For those who read this that are planning to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday may need to go ahead and make reservations. A check of some trains over that period shows many already sold out.
As usual Sunday after turkey day is the big one.
Sunday
Several NEC trains already sold out without any extra trains yet showing in schedule.
Chi – STL also has several trains sold out
The Seattle – Portland route has the most sold out with only two Cascades left open. My understanding is Washington DOT is negotiating with AMTRAK and BNSF for some additional trains.
Some San – Diegans sold out as well.
West bound Pennsylvanian
Long distance has Crescent sleepers and whole Eagle sold out.
Business class on many other trains sold out as well.
Wednesday sold outs
Crescent, Capitol sleepers
Some Cascades, 2 – Surfliners
Extra equipment has not been allocated however the extra Horizon cars in New Orleans may be used. The Blue Water & Wolverines have had their Business Class cars removed over Thanksgiving period so maybe Horizons will be used there? Could use that equipment to lengthen maybe Chi – STL?
Thanks for the info. Thanksgiving is a fascinating time mostly to see how Amtrak handles the crush. Traditionally it's been the highest travelled period for Amtrak, with standing-room-only on Regionals that are twelve cars long at odd times and unusual delays.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s I travelled via Amtrak on Thanksgiving and chose the Metroliner (Metroliner II, the AEM-7 version) so I could be guaranteed a seat, even if my significant other didn't sit near me (she did). This was back when Amtrak ran non-reserved trains, a really silly idea that got higher ridership but the same ridership was ANGRY having to stand or sit in the aisles.
After every trip in those days Amtrak mailed us a survey and we specifically indicated that reserved trains are required or we would never use Amtrak again. Two years later, all trains became reserved trains. We weren't the only ones saying that!!
Enjoy your trip on Thanksgiving.
A quick survey of the bookings as of Sun Nov 7 shows some interesting items.
1. NEC regional trains selling out quickly with 2 regular equipment extra trains going BOS - WASH which have not sold out yet. Most Acela still with seats however may because weekday schedules are in place for Sunday.
2. 4 commuter equipment round trip trains now scheduled NYP - WAS with what appears as 2 NJ transit trains and 2 MARC trains not sold out.
3. Long distance continues to sell in the east however a couple that were sold out now has space which could be either more cars or some reservation tickets not picked up
4.CHI - STL - CHI appears to be available except for the extra coach(s) on the eagle which are sold out.
5. Downeasters all have seats.
6. Business class going fast systemwide.
7. 2 additional Cascades RTs SEA - PDX now scheduled (equipment unknown) but appears not to be Talgo equipment. All Talgos sold out.
8.Surfliners not changed with business class going fast
9. Eagle is booked very heavy thru whole thanksgiving period.
I suspect that as the holiday gets closer there may be more seats available as Amtrak gets some equipment available that they were not sure would be ready for the period. Several cars are nearing release from Bear and Beech Grove.
The big fly in the ointment is the weather. Historically around Thanksgiving there has been somewhere in the country that very bad weather has shut down some area. That has not been the case in the past 2 or 3 years. In the past the airports have been noted by the media as the victims. You can imagine all sorts of possibilitys to numerous to list depending on it trains can get thru or not. We may know in 10 days or so some possibilities.
Aegrotatio: Correct about all reservations however the CHI - MKE are not listed as reserved for SUNDAY.
Forgot to check Auto Train.
1. Getting close to selling out southbound Thur - Sun with only Roomettes available on 28th. Sleepers sold out Fri - Sat.
NEC update as of Mon Nov 9 - 2000. Cannot believe the changes
1. 2 conventional extra BOS - WASH RTs now scheduled on Wed.
2. On Wed Amtrak NYP - WASH - NYP has now added a couple Acelas on Wed and added 4 Acelas RTs on Sunday giving hourly service 0900 - 2100. Also 4 additional Acela RTs NYP - BOS mostly continuation of WASH - NYP Originators/terminators.
3. Sunday Acelas are selling out north bound both WASH - NYP and BOS
4. Sunday Regionals north bound also selling out.
Update as of Thur Nov 11, 0600
1. Auto train for whatever reason now has openings on all day Wed - Mon. (maybe able to add another car?)
2. Cascades are getting closer to sold out with only 1st and last trips open.
3. Cresent Meteor all sleeper space sold out.
No other routes checked.
These items signify the importance of checking especially after 2 AM EST for available tickets
Just checked NEC on Sunday and all NEC regionals from 1250 - 1900 including the extra sections and commuter equipment extra sections sold out.
It will be very interesting how all the passengers in the various stations are handled. This should be an educational time for AMTRAK how to handle loads in the future.
is there an update on Amtrak nationwide? I would imagine everything is sold out?
