Main CZ #5 & 6 Discussion Thread

[henryj]

DENVER 5:35 a.m.departure to Raton for Chicago passengers This is an option listed in the disruption notices on Amtrak's website. It includes about 6 hour layovers in Raton (in both directions). This is the same bus that already connects to the Chief for the west.

This is a terrible 'remedy.' Why would anyone that is not desperate to ride a train choose this connection? Why not run a special charter bus (or van, if there are not enough passengers to fill a bus) and connect in La Junta both directions with a platform to platform transfer?

If Amtrak could think outside the box on some of these temporary connections and make them convenient, more people would come back and ride again.

I have to agree George. When I read that I just couldn't believe it. What a stupid solution. It's Amtrak at it's worst. I still don't know why they don't just reroute over the UP denver to Chicago. They are on UP rails all the way from California to Denver. After all the UP used to route their City of Denver and later on the City of Portland that way. The answer appears to be that Amtrak just really doesn't want to run these western LD trains period.

On the other hand, if you ever wanted to ride the CZ it would seem now is the time. Just fly to or from Denver. The train is not full and you get to see all that great scenery from the lounge car without all the people. I haven't checked, but are the fares reduced during this period?

 

[MikeM]

DENVER 5:35 a.m.departure to Raton for Chicago passengers This is an option listed in the disruption notices on Amtrak's website. It includes about 6 hour layovers in Raton (in both directions). This is the same bus that already connects to the Chief for the west.

This is a terrible 'remedy.' Why would anyone that is not desperate to ride a train choose this connection? Why not run a special charter bus (or van, if there are not enough passengers to fill a bus) and connect in La Junta both directions with a platform to platform transfer?

If Amtrak could think outside the box on some of these temporary connections and make them convenient, more people would come back and ride again.

Don't know about the rest of you, but last time I rode the Chief, I wandered into the Raton depot. It looks ok on the outside, but calling it rustic on the interior would be totally charitable. The place is really a dump. Actually, I think it primarily functions as a dump, since the restrooms contain the majority of the "seating" in the facility. Dirty, dusty, and a lovely place to wait for that middle of night connection. Someone in Washington HQ who thought up this plan should be posted to Raton to clean the station and hand out blankets. If anyone is foolish enough to go for this optional connection. Not to mention, the SWC tends to be full enough with regular patrons.

Seems a few too many folks played football without helmets in their youth in this instance...

 

[John-MCPO-USN]

On the other hand, if you ever wanted to ride the CZ it would seem now is the time. Just fly to or from Denver. The train is not full and you get to see all that great scenery from the lounge car without all the people. I haven't checked, but are the fares reduced during this period?

That is exactly what I am doing on 23-Sep-2011.......fly to Denver from Chicago and enjoy the daylight ride thru the Rockies............John

 

[henryj]

On the other hand, if you ever wanted to ride the CZ it would seem now is the time. Just fly to or from Denver. The train is not full and you get to see all that great scenery from the lounge car without all the people. I haven't checked, but are the fares reduced during this period?

That is exactly what I am doing on 23-Sep-2011.......fly to Denver from Chicago and enjoy the daylight ride thru the Rockies............John

I checked it out right after I wrote that. You can ride #5 in coach from Denver to SLC, layover four hours and get a roomette back for only $111 extra. Total for a beautiful ride #319. Costs you two nights in Denver. Seems like a bargain to me.

 

[AlanB]

I still don't know why they don't just reroute over the UP denver to Chicago. They are on UP rails all the way from California to Denver.

Because Amtrak doesn't have any engineers & conductors qualified to operate the train over that route. And UP doesn't have any engineers to loan Amtrak, in part because UP is already carrying some traffic detoured from BNSF because of the flooding problems. Which makes the UP route overcrowded too, ensuring that Amtrak would have plenty of delays even if they could overcome the other issues.

And I believe UP has a route down too for flooding, or at least they did, which would add further congestion.

 

[Ben_G]

Any bets on how long Amtrak will continue the run's from Emeryville to Denver and return. From what I seen a few days ago the #6 train left Reno with 27 passengers onboard.

 

[henryj]

Any bets on how long Amtrak will continue the run's from Emeryville to Denver and return. From what I seen a few days ago the #6 train left Reno with 27 passengers onboard.

When I checked the fares it seems that Denver west is close to fully booked with fares quite high. On the other hand eastbound it seems they are bargain basement level. Fly west and ride east.

