Empire Builder Summer Blues Started Early this year

[crescent2]

from Swadian:

"I'd be willing to ride a bus for a bus fare, but not if I'm paying for a Sleeper Roomette and especially not if I have to ride a cramped 57-seat chartered Van Hool!"

My feelings exactly, except I don't know a Van Hool from a hoot owl.

Yes, I know Amtrak can't help it, but I still don't want to ride a bus when I'm booked on a train!

 

[montana mike]

#8 dropped 5 hours running the construction gauntlet last night--double ouch. Another day of missed connections. Week days are especially problematic it would appear.

 

[Texan Eagle]

Update to my enroute report--hit the slow orders in eastern MT--poking along at about 25 mph most of the time now. Rats. Supposed to speed up shortly, but we likely have lost another 30 minutes. Now about 90 minutes behind.

Check out what time you reach Havre. I have been following #7's progress since about a month and have figured out that the delay at Havre is more or less a good estimate of how late it will reach SEA and PDX, the formula is delay at Havre minus two hours. If #7 is 2 hours or less down in Havre, it will arrive on time, if it is down 3 hours down in Havre, it will reach PDX and SEA about 1 hour late and so on...

Pulling into Havre about 2 hours down now, so I guess this means, IF #7 doesn't lose any more time the train will be close to on time in SEA and PDX. Unfortunately, I get off in WFH, I think I will be about 90 minutes or more late getting in there. Still better than the 2 AM arrival a few months back.

)

As predicted, your EB that was ~2 hours down in Havre has reached SEA 22 minutes early and its other portion has reached PDX 3 minutes early.

My theory of Havre minus two hours stands for today

 

[montana mike]

A testimony to the padding AMTRAK has been able to build into the schedule west of Whitefish!! Any thoughts on eastbound? #8 still in MN now is over 5 hours behind. Bummer

 

[Texan Eagle]

A testimony to the padding AMTRAK has been able to build into the schedule west of Whitefish!! Any thoughts on eastbound? #8 still in MN now is over 5 hours behind. Bummer

Eastbound is a trainwreck (pun unintended). There seems to be no rhyme or reason how much it gets delayed. For the westbound, I took the trip on 4th July so was monitoring the train for about a month and almost everytime I saw it manages to recover about two hours between Havre and SEA/PDX

#7 of 13 July: 1 hr 45 min down in Havre, 43 min early in SEA

#7 of 11 July: 4 hr 1 min down in Havre, 1 hr 43 min down in SEA

#7 of 10 July: 2 hr 27 min down in Havre, 48 min down in SEA

 

[JayPea]

A testimony to the padding AMTRAK has been able to build into the schedule west of Whitefish!! Any thoughts on eastbound? #8 still in MN now is over 5 hours behind. Bummer

Eastbound is a trainwreck (pun unintended). There seems to be no rhyme or reason how much it gets delayed. For the westbound, I took the trip on 4th July so was monitoring the train for about a month and almost everytime I saw it manages to recover about two hours between Havre and SEA/PDX

#7 of 13 July: 1 hr 45 min down in Havre, 43 min early in SEA

#7 of 11 July: 4 hr 1 min down in Havre, 1 hr 43 min down in SEA

#7 of 10 July: 2 hr 27 min down in Havre, 48 min down in SEA

I rode #27 from Spokane to Portland on the 27th of June. I, like Texan Eagle, had begun monitoring the progress of 7/27 in advance of my trip. And I noticed too the 2 hrs it usually recovers between Havre and Seattle/Portland. In my case, though, I did even better than that. The EB I rode on, the EB of the 25th, was 4 hrs, 40 minutes late at Havre. It pulled into Spokane 2 hrs, 50 minutes late, left Spokane 2 hrs and 30 minutes late, and got into Portland 2 hrs late, recovering a whopping 2 hrs and 40 minutes of time. There certainly is much to be said for padding!

 

[yarrow]

A testimony to the padding AMTRAK has been able to build into the schedule west of Whitefish!! Any thoughts on eastbound? #8 still in MN now is over 5 hours behind. Bummer

afaik, there is very little padding eastbound between msp and chi

 

[Donna]

I'll be riding EB to Spokane, then back to Chicago 5 days later....both weekdays. I haven't read every single reply here, but am I to believe that chances of getting in to Spokane at 1:40a.m. are pretty slim? If we're running 2 hours behind at this stage, will the attendants in the sleeper cars wake us at the appropriate time before actual arrival? Regarding the trip back to CHI, I've booked a hotel for that night, as it sounds like a certainty that I'd miss the Illini connection south. I understand the frustration is a result of the published times vs. actual arrival times - and not everyone wants or can stay over in CHI. Let's hope things get better in ND and Montana. Another question.....is the EB historically late arriving in Spokane for the trip back to CHI? It's scheduled to leave SPK at 1:30. Are the delays only later in the return route, or between Seattle and Spokane, too? Thanks in advance.

