amamba
Engineer
Ahhhh now I am totally f'ed. They have now blocked everything out of CHI on Friday so I can't change my res.
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montana mike
Conductor
Hmmm, I was just at the WFH station and they were saying the #7 for this evening was likely going to be very late, so there must still be some issues from either the derailment or other factors. I just saw the #7 that was due in at 8:56 PM LAST night arrive at 7:30 AM today (over 10 hours behind schedule), being pulled by a BNSF engine-they couldn't turn the train. According to the engineer they will stop the train in SPK and bus people to/ from SEA.
On the plus side, the eastbound #8 was almost on time (actually had to wait until the very late #7 left the station to come in), so perhaps things will get back to "normal", whatever that is these days, soon.
On the plus side, the eastbound #8 was almost on time (actually had to wait until the very late #7 left the station to come in), so perhaps things will get back to "normal", whatever that is these days, soon.
I'm not going anywhere on the EB or any other train for that matter in the near future but for the sake of the folks who are, I do hope things settle down with the EB. Yesterday's #7 arrived in Seattle 21 minutes early. That's twice in two weeks it was early. Hope that is a sign of better days ahead.
I've merged some new topic starts on this same subject into this thread. Lets use it for all the EB late discussion.
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
anir dendroica
OBS Chief
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2009
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- 507
BNSF reports that the track reopened at 12:30 am this morning. Looks like #8(17) got through and is now 12 1/2 hours late in Minot. Can't track #7(18) as it has disappeared from the map, but it is presently somewhere in North Dakota.
amamba
Engineer
I love trains but I just want to go home now 
TraneMan
Conductor
#7(18) has arrived in Stanley at 10:32am. (about 35 min late)
amamba
Engineer
If I could make the 48/448 in CHI I would be eternally grateful. My only concern is that I haven't printed out my ticket yet - why would I when I had a 29.5 hour connection time? I hope that won't be an issue. Also I had two seperate reservations so my original ticket looks like CHI is my final destination.
However, the car attendant did come by and take some info. I let him know that I was already reserved for tonight's 48/448 so hopefully that helps. I guess the other good thing is that 8(17) is also running late, I believe too late to make the connection with the LSL. So maybe that frees up some sleeper space for folks on my train with connections. I met two other couples that were supposed to be on last night's LSL (Boston section).
Do they ever take ppl off a late western train and bus them into CHI to meet connections like they do on a late SWC?
However, the car attendant did come by and take some info. I let him know that I was already reserved for tonight's 48/448 so hopefully that helps. I guess the other good thing is that 8(17) is also running late, I believe too late to make the connection with the LSL. So maybe that frees up some sleeper space for folks on my train with connections. I met two other couples that were supposed to be on last night's LSL (Boston section).
Do they ever take ppl off a late western train and bus them into CHI to meet connections like they do on a late SWC?
amamba
Engineer
PS - we just left St. Cloud. So even if we were 100% on time from here, I think that gives us a 9:30 pm arrival into CHI.
I think by "late SWC" you mean a late westbound, where they bus people to Bakersfield/San Joaquin connection to catch up to the Starlight in Oakland.
In Chicago, the answer is no. With the exception of the Cardinal, the trains to/from Chicago are on fairly direct, fast routings (lots of 79 mph running), and unless there was a known, massive delay coming up (and there *should be* nothing major between St. Paul and Chicago), there's no guarantee that a bus would do any better than a train.
The "busing to catch up with a connection" procedure only works when the train has a slow, winding route (such as along the Pacific coast or through the mountains) compared to a direct highway, or when the road connection can give you a shortcut to some other place on your connecting train's route (such as busing Galseburg/Normal to Indianapolis in the case of the Cardinal).
Someone connecting from, for example, the Empire Builder to the Lake Shore Limited is better off staying on the train than taking a bus. Best-case scenario for both is a run just under seven hours (though the Builder would be slightly longer due to dwell at stations; seven hours is the best time to make while moving), at least with the train, Amtrak is aware of where it is and what's going on. If they were to take people off the train and put them on buses, not only would there be the associated delay with rounding up all of the people and getting them onto one or more buses (along with their bags), you also have to factor in a seven-hour (or longer) bus ride with no meal stops. If you add a meal stop, then the train is going to beat the bus. If the bus gets delayed, Amtrak may not have any way of knowing where the bus is or what its ETA is, and that makes it a questionable proposition for holding the connecting train.
EB_OBS
Conductor
Well the quick information I just checked shows ETA into Chicago at 7:20PM, 27 hours, 25 minutes late. Even if that's an hour off, sounds like you'll make the LSL connection.
One would think they are blocking off the Lake Shore Limited to try rebook the passangers off your train. Amamba your splitting of the tickets is a wild card. Got my fingers crossed. This ones a mess. Sure hope they hold the eastern train tonight, but Amtrak might be thinking of all the people who missed there connection yesterday, to have them rebook onto tomorrows train, and not hold any trains tonight.
You should see some customer service people, before Chicago. Hope everthing works out.
You should see some customer service people, before Chicago. Hope everthing works out.
fairviewroad
Engineer
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2011
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- 3,396
I totally understand this.I love trains but I just want to go home now
We're all rooting for you!
EB_OBS
Conductor
There's about 50 minutes padding in the schedule at MSP and about 15 minutes of padding in the schedule at CHI, in addition, most passengers down the river are already bused so stops should be mostly limited to detraining and thus quick.
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The Davy Crockett
Engineer
Yeah, I think I'd be there too. The lack of information, the disorganization, or lack of meals, etc., etc., etc.I love trains but I just want to go home now
amamba
Engineer
For everyone following along, we just left MSP at 12:40. The SCA and staff are feeling good that we will make it to cHI by 830ish or 9. I did print my tickets in MSP so at least I have them now.
EB_OBS
Conductor
That's good. I was going to say that I've seen conductors call ahead to a manned station to have tickets printed. So, you could have still boarded the LSL, explained to the conductor the situation and they would have been able to get the tickets printed downline somewhere.
Good to hear you've already got them though.
Barring any additional delays, the schedule padding, you made up 41 minutes at MSP, should get you into Chicago before 9:00PM.
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I'm really going to look forward to your trip report when this is all over.
johnny.menhennet
Conductor
Geez good luck amamba. I'm definitely rooting for you!
TraneMan
Conductor
We are rooting for ya! Hang in there!
Devil's Advocate
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Absolutely! Well, maybe except for BNSF. :lol:
amamba
Engineer
Guess what we had for lunch - canned chicken stew over rice! Breakfast was scrambled eggs and a hamburger bun. They are providing comp meals to all the pax on the train.
Good Luck!...This is like "The Amazing Race"...LOL
Devil's Advocate
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