SWC #3 Arrival Delays in LAX. ???

[CAMISSY55]

I have noticed that the SWC #3 has been late arriving in LAX quite a lot the last month or so. Some times it is under 30 minutes. But, on Saturday (4/8/17) it was 2+ hours and today (Sunday, 4/9) it was 3+ hours. I have been watching this forum, searched all of the resources that I have learned about from this great discussion board,and even done various Google searches, to no avail.

I have followed this board for about a year and a half, joined only recently,but rarely post. I now ask this now because I am on the SWC #3 now. I asked the Conductor about thirty minutes after leaving CHI and she didn't know because her shift ends in Kansas City, I believe. She DID know about the 6+ hour delay a week ago because she was on duty when the SD occurred.

Any help would be appreciated. The delay really doesn't bother me, as my schedule is flexible. But, unfortunately after following this board, and because I am now in love with train travel (I've taken about a dozen LD trips in the last 15 months) ...This is really bugging me!

Thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[bmjhagen9426]

The Chief has been through worse. Last summer, delays exceeding six hours were routine. Also, delays exceeding two hours are not that common, although they can happen (I've seen the Chief as late as 12 to 16 hours), and the usual verdicts can be: Weather, nearby wildfires, track congestion, mechanical issues with the trains or trackage, or trespasser incidents.

 

[CAMISSY55]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the delays, both on the #3 and #4 seem to begin in the Raton Pass area. But, again when searching, I haven't been able to find out why. Also, I've taken this train several times, even during and after a snow storm, but with minimal delay.

 

[bmjhagen9426]

I've been on the #3 once on its entire route, and I could see that you are partly right. The train slows down going thru Raton Pass, because of curves and slopes. However, unless some other things happen, it recovers some time by the time it gets to the final stop.

 

[KmH]

With winter ending track work begins.

While BNSF no longer uses the Raton subdivision (La Junta to Las Vegas) negating any freight train caused delays, the subdivision still has to be maintained.

While the cost of maintaining the Raton Sub is no longer paid by BNSF they still own the subdivision.

In the last month ASMAD only shows late departures from RAT 1/2 the days. 3 of the late days the late departures were 2 hr's 54 minutes, 3 hrs 5 min, and 3 hrs 19 minutes late.

There was 1 late departure nearly a month ago that was 1 hr and 20 min late and the remainder of the late departures were less than 1 hour.

The history for Kingman look about like the late arrivals in LAX.

Same for Winslow, ABQ, Lamy, But not so late for Las Vegas, NM

Looks like the problem has been on the Glorietta sub or between Raton and Las Vegas.

 

[CAMISSY55]

Thanks for the replies. I apologise for not responding sooner but lacked cell service every time I thought to check back. This morning I looked again at the history and you are right KhM, the delays increase west of Raton Pass. I don't know what I was thinking. Actually, it was the two (or was it three?) glasses of my favorite Cabernet doing the thinking!

Anyway, yesterday the #3 was early. We departed ABQ nearly on time today. And as of now the conductor expects to on time getting to LAX.

However, FWIW,at lunch today I was seated with a retired railroad maintenance guy who was pointing out and explaining the recent rail work between Las Vegas and Lamy to me and my tablemates. His opinion was that moderate delays in those areas were compounded by freight traffic as the #3 moved west into Arizona and California. Sounded reasonable to me... then again, I am a relative newbie to LD train travel. But, I have the bug now and am eager to learn lots more!

 

[KmH]

You might find a couple of maps interesting.

This one shows BNSF's (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) subdivisions:

http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/maps/subdivisions-map.pdf

Subdivisions used by the Southwest Chief

Prior to the installation of the Cameron connector SW of Galesburg, IL the SWC left & arrived in Chicago on it's original route - the Chillicothe subdivision.

After the installation of the Cameron connector the SWC has used the Ottumwa, Mendota, and Chicago subdivisions from the connector to Chicago.

The other map shows the UP (Union Pacific) units:

http://www.up.com/cs/groups/public/documents/up_pdf_nativedocs/pdf_service_unit_map.pdf

Worldwide:

http://www.openrailwaymap.org/

And some other SWC tidbits:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Transcon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Chief

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Capitan_(train)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Madison_Toll_Bridge

 

[Chey]

This has me curious now. I'm booked on the SWC in July, going to LAX, transferring to the CS going to SJC. It's a guaranteed connection; if the SWC comes in too late do they put me up for the night or do they get me on alternate trains/throughways? I know Amtrak CA has a lot going on all the time, maybe it's not like missing a connection in a lot of other places?

 

[Bob Dylan]

This has me curious now. I'm booked on the SWC in July, going to LAX, transferring to the CS going to SJC. It's a guaranteed connection; if the SWC comes in too late do they put me up for the night or do they get me on alternate trains/throughways? I know Amtrak CA has a lot going on all the time, maybe it's not like missing a connection in a lot of other places?

Chances are if you are running late and miss the connection at LAX you'll do the Bustitution/Train combo through Bakersfield etc.

 

[Chey]

Chances are if you are running late and miss the connection at LAX you'll do the Bustitution/Train combo through Bakersfield etc.

Thanks - I would then get a voucher for the roomette I missed out on?