My train videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/karldotcom
As of midnight Wed morning for the 24th most NEC Regionals sold out from 1100 -1900 ; Cascades all sold out except 1st and last trips including extra trains and starlight with one extra leaving at midnight tonight sea - pdx non stop arriving PDX 0400 ( very interesting)!
Not all seats are guaranteed to be on a train. The Empire Builder has been suffering severe weather delays this week, the worst so far being last night's No.7 across the Idaho panhandle becoming this evening's No.7 across the Idaho panhandle. It tip toed through the crossover at West Hauser around 5:40pm, some 14+ hours late. Then, just as the train was approaching Spokane, the local CBS affiliate was doing a live report from the station on the stranded, waiting passengers, many of whom had already left on buses. Word has it they'll turn this late No.7 at Spokane and bring tonight's passengers out of Seattle by bus to Spokane (perhaps doing likewise for those out of Portland).
Record-setting cold weather and a major blizzard hit the Northwest this week, lows down to minus 18 in central WA, minus 10 or so here in north Idaho, highs only in the single digits or low teens, with the next snowstorm expected from T-day right on into the weekend. These low temps are not unheard of around here in January, but have shattered previous records for November lows. And the same band of weather has been plowing right along the Empire Builder's route east toward the Twin Cities.
Well as originally posted there was bound to be a major delay somewhere in the system/ Hope those Builder passengers are not too upset.
A check for Sunday shows almost 2/3rds of all short haul trips sold out Sunday. The Long distance for the whole weekend almost all sold out except Capital limited. Even Cardinal sold out on Saturday from CHI. Now if we can just get the POLs to start complaining about equipment shortages ....................... Hum??
Bruce Kelly Not all seats are guaranteed to be on a train. The Empire Builder has been suffering severe weather delays this week, the worst so far being last night's No.7 across the Idaho panhandle becoming this evening's No.7 across the Idaho panhandle. It tip toed through the crossover at West Hauser around 5:40pm, some 14+ hours late. Record-setting cold weather and a major blizzard hit the Northwest this week, lows down to minus 18 in central WA, minus 10 or so here in north Idaho, highs only in the single digits or low teens, with the next snowstorm expected from T-day right on into the weekend. These low temps are not unheard of around here in January, but have shattered previous records for November lows. And the same band of weather has been plowing right along the Empire Builder's route east toward the Twin Cities.
Not all seats are guaranteed to be on a train. The Empire Builder has been suffering severe weather delays this week, the worst so far being last night's No.7 across the Idaho panhandle becoming this evening's No.7 across the Idaho panhandle. It tip toed through the crossover at West Hauser around 5:40pm, some 14+ hours late.
What would be a real coup for Amtrak if this weather continues to delay the Builder this weekend would be for Amtrak to borrow Sounder equipment and use that equipment to run passengers to/from PDX/SEA to connect with the equipment at Spokane and take the westbound passengers back to PDX/SEA??
By the same token if eastbound trains are late why not borrow a METRA train set to meet somewhere between MKE AND MSP?
I have yet to see anything about Amtrak on the news this year. It is disappointing to see that the amount of people traveling by rail are not even included in some travel figures.
Maybe if we do get high speed rail, Amtrak may actually get recognized as a means of travel. Oh well, maybe one day I will turn on the weather channel and they are showing the conditions on the rail routes for travelers.
blue streak 1 By the same token if eastbound trains are late why not borrow a METRA train set to meet somewhere between MKE AND MSP?
Actually with more thought why not take Hiawatha equipment to make a connection with the Empire Bilder equipment and use METRA equipment for the CHI - MKE Hiawathas??
A review of the performance for Wednesday showed almost all NEC trains on time with only one Acela in afternoon canceled BOS - Wash. Chicago trips had some lates up to an hour with west coast fairly good. Considering all the dwell at many stations tp load and unload must give them a B+.. The Empire Builder problems due to weather was to be expected.
blue streak 1 A review of the performance for Wednesday showed almost all NEC trains on time with only one Acela in afternoon canceled BOS - Wash. Chicago trips had some lates up to an hour with west coast fairly good. Considering all the dwell at many stations tp load and unload must give them a B+.. The Empire Builder problems due to weather was to be expected.
By any chance do you know why the one Acela trip was canceled?
Performance Thur - Sat showed almost no cancellations. The east coast and west coast originated almost all trips on time. The LD trips from the south all gained time from Wash - NYP with some as much as an 1:10 early at NYP and all 30 - 45+ minutes under schedule running time.
??Many trains arrived somewhat late due to what i suspect was a requirement to double stop at a lot of the shorter platform stations
CHI was a different animal as almost all LD trains had a 30 min to 1` hr+ delayed departure. Did not check CHI SD departures.
Observed what was Sat NYP departure of Silver Star on Sun west of Orlando with 2 locomotives and what appeared to be 14 cars including the baggage car?? Type / mix of cars unable to determine due to just a quick glance at 79MPH.
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