 

[yarrow]

the esatbound eb generally departs spokane on time. yes, a conductor or attendant should wake you up 20-30 minutes before arrival whenever that may be

 

[Donna]

Thanks! Good info. to know.

 

[Samantha]

Could anyone point me in the direction of info on people's experiences with missed connections? I'm sorry to be a pain but this will be my first time traveling on Amtrak and doing it alone, at that. I'm taking the eastbound EB into Chicago on my way home and super concerned about what will happen if connection is missed. Tried googling but not having much luck finding recent, relevant info. Thanks!

 

[Texan Eagle]

the esatbound eb generally departs spokane on time. yes, a conductor or attendant should wake you up 20-30 minutes before arrival whenever that may be

The westbound EB I was on was running about an hour behind schedule when I decided to retire for the night after Whitefish and the very nice sleeper attendant woke me up about 20-25 minutes before pulling into Spokane. I think they have some sort of landmark set up and they decide to wake up passengers when they pass that point.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

#8 dropped 5 hours running the construction gauntlet last night--double ouch. Another day of missed connections. Week days are especially problematic it would appear.

Looks like the situation isn't getting any better.

Update to my enroute report--hit the slow orders in eastern MT--poking along at about 25 mph most of the time now. Rats. Supposed to speed up shortly, but we likely have lost another 30 minutes. Now about 90 minutes behind.

Check out what time you reach Havre. I have been following #7's progress since about a month and have figured out that the delay at Havre is more or less a good estimate of how late it will reach SEA and PDX, the formula is delay at Havre minus two hours. If #7 is 2 hours or less down in Havre, it will arrive on time, if it is down 3 hours down in Havre, it will reach PDX and SEA about 1 hour late and so on...

Pulling into Havre about 2 hours down now, so I guess this means, IF #7 doesn't lose any more time the train will be close to on time in SEA and PDX. Unfortunately, I get off in WFH, I think I will be about 90 minutes or more late getting in there. Still better than the 2 AM arrival a few months back.

)

As predicted, your EB that was ~2 hours down in Havre has reached SEA 22 minutes early and its other portion has reached PDX 3 minutes early.

My theory of Havre minus two hours stands for today

Hah! The westbound EB has got the padding of a Double Quarter Pounder!

Could anyone point me in the direction of info on people's experiences with missed connections? I'm sorry to be a pain but this will be my first time traveling on Amtrak and doing it alone, at that. I'm taking the eastbound EB into Chicago on my way home and super concerned about what will happen if connection is missed. Tried googling but not having much luck finding recent, relevant info. Thanks!

Basically, there's three things that could happen:

1. They catch you up to your connection with a chartered bus.

2. You miss your connection and they get a hotel room for you at Amtrak's expense.

3. You're told to get on a emergency chartered bus all the way to your destination.

 

[yarrow]

Could anyone point me in the direction of info on people's experiences with missed connections? I'm sorry to be a pain but this will be my first time traveling on Amtrak and doing it alone, at that. I'm taking the eastbound EB into Chicago on my way home and super concerned about what will happen if connection is missed. Tried googling but not having much luck finding recent, relevant info. Thanks!

what train are you connecting with and what is your destination? connections leaving later in the evening are often ok but anything from the capital limited, which leaves shortly after 6pm, and earlier have been iffy the past 6 weeks or so and look to continue as such

 

[Samantha]

Connecting with #30 Capitol Limited to WAS, then #99 to RVR (final destination). I'm definitely gathering there is a good chance I'll be late into Chicago. Really should have looked more into and researched Amtrak before I set the whole trip up. Due to be back at work no exceptions the day after my scheduled arrival. I'm an idiot.

 

[Ryan]

Don't be too hard on yourself. When are you traveling? What day of the week? Some days seem to be working out better than others...

 

[jebr]

Connecting with #30 Capitol Limited to WAS, then #99 to RVR (final destination). I'm definitely gathering there is a good chance I'll be late into Chicago. Really should have looked more into and researched Amtrak before I set the whole trip up. Due to be back at work no exceptions the day after my scheduled arrival. I'm an idiot.

They should be able to get you at least as far as Washington, DC by the end of the day if the Lake Shore Limited connection is made, as they can put you on the LSL to a regional train.

Also, if you have a late work schedule (or if even a half-day would work,) the LSL to the overnight Northeast Regional would arrive in Richmond around 9:45 AM.