 

[KmH]

As long as the SWC isn't running more than 2 or so hours late they usually hold the CS for those SWC passengers needing to catch the CS.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Yep, but its not automatic. Call Customer Relations and you'll get a Voucher but not a refund!

 

[bmjhagen9426]

This has me curious now. I'm booked on the SWC in July, going to LAX, transferring to the CS going to SJC. It's a guaranteed connection; if the SWC comes in too late do they put me up for the night or do they get me on alternate trains/throughways? I know Amtrak CA has a lot going on all the time, maybe it's not like missing a connection in a lot of other places?

Chances are if you are running late and miss the connection at LAX you'll do the Bustitution/Train combo through Bakersfield etc.

If it is outrageously late, like by half a day, even the bustitution to Bakersfield will be a moot point. However, I have seen that the #3 arrives into LA relatively on time for the most part.

 

[Lonestar648]

Amtrak could also meet the SWC if it was several hours late prior to LAX and bus north to meet the CS, maybe Oxnard, therefore making the guaranteed connection.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Uh Oxnard isn't really "north" much . . .

 

[Chey]

As long as the SWC isn't running more than 2 or so hours late they usually hold the CS for those SWC passengers needing to catch the CS.

I've made connections like that when they were under two hours late, but I've never had to 'cash in' on a guaranteed connection. I've read here about people being put up in hotels but Amtrak CA has so many trains I can't see that happening. In a two-week period (late March, early April) SWC came into LAX later than two hours seven times and with the decision in the district court decision favoring freight I expect more late Amtrak trains. Just planning contingencies!

 

[Chey]

Amtrak could also meet the SWC if it was several hours late prior to LAX and bus north to meet the CS, maybe Oxnard, therefore making the guaranteed connection.

That's an interesting possibility. Get off at Fullerton maybe? Or before that?

 

[niemi24s]

Prior to the installation of the Cameron connector SW of Galesburg, IL. . .

In my opinion, that article sure would have been easier to comprehend if a map like this had been included:

 

[KmH]

The Cameron connector Wikipedia page was last modified January 26, 2017 so it's still a work in progress.

You could suggest to them that a map would be helpful.

I doubt Wikipedia would use the FRA safety map you posted with the mile posts on it because according to the FRA web site User's Guide on page 10:
Please note that the Freight Stations and the Mileposts are not downloadable for copyright reasons.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/69987-copyright-and-intellectual-property-issues/

 

[trainman74]

Uh Oxnard isn't really "north" much . . .

It's "railroad north," though (or, since we're talking about a bus, "highway north").

 

[CAMISSY55]

Thanks for the resources, KmH. The #3 did arrive in LAX on time on Tuesday, 4/11/17. With the help of a great Red Cap, I was even able to make an earlier connection on the southbound Pacific Surfliner #566. Arrived in PDF, picked up my rental car, and made it to my final destination in time to meet friends for lunch. My concerns about the SWC being late were for not - at least this time!

 

[CAMISSY55]

That should read, "Arrived on OSD," Ugh!

 

[DCAKen]

The Cameron connector Wikipedia page was last modified January 26, 2017 so it's still a work in progress.

You could suggest to them that a map would be helpful.

I doubt Wikipedia would use the FRA safety map you posted with the mile posts on it because according to the FRA web site User's Guide on page 10:

Please note that the Freight Stations and the Mileposts are not downloadable for copyright reasons.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/69987-copyright-and-intellectual-property-issues/

The Cameron connector Wikipedia page was last modified January 26, 2017 so it's still a work in progress.

You could suggest to them that a map would be helpful.

I doubt Wikipedia would use the FRA safety map you posted with the mile posts on it because according to the FRA web site User's Guide on page 10:

Please note that the Freight Stations and the Mileposts are not downloadable for copyright reasons.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/69987-copyright-and-intellectual-property-issues/

You can see the SWC on the connector on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/F9jJAm2G5LK2

 

[Austruck]

Okay, I am taking this same train (SWC #3) next month, with a 2-hour layover in LA before boarding the CS #14 headed to Seattle. How do I know if I have a "guaranteed" connection? I made this reservation all at once as part of a cross-country roundtrip journey, so it's all on the same reservation, and it was part of the same "leg" when I booked it.

Just asking because, until now, I had assumed that two hours would be enough. My guess is that it being part of the same leg is what makes it guaranteed, yes?

 

[KmH]

Any connection longer with the trains scheduled to be apart by 1 hour or more is guaranteed as long as both trains are on the same reservation.

Note that in the Northeast Corridor the time required is longer.

https://www.amtrak.com/at-the-station

Connecting Trains

Amtrak does not normally guarantee connections of less than 60 minutes (90 minutes between arriving long-distance trains and local trains in the Northeast Corridor). Please call Amtrak 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or your travel agent if your planned itinerary includes a shorter connection. A guaranteed connection does not ensure that such a connection will always be made. In the case of a missed guaranteed connection, Amtrak will provide alternate transportation on Amtrak, another carrier, or overnight hotel accommodations, at Amtrak's discretion.

If the SWC is not too late, they hold the CS so transferring passengers don't have to be bustituted or put up for the night.