More bridge fire incidents affecting Amtrak

[Cal]

On the Barstow railcam, and someone mentioned a bridge burned in Colorado, disrupting Amtrak and BNSF service. Not sure what exactly is the issue but the SWC's are disrupted.

Here's what Twitter has to say:
"Southwest Chief Train 4, which departed Los Angeles on 4/21, will incur a delay west of La Junta (LAJ) due to a bridge incident with an estimated delay time of 4 to 5hrs. Once crews clear the scene for movement, the train will be back on the move."

 

[billosborn]

The California Zephyr #5, departed 4/22, is stopped somewhere near Lincoln Nebraska, due ot a service disruption. No information from Amtrak (Twitter or track your train0. Anybody know what happened?

 

[chrsjrcj]

Looks like 4 is detouring via Pueblo.

 

[SouthwestDude]

Now there is a cancellation of the SW Chief for 4/23.

 

[Emmo213]

Currently I'm Chicago and my SWC was canceled. I get stuff happens but how are travellers supposed to deal with this? This was my first Amtrak trip and never again will I plan another one. If you can't provide consistent service then you shouldn't exist.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

From FB's Friends of the California Zephyr page

Service Disruption: Train 5(22) will hold at Lincoln and Train 6(21) will hold at Denver due to a fire on the BNSF Hastings Subdivision at MP 275, 12-miles east of McCook. There is an alternate route available between Fort Morgan and Lincoln. However there are high wind warnings and tornado warnings on that route. More updates to come.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Currently I'm Chicago and my SWC was canceled. I get stuff happens but how are travellers supposed to deal with this? This was my first Amtrak trip and never again will I plan another one. If you can't provide consistent service then you shouldn't exist.

I guess you don't fly either. Or use the highways.

 

[user 14106]

Currently I'm Chicago and my SWC was canceled. I get stuff happens but how are travellers supposed to deal with this? This was my first Amtrak trip and never again will I plan another one. If you can't provide consistent service then you shouldn't exist.

Talk to reservations. They may be able to provide you with alternate transportation either to where you are going or back home (whether on another train or a flight) or issue you a refund so you can arrange alternate transportation. I totally understand your frustration in getting stuck and if you “never again” that’s your choice as a consumer but I’m not really sure how the bridge fire situation is really an Amtrak customer service failure that warrants your final comment - now obviously they ought to help you get out of the situation and if they don’t treat you well in the situation that’s one thing - usually they are pretty good if you call and often times they’ll refund the entire trip including the segment you already took if they can’t secure you an alternate route that meets your needs (I’m assuming you got off another train in Chicago to switch to the Chief). Good luck and I hope you get to your intended destination soon.

 

[moosejunky99]

There is another bridge fire on 5/6 routes

 

[fillyjonk]

The bridges just can't catch a break in this fire season, I guess. What is this, number three this year?

 

[fillyjonk]

The California Zephyr #5, departed 4/22, is stopped somewhere near Lincoln Nebraska, due ot a service disruption. No information from Amtrak (Twitter or track your train0. Anybody know what happened?

Bridge fire, apparently

 

[moosejunky99]

The bridges just can't catch a break in this fire season, I guess. What is this, number three this year?

I count 4.. one on texas eagle and one on the sunset limited

 

[TinCan782]

The California Zephyr #5, departed 4/22, is stopped somewhere near Lincoln Nebraska, due ot a service disruption. No information from Amtrak (Twitter or track your train0. Anybody know what happened?

From Amtrak Alerts on Twitter...

 

[AFS1970]

Wow, this is clearly a bridge problem, not a train problem. Perhaps I should stop using bridges entirely, even the foot bridge that goes into my local park. It's concrete and steel, and next to a fire station, but you can never be too safe.

 

[Emmo213]

An update from my rant above : customer service was surpringsly helpful and nice about the situation. They ended up booking us on the CZ through Denver (which I'm not sure that'll work but we'll try) where we'll rent a car and drive the rest of our trip. She did offer a bus route but 8 hours on a bus with a 1 year old sounds like it's own circle of hell. In the end I do feel like that did the best they could for us.

Now for the snarky people airlines and highways have a lot of redundancy and yes, it pisses me off when those don't work either. I'm a railfan which why we're taking the train anyway but for somebody who isn't this would probably be the last time we'd try to take the train. The current minimum level of service doesn't favor Amtrak becoming a more viable and common means of travel for the masses.

 

[Emmo213]

Talk to reservations. They may be able to provide you with alternate transportation either to where you are going or back home (whether on another train or a flight) or issue you a refund so you can arrange alternate transportation. I totally understand your frustration in getting stuck and if you “never again” that’s your choice as a consumer but I’m not really sure how the bridge fire situation is really an Amtrak customer service failure that warrants your final comment - now obviously they ought to help you get out of the situation and if they don’t treat you well in the situation that’s one thing - usually they are pretty good if you call and often times they’ll refund the entire trip including the segment you already took if they can’t secure you an alternate route that meets your needs (I’m assuming you got off another train in Chicago to switch to the Chief). Good luck and I hope you get to your intended destination soon.

Thank you for being helpful to a grumpy first time Amtrak traveller. It was appreciated.

 

[Eric in East County]

A second bridge fire is playing hob with the SWC. (Two LD trains impacted by two different bridge fires. Hmmmm.)

 

[billosborn]

From Amtrak Alerts on Twitter...

California Zehyr #5 back on the move, 9hours late.

 

[user 14106]

Thank you for being helpful to a grumpy first time Amtrak traveller. It was appreciated.

What is your destination?

 

[Emmo213]

What is your destination?

Now it's Denver where we're getting a rental car and driving to Albuquerque.

Since the CZ is moving again hopefully we'll be fine (knock on wood).

 

[user 14106]

Now it's Denver where we're getting a rental car and driving to Albuquerque.

Since the CZ is moving again hopefully we'll be fine (knock on wood).

I’d almost tell you to go a little further west to Glenwood springs and see if you can rent from there as you’d get to see what is one of the most scenic stretches of rail in America. But obviously driving wise Denver is ideal for getting to Albuquerque by interstates - you may end up having to back track a bit if you went further west - now if you have some extra time I may recommend considering that as it’s a spectacular but just wanted to throw that out there.

 

[daybeers]

Now it's Denver where we're getting a rental car and driving to Albuquerque.

Since the CZ is moving again hopefully we'll be fine (knock on wood).

Glad to see you have a plan. Sorry to hear your trip was interrupted. If you can swing it, I agree with lordsigma that the stretch west of Denver is arguably the most scenic in the country.

 

[west point]

Gardner just needsany reason to cancel. 3 & 4 cancelled at origin even though no one will know if bridge in Colorado will be replaced. by tomorrow? Why can't these trains go by the southern transcon. Would require what? 4 pilots?

 

[jis]

Gardner just needsany reason to cancel. 3 & 4 cancelled at origin even though no one will know if bridge in Colorado will be replaced. by tomorrow? Why can't these trains go by the southern transcon. Would require what? 4 pilots?

And permission from some host railroad or the other. That may be harder to come by on a short notice these days.

 

[OBS]

Especially as short on Crews as the freight railroads currently are....