another slide occurs
Fingers crossed that the tracks stay open

 

[amtrakp42]

Maybe too short of notice?

On Wyoming route Amtrak has to have a UP engineer ride along as the Amtrak engineer is not qualified on the route. And do great shortage of UP engineer do to all the freight issues of floods and fires Amtrak won't be able to do that. Amtrak is now running about 5-6 hrs late due to horrific freight traffic from all the problems.

 

[chakk]

I saw on google maps. I-70 is closed till late October because of the slides.

No longer true. I-70 opened last week thru Glenwood Canyon, although there is currently about one mile of the highway in the canyon where traffic is limited to one lane in each direction and speed limit is reduced to 35 mph instead of the usual 50-65 mph for that one-mile section.

 

[chakk]

Bids are currently being solicited from potential contractors to rebuild/repair the damaged sections of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. Bids are due on 19 August. Contract award(s) expected to be announced on 20 August.

 

[chakk]

No longer true. I-70 opened last week thru Glenwood Canyon, although there is currently about one mile of the highway in the canyon where traffic is limited to one lane in each direction and speed limit is reduced to 35 mph instead of the usual 50-65 mph for that one-mile section.

That being said, I-70 is still being closed by the Colorado Dept of Transportation any time that the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning for the vicinity. Such an event happened today (18 August) when the NWS issued such a warning at 4:15 PM Mountain Time. CDOT immediately closed the I-70 entrances to the canyon (with highway signs warning of the closure at the last locations to join the long detours around the canyon). I-70 will remain closed through the canyon until the rains stop and CDOT has driven through the canyon to confirm that there are no new slides over the roadway.

 

[Cal]

That being said, I-70 is still being closed by the Colorado Dept of Transportation any time that the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning for the vicinity. Such an event happened today (18 August) when the NWS issued such a warning at 4:15 PM Mountain Time. CDOT immediately closed the I-70 entrances to the canyon (with highway signs warning of the closure at the last locations to join the long detours around the canyon). I-70 will remain closed through the canyon until the rains stop and CDOT has driven through the canyon to confirm that there are no new slides over the roadway.

What happens to the railway during those warnings?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

What happens to the railway during those warnings?

The tracks are on the other side of the river. And last year’s fire was on the I-70 side, so things are more stable on the track side.

 

[Al11]

Have they opened the train route between Denver and Grand Junction?

 

[Willbridge]

Have they opened the train route between Denver and Grand Junction?

It's been open for a while now. They're selling tickets for tomorrow.

You might be interested in reading my trip report from soon after it reopened.

Trip Report: DAV>DEN on August 17/19 2021 | Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum (amtraktrains.com)