EB - Lateness Problems This Summer

[amamba]

Now we are in the BnSF yard with no HEP. We did get snack packs. I am starting to be very tired of the situation. And antsy.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Amamba, I'm sorry you're stuck with this mess, but thanks for keeping us updated. Reading this thread is kind of like watching a train wreck in slow motion. As bad as it sounds I can't seem to look away. I have a long trip across three Western routes scheduled for next week and, well, I'm trying not to think about that too much right now. :unsure:

 

[Trainut]

We were suppose to take the EB from MSP to CHI, tomorrow Thursday July 19, but, got a call from Amtrak saying that we will be taking a bus from MSP to CHI. Bummer. They don't seem to know what is going on.

 

[EB_OBS]

They don't seem to know what is going on.

Sure they do. The train is stuck in Montana, extremely late and thus, buses have been ordered to run on-time between MSP and CHI.

 

[EB_OBS]

Hrmmmm now we are just sitting just east of the station. No lunch for sleeper pax and I think there might be a riot....lots of grumbles. It is 12:30 and I think we would all just feel good if we were at least on the buses.

I was told they'd be putting Subway lunch boxes on the buses for you. The train was moved in order to run the locomotives around to the west side of the train for the westbound departure.

 

[yarrow]

They don't seem to know what is going on.

Sure they do. The train is stuck in Montana, extremely late and thus, buses have been ordered to run on-time between MSP and CHI.

amtrak may or may not know what's going on but they may be doing an inconsistent job of relaying that info to passengers

 

[EB_OBS]

And antsy.

On the last call I listened to, Chicago is scrambling to get equipment together for #7(19) tomorrow, this will leave them short though and so they are currently counting on the equipment turning at Wolf Point to arrive into Chicago as #8(16) approx. 23 hours late. I believe that gives just around six hours leeway for your LSL departure.

 

[EB_OBS]

They don't seem to know what is going on.

Sure they do. The train is stuck in Montana, extremely late and thus, buses have been ordered to run on-time between MSP and CHI.

amtrak may or may not know what's going on but they may be doing an inconsistent job of relaying that info to passengers

I'm not going to agree or deny that, however, in the context of Trainut's post, it seems clear that Amtrak knows the train is extremely late and is calling passengers. Amtrak knows it needs to order buses so passengers can travel on-time to their destinations and connections and is calling passengers. Amtrak has confirmed said buses so is actively calling passengers. I guess I just fail to see what additionally can or should be done. I'm open to suggestions and would be happy to pass them along.

 

[yarrow]

They don't seem to know what is going on.

Sure they do. The train is stuck in Montana, extremely late and thus, buses have been ordered to run on-time between MSP and CHI.

amtrak may or may not know what's going on but they may be doing an inconsistent job of relaying that info to passengers

I'm not going to agree or deny that, however, in the context of Trainut's post, it seems clear that Amtrak knows the train is extremely late and is calling passengers. Amtrak knows it needs to order buses so passengers can travel on-time to their destinations and connections and is calling passengers. Amtrak has confirmed said buses so is actively calling passengers. I guess I just fail to see what additionally can or should be done. I'm open to suggestions and would be happy to pass them along.

i really value your posts as you are someone who actually does know what is going on. i have had enough calls from amtrak that such and such is going to happen and it doesn't. last year we were on an 18 hour late eb into chi and we were told many conflicting things about what would be done with us and when we finally got to cus were told we would be bussed to was (actually first we were going to be bussed to nyp and then ne regional to was but they changed that). cute little 18 hour ride in a bus with non functioning facilites. we were told right before we detrained that we would be spending the night in chi. to relate other things we were told on that and other trips would take too much time to no particular effect. in this case, trainnut is evidently not too happy. that should be a problem for amtrak. trainut's concerns were evidently not well addressed by the representative who called

 

[EB_OBS]

I'm crossing my fingers that nothing gets any worse than it already is. In the middle of preparing for possible terminating #7 in Spokane tomorrow morning. That decision has still not been made though so all plans are tentative.

At the moment though, I'll be AFK for a while. I'm still up from last night. I need some rest before tonight. It's looking to be a long one.

