While I can see him being upset since it when from 9 hours to 32 hours that they should provide free emergency food like the rule state However do you suggest that amtrak open the car door and say "you want to walk the 3 miles to the station in who knows how deep water go ahead".
As I'm from the area, that's what I'd want to do if I were in coach. Heck, back up to Granville if you want (I imagine that they wyed the train there), I'll get off there and call a friend for a ride. It's not as if there was a blizzard happening, like when that Michigan train got stuck several winters ago.
Amtrak should have their lawyers draw up some kind of "Trip Termination Waiver of Liability" or something. Basically says that by getting off the train you agree to not hold Amtrak liable for anything that happens to you starting the second your foot hits the ground, and (maybe) you waive any any claim to a refund or voucher of any type (perhaps refund your fare from the next station to your final destination or something). Keep a couple on the train, and if people want to set out on their own, Amtrak can wash their hands of you and send you on your way.
The Soo Line owns the tracks in question but leases them to the Northern Plains Railroad to operate. But there's no way you could run Amtrak on them. Not only are they only good for 10-25 mph, 60 miles have been abandoned between Bisbee and Kramer, making what was theoretically once a through-route two dead end branches.
That's common when flooding is as bad as it is this year. The last train on those tracks before they were cut was the #7 that got stranded before reaching Minot and had to turn back toward Fargo.
How many days has it been since a regular transit of trains 7 and 8? You would think in that time frame a wide swath detour could have been negotiated with the freight lines.
Since your trip is in the middle of May, I wouldn't worry. By mid-May North Dakota (except for the Devils Lake area) will be dried out, and the Empire Builder will be running either on its usual route or on the Surrey cut-off, if Devils Lake is still rising. I'm on #7 on May 30, and my principal concern is whether the buffaloaf will be on the menu.
You're in for a treat. The Great Plains generally look their best between mid-May and mid-June. Plus the days are longer so there's longer to sightsee.
So the "turn around don't drown" rule is just a myth?
Was U.S. Highway 2 flooded that day? I don't think so. There was some water over U.S. 83 north of Minot, but the highway wasn't closed. Was every road connection between Minot and Granville flooded that day? I doubt it. Remember also how flat this part of North Dakota is. You don't get high water velocities in springtime floods. That's one of the problems, the water just sits there.
