A check of Amtrak reservations for tomorrow ( Tuesday ) show the short distance destinations from CHI almost sold out in sleepers and business class, ( few with 1 - 3 seats left ). Even with STL trains 301 - 307 cancelled south of Springfield most of the CHI - SPI trains sold out. If Cardinal is still running 2 sleepers it will be interesting.
Maybe Amtrak needs to get more Business class cars built ? Sleepers are on the way but not soon enough for this problem. Even a short high demand for seats might make impressive gain for October ?
CSSHEGEWISCH Obtaining additional equipment could be difficult. Metra has a minimal amount of spare cars beyond those out of service for maintenance and I'm not sure where any other cars could be obtained on short notice.
Obtaining additional equipment could be difficult. Metra has a minimal amount of spare cars beyond those out of service for maintenance and I'm not sure where any other cars could be obtained on short notice.
You'd have to ferry them west from the NEC. Aren't there a bunch of "post-Katrina" Amfleet cars?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
blue streak 1Appears that Amtrak needs to advertise those routes that are fairly short distance. Would especially note Chi - Milwaukee airport has much potential. CHI - STL is also a good alternative as the train station is close to the light rail that goes to STL airport. . Amtrak does not appear very nimble ?
You would think they'd scramble to get every extra car they could and fill out their short haul routes out of Chicago.
Media reports this Monday say that the center will be out of service for at least 2 weeks. There will be cancellations to / from the ORD and MDW airports. This vulnerability of the air traffic system has been a long time known "dirty little secrete".
A quick check of trains out of Chicago showed all except CHI -Kansas city had seats today. That would seem to indicate that the general public has no idea of the availability of rail service or just does not want to ride a train.?
Appears that Amtrak needs to advertise those routes that are fairly short distance. Would especially note Chi - Milwaukee airport has much potential. CHI - STL is also