Poor Empire Builder

[MarknLisa]

Yesterday the 8/28 was running 12 hrs late, today it's 14 hours late.  Should Amtrak go back to just running the Chicago - St Paul abbreviated verson until track & traffic conditions will allow it to run within 2 hrs of schedule?

[travelingengineer]

At least when I next take the EMPIRE BUILDER, I won't have the whole 23-hour layover in Chicago before boarding the SOUTHWEST CHIEF the next day! Plus, Amtrak may have to pay for my lodging or delayed-arrival inconvenience, if I don't arrive in Chicago as scheduled at 3:55 pm.

[petitnj]

Looks like Amtrak threw in the towel and annulled the west bound. (or it is late due to the late arrival of equipment). Right now it is storming in the Twin Cities and all the rivers are rising again.

[blue streak 1]

For the duration of this latest cutback of the EB builder it will be interesting to see how many local passengers Amtrak can attract MSP - CHI?

[MarknLisa]

This is posted on Amtrak.com now. It wasn't there a couple of hours ago.

Flooding Disrupts Amtrak Service at Minot, N.D.

 

Amtrak service in part of Minnesota, all of North Dakota and in eastern Montana is affected by the closure of BNSF Railway Co. tracks in and around Minot, N.D., due to what is predicted to be the worst flooding in more than 120 years. Passengers with questions about travel plans on this route should call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL for additional information.

 

Empire Builder (Trains 7/27 & 8/28)

 

Effective in both directions with the originations of June 21, Amtrak Empire Builder service will be temporarily suspended between St. Paul, Minn., and Havre, Mont., with no alternate transportation available between those points until further notice.

 

For those passengers traveling from Seattle and Portland, a combination of trains and chartered motorcoaches will provide service to Spokane, Wash., with the Empire Builder trains continuing east into Idaho and serving all Montana stops for Glacier National Park (including Whitefish, East and West Glacier and Essex), continuing east to terminate at Havre each afternoon. The trains will originate there to operate back west to Seattle/Portland.

 

For those passengers traveling west from Chicago, the Empire Builder trains will serve all their Wisconsin stops (including Wisconsin Dells), continuing west to terminate at St. Paul each evening. Each morning, the trains will originate there to operate back east to Chicago.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for schedule information and train status updates.

 

[MarknLisa]

petitnj, 7/27 is annulled. Try tracking 807 on Amtrak.com

[travelingengineer]

Latest information as of Wednesday, June 22nd, is that the EMPIRE BUILDER eastbound will terminate at Harve MO, with the equipment reversing back westbound. Westbound EMPIRE BUILDER will proceed only to St. Paul MN, then its equipment being reversed back to Chicago. The flood at Minot is truly (more than) a hundred year flood.