There'd also be enough buffer where you should be able to stay overnight and fly the rest of the way. Amtrak wouldn't reimburse the air travel, but they should be able to refund the connections you didn't make. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Texan Eagle]

Connecting with #30 Capitol Limited to WAS, then #99 to RVR (final destination). I'm definitely gathering there is a good chance I'll be late into Chicago. Really should have looked more into and researched Amtrak before I set the whole trip up. Due to be back at work no exceptions the day after my scheduled arrival. I'm an idiot.

If you really absolutely need to be at work the day after, you might want to consider doing the Chicago-DC leg on a flight. I checked random 5-6 days in August and I see almost everyday ORD-DCA flights are available for ~$100. Get a late night flight from chicago on day of your EB arrival and you'll be in WAS ahead of the game.

 

[Samantha]

Don't be too hard on yourself. When are you traveling? What day of the week? Some days seem to be working out better than others...

Traveling on a Friday and Saturday in August

Connecting with #30 Capitol Limited to WAS, then #99 to RVR (final destination). I'm definitely gathering there is a good chance I'll be late into Chicago. Really should have looked more into and researched Amtrak before I set the whole trip up. Due to be back at work no exceptions the day after my scheduled arrival. I'm an idiot.

If you really absolutely need to be at work the day after, you might want to consider doing the Chicago-DC leg on a flight. I checked random 5-6 days in August and I see almost everyday ORD-DCA flights are available for ~$100. Get a late night flight from chicago on day of your EB arrival and you'll be in WAS ahead of the game.

Connecting with #30 Capitol Limited to WAS, then #99 to RVR (final destination). I'm definitely gathering there is a good chance I'll be late into Chicago. Really should have looked more into and researched Amtrak before I set the whole trip up. Due to be back at work no exceptions the day after my scheduled arrival. I'm an idiot.

They should be able to get you at least as far as Washington, DC by the end of the day if the Lake Shore Limited connection is made, as they can put you on the LSL to a regional train.

Also, if you have a late work schedule (or if even a half-day would work,) the LSL to the overnight Northeast Regional would arrive in Richmond around 9:45 AM.

There'd also be enough buffer where you should be able to stay overnight and fly the rest of the way. Amtrak wouldn't reimburse the air travel, but they should be able to refund the connections you didn't make. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

All very good information. Thanks so much. I don't fly which is why I'm going by train! lol Ah, well. The worst that happens is I'm a day late to work and they fire me. Could be a blessing provided by Amtrak.

 

[amamba]

Samantha, if you are super worried, you could consider changing your connection to the LSL to NYP with a connection to the 67 to RVR. Good luck.

 

[NW cannonball]

Wondering -- when #8 is more than 2hrs late at MSP How many passengers are going thru to Chicago and will miss eastbound connections?

Passengers from MSP to CHI are routinely bustituted and make their connections.

Pax from points west may have MSP or other points west as destination and may have problems connecting to air at MSP or Fargo (from oilfields and don't want to pay the huge airfare from there and book AMTK to MSP or Fargo and reasonable airfare from there.

And the many Amish from Montana to Wisconsin whom the delays doesn't significantly affect.

Trying to figure - what fraction of #8 eastbound passengers over whole route are actually making connections in Chicago?

It's one of the selling points that the EB provides local transit all through Eastern Washington Montana and Nodak. None of whom are forced to do an unscheduled layover in Chicago. Inconvenienced -- yes. Trip broken -- no.

Is there any estimate of what fraction of EB eastbound passengers are seriously (connections) affected by lateness from Western points to Chicago?

 

[Ispolkom]

I'm usually in the Portland sleeper, and I don't see many coach seat checks for CHI until we get to St. Paul. Sleeper, I don't know, but when I was on a very late train in January half of the two dozen sleeper passengers left the train in St. Paul, and of the people heading east, four I think had connections. The proportion may be higher in the summer, for all I know.

 

[yarrow]

how long does it take from msp-chi by bus? i think it's 8 hours by train. would a bus bridge allow connection to be made reliably? be expensive for amtrak to just bus connecting passengers but the missed connection have to be costing them now. maybe a van would do the job instead of a full sized bus

 

[MrFSS]

how long does it take from msp-chi by bus? i think it's 8 hours by train. would a bus bridge allow connection to be made reliably? be expensive for amtrak to just bus connecting passengers but the missed connection have to be costing them now. maybe a van would do the job instead of a full sized bus

The Megabus site says it is between 7 hours and 55 minutes to 8 hours and 10 minutes between St Paul and Chicago, depending on the time of the day.

Google maps says 6-7 hours driving.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

how long does it take from msp-chi by bus? i think it's 8 hours by train. would a bus bridge allow connection to be made reliably? be expensive for amtrak to just bus connecting passengers but the missed connection have to be costing them now. maybe a van would do the job instead of a full sized bus

Greyhound's about 8 hours give or take. Not much faster then the train. I don't understand how a bustitute will help.

Edit: minor error.