 

[amamba]

So they started serving lunch in the diner. We got called down, ordered, and then they started loading the buses. So we didn't get lunch and there were no subway lunch boxes on the bus. We are now on the bus and have just pulled into Wolf Point. I can see the train and it looks like an earlier bus is being unloaded and pax are getting on the train. So no lunch for me but some ppl get lunch.

 

[amamba]

And a quick update - we are now on the new train in wolf point! No lunch materialized for us but the car attendant just said we are going to do the wine and cheese tasting again (since they are stocked for it). And I just took a Xanax so now I am good to go.

 

[Bob Dylan]

So they started serving lunch in the diner. We got called down, ordered, and then they started loading the buses. So we didn't get lunch and there were no subway lunch boxes on the bus. We are now on the bus and have just pulled into Wolf Point. I can see the train and it looks like an earlier bus is being unloaded and pax are getting on the train. So no lunch for me but some ppl get lunch.

Since youre an AU Pro you know what you gotta do! Call when you get home, the Voucher will be on the Computer! Hope the rest of the Journey gets back on Track, so to speak! :lol:

 

[Devil's Advocate]

And a quick update - we are now on the new train in wolf point! No lunch materialized for us but the car attendant just said we are going to do the wine and cheese tasting again (since they are stocked for it). And I just took a Xanax so now I am good to go.

Well that doesn't sound so bad.

I hope you write up a nice big trip report when you're done with lots of pictures. :unsure:

 

[amamba]

And I just wanted to add that I think the OBS and Amtrak folks have been great during this delay. We had David on the first train and now Eric on the second as an SCA. Everyone was really good and I think they gave us realistic expectations of what is going on - minus no sandwich for lunch.

Now I am just a little nervous about making that connection bc Eric said we might not get to chicago until more like 8 pm. But it's still only 3 and the train doesn't leave wolf point normally until 4:30 pm anyways.

 

[amamba]

You can tea about my trip so far at trainsacrossamerica.blogspot.com. I only have text and no photos from te train part bc I have some data caps on my mifi. The mifi is working but I have had no cell service for 24 hours.

 

[amamba]

Sorry for typos on phone.

 

[Donctor]

I'm open to suggestions and would be happy to pass them along.

I dig your good attitude. I think the way you interact with people is great.

 

[Ryan]

Seconded. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods EB_OBS, the first beer's on me. (Likewise if you ever find your way to WAS)

 

[amamba]

I will personally buy OBS a beer if he is on this train. We are still sitting in wolf point. I think they didn't have enough buses so sIleeper pax were brought over to wolf point first. I now see another bus has just arrived from Glasgow and it looks like people are getting off and hopefully onto the train. I will feel a lot better once I eat bc I am cranky from nO lunch and they haven't taken any dinner reservations and it is 5 pm. Also now we are over 24 hours late but maybe we can pick up some time as we travel. But if there are slow orders for heat I don't know about that. Some poor people from the 7 have been stuck outside with their stuff in the heat for 2+ hours.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Seconded. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods EB_OBS, the first beer's on me. (Likewise if you ever find your way to WAS)

I'll gladly third this, and the next round of beers will be on me, if EB_OBS ever gets to WAS.

 

[amamba]

Ok now my cheerful roll with the punches demeanor is gone. They finally just got everyone over here - 5 hours later. I don't get lunch and then we finally got dinner and they wre half portions with no bread, salad or dessert.

Now our crew just timed out and we have to wait for a new one to come from god knows where. I am hungry and cranky.

 

[amamba]

I should add we are now 26 hours delayed.

 

[EB_OBS]

Just woke up from a nap. I'm sorry, it doesn't look like the busing has gone smoothly. There weren't enough buses on both sides to completely transport every passenger so some buses had to return to pick up more passengers. That's really throwing a couple extra hours into both trains anticipated departures.

Still no word on whether #7 will terminate in Spokane, but at 8 or so hours late it's almost a forgone conclusion. Although with the trials and tribulations already encountered we may just take the hit on 8/28 and let it continue on into Seattle and Portland.

 

[Russell]

I just got a call from Amtrak stating "Service Interuption" Alternate transportation is being provide over some or all of the 27(19) route between Spkoane and Portland, been trying to call the 1-877 number provided, no luck yet, so this means that there will be no train service then between Spokane and Portland, right? And Does this mean there will be a bus, like if I can't get a hold of the, should I just go to the station in the morning and expect a bus to be there, or what?