Capitol Limited & Lake Shore Limited Delays Summer/Fall 2014

[BrokenConnection]

And they are still allowing folks to book Capitol Limited to Silver Star connection in DC, with the Star leaving at 3:05 pm! I wonder when was the last time that connection actually hit?

Amtrak broke the connection between train 30 and 91 yesterday. Arrow has stopped allowing bookings for travel beginning on October 20. Passengers will be protected through October 20. Anyone scheduled to travel beginning with train 30(20) and beyond will have to rebook to another train for a guaranteed connection. Original fare will be protected for rebookings on the same dates of travel.

 

[richm49]

29& 49 are still waiting to enter Chicago as of 5:30pm CST. Yes, the CL has passed the LSL in a great battle to see which train can get to CHI first. Neither of course made their western connections today so everyone in that category was a loser again.

29/CL and 49/LSL westbound pax really need to consider using 51/Cardinal to make LD West Coast or other vital connections in CHI.I know the Card's limited 3/day/week schedule can be tough to work around but you just can't beat it's on time performance.The Card services both NYP and WAS so it can be used by both CL and LSL pax. For the last 6 weeks, that's 18 trips, it has been either EARLY or ON TIME arriving CHI the last 13 out of 18 times!!! That is 72.2% on time record compared to virtually 0% for 29/CL and 49/LSL. Plus, the 5 times it was late were all under an hour except for 1 trip that arrived 1 hour,21 minutes late. When was the last time the CL or LSL got in even as early as 1 hour,21 minutes late?Yes I know it is a circuitous long trip and leaves early in the morning but you will make your CHI connections most assuredly.I have already dumped my 49/LSL tix for the 51/Card myself and will just get up early that morning and relax onboard knowing that my connection to 3/SWC will be made.

 

[Barciur]

The last time CL got in fairly early was actually yesterday with 2,5 hours early, and then on September 22nd it was only 25 minutes late.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Agh! Track-a-Train is even behind schedule. Some statuses haven't been updated for over an hour. 49 has been running at 70 mph just outside of Elyira for at least an hour with a status of est arrival of 49 mins late. 29 is showing a service disruption and just west of SKY when in reality it's about 5 miles east of TOL (per an AUer on board).

 

[montana mike]

Wow, #30 is just under 12 hours late, still in IN this AM and #48 is over 8 hours late in IN!!! This situation is getting worse by the day-sadly.

:-((

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I don't trust those times. The websites are not getting updated in a timely fashion. Though some times are more up-to-date then they were earlier today.

 

[montana mike]

Given the report from the CL this AM it would appear they are valid! Just awful.

 

[Barciur]

Any idea what happened with the pax on 30? Were they put on the train and made to sit there or stayed in the Union station or what happened?

 

[afigg]

So, to summarize, Saturday Oct. 4 was a terrible day for the westbound #29 and #49.

#29(10/3) departed PGH 30 minutes late, and it went bad from there. Departed ALC 3 hours and 21 minutes late, TOL 5 hours and 11 minutes late, arrived CHI 9 hours and 4 minutes late at 5:49 PM CT.

#49(10/3) lost 2.5 hours between SYR and BUF, departed CLE 2 hours and 32 minutes late, arrived CHI 7 hours and 58 minutes late at 5:43 PM CT. ahead of #29.

The eastbound CL #30(10/3) and LSL #48(10/3) did not do as badly, both arriving at their destinations over 4 and 1/2 hours late.

With very late arrivals at CHI, the CL #30(10/4) and #48(10/4) were late in departing, and because the Amtrak website is down, we do not know how they are doing. But it appears that Amtrak is turning #29(10/4) at Toledo, possibly as a partial equipment and schedule catchup.

If the reports are correct that NS is taking control of the NS-Rock Island crossing in Chicago this weekend with Metra trains moving to Englewood Flyover and that one of the crossover projects in IN is being completed this weekend, we will see if things improve for the LSL and CL.

 

[montana mike]

I won't hold my breath on this. The first days of the changeover might be as rough as before. Nothing appears to be going smoothly on this line lately. But we must hope for the best indeed!

I assume with all of the bus rides Amtrak is compensating the passengers for this mess?

 

[RampWidget]

I'm aboard (or was aboard) 29(4) WAS-CHI.

We were awakened by the SCA around 05:15A and informed that the train was going to terminate at TOL and all pax Bustituted to destination.

Explanation given was "a service disruption" but other than vague references to the NS, there was nothing more specific.

I sure am ready to get off this bus!

I will say that the on-board & operating crews handled the situation well, under the circumstances.

 

[Stan Ames]

We are on 30 eastbound

At 1:30 we are in Toledo

Tomorrrows 30 is on the other track

Not known yet if we will be bused from Pittsburgh

last night delay due to crew and then broken lounge which was cut out and a 2nd cross country cafe placed in

Diner (CCC) is a mob scene. Lunch starts at 2:30

Stan

 

[benale]

Were all the Western connections made with bustitution from Toledo?

 

[pennyk]

Were all the Western connections made with bustitution from Toledo?

Yes. And 3 of the western trains were delayed due to "mechanical issues."

 

[pennyk]

I'm aboard (or was aboard) 29(4) WAS-CHI.

We were awakened by the SCA around 05:15A and informed that the train was going to terminate at TOL and all pax Bustituted to destination.

Explanation given was "a service disruption" but other than vague references to the NS, there was nothing more specific.

I sure am ready to get off this bus!

I will say that the on-board & operating crews handled the situation well, under the circumstances.

I was on 29 also. I was in the 2900 car and second bus to leave Toledo. Bus driver Russ, a big guy.I agree with you.

 

[Barciur]

What time did you get to Chicago on the bus?

 

[pennyk]

What time did you get to Chicago on the bus?

A little before noon. There was a fire at a bank a block away and canal street was closed, so bus had to go around a couple of blocks.

 

[Barciur]

Good to know. Thanks.

I wonder what happened to pax that were 9 hours late to CHI? Were they bussed, too?

 

[richm49]

Wow, #30 is just under 12 hours late, still in IN this AM and #48 is over 8 hours late in IN!!! This situation is getting worse by the day-sadly.

:-((

So glad that I bailed from the LSL and moved my tix to 51/Cardinal. It might be slow and long and not have a real dining car but I will get to CHI on time.No buses for me. I paid for and want to relax in my sleeper car.

 

[justinslot]

Was supposed to be on the 30 tonight from Chicago, am now on a bus to Toledo apparently to meet the 30.

 

[Barciur]

Keep us informed on the status of your trip since amtrak.com is down, if you will! We'll all appreciate that.

 

[justinslot]

Will do, as long as my batteries hold out. I guess they've decided to circumvent some of the problem areas entirely.

 

[Barciur]

It'll be interesting if this holds for longer. Also - just curious. How did they deal with the Amtrak IT system being down and all the tickets?

 

[upset customer]

10-5-2014 LATE...due into Chicago 9:45 AM, It;s 7:06 PM and still not there. With no good explanation from crew. Over 9 hours LATE... this is out of control crazy. Am Trak needs improvement. Biggest waste of our subsidized tax money you could image $1.4 Billion in 2012. OUCH

 

[Barciur]

Thought they bused everyone from Toledo?