 

[Bob Dylan]

According to a post on trainorders, the T&E jobs on #5 and #6 between Denver and Chicago will not be restored but will be covered by the Extra Board! :unsure: Also both Trains are to begin operating on the regular schedule between Denver and Chicago as of this Friday, 9/16!!!!

No mention of whether Omaha will still be bypassed, bustitutions etc. etc. Lets hope the OTP is close to the schedule, even the "normal" couple of hours late would be a big improvement on this route! BNSF dispatchers are the key to this! :help:

 

[tubaia]

When a route is cancelled for this extended period of time (not that it happens often), does anybody know how soon they let passengers know? In August, we booked a trip out east starting from Mt. Pleasant, IA. The start date is the last week of September, which obviously lands within the cancelled timeframe. If I hadn't seen the notice on Amtrak's website (and here, of course), we wouldn't have known.

I will be calling Amtrak today to change our route to originate in La Crosse, WI, instead, which is about the same distance from home and has the almost exact same schedule. It also has the added advantage of being a checked baggage station. Anything else I should know about this station?

 

[Joeker]

Stay tuned. As discussed on another board #5 will originate in Chicago on Friday which means that # 6 will continue on to Chicago on Saturday.

So if this is true then full service will be restored.

 

[AlanB]

Stay tuned. As discussed on another board #5 will originate in Chicago on Friday which means that # 6 will continue on to Chicago on Saturday.

So if this is true then full service will be restored.

It's confirmed!

 

[tubaia]

Stay tuned. As discussed on another board #5 will originate in Chicago on Friday which means that # 6 will continue on to Chicago on Saturday.

So if this is true then full service will be restored.

It's confirmed!

Yes, I just learned that as well when I called to make these changes. The agent was confused when I said that the train was cancelled, as she was able to still book seats on that train. Then she found a notice from this morning stating that travel would resume later this week.

Of course, Amtrak's website has not yet been updated. It still states that the routes are still cancelled through the end of the month.

I sure hope the CZ is at least somewhat back on schedule by then. 12 hours late will not make our connections in Chicago work very well. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on the reports and maybe still change to the EB if necessary.

Definitely looking forward to this trip. It's our first Amtrak trip heading toward the east coast.

 

[RRrich]

I am planning on taking the CZ home from the Gathering :mellow: . I have made alternative plans :wacko: but the CZ is my train of choice <_< . I'm keeping my fingers crossed :blush: but now I am much more hopeful ^_^

 

[Henry Kisor]

From Media Relations today:

FULL AMTRAK CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR SERVICE RESTORED

Trains 5 & 6 to operate between San Francisco Bay and Chicago, including Omaha

CHICAGO - Full service by the Amtrak California Zephyr between San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago will resume this week, effective with the departure of eastbound Train 6 from Emeryville, Calif., on Sept. 15, and the westbound Train 5 from Chicago on Sept. 16.

Limited service between Emeryville and Denver has operated since Sept. 3-4, but there has been no Amtrak service between Fort Morgan, Colo., and Burlington, Iowa, since Aug. 26.

Also effective with these departures, Amtrak service is restored to the Amtrak station in Omaha. The BNSF Railway Co. has made repairs following massive flooding and damage that had led to a detour route bypassing Omaha since June 1.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. Passengers who have paid for travel on canceled trains can contact Amtrak to receive refunds without fee or penalty or can rebook for future travel. If tickets have not yet printed, the refund/rebook can be done on Amtrak.com or the free Amtrak iPhone "app."

 

[John-MCPO-USN]

From Media Relations today:

FULL AMTRAK CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR SERVICE RESTORED

AND of course I have already paid for the air-bridge on Southwest between CHI and DEN........and received the refund for the room cost from AMTRAK........ugh----Murphy's Law.

Oh well-----I will miss exciting Nebraska.

John

 

[rlaggren]

I have re-booked to Chicago through Portland from San Francisco, 9-20ish IIRC (too much scanning webpages - it's all a blur...). It looks plausible; too bad going through so many mountains at night and I'll probably be dead meat from lack of sleep, but Oh Well! I'll post when I get to Chicago and wake up but all the excitement s/b about over by then.

Rufus

Turns out I got to ride the Zephyr after all. Good trip, on time at CHI 9-24 (< 1 hr late). Only significant delay was waiting to cross the Mississippi - would have arrived Chicago early barring that pause.

Breakfast in the dining car was very poor, though; the omlet was solid road kill, couldn't finish it. And how hard can it be to make decent coffee? Can't comment on dinner and lunches. Looks like low hanging fruit there...

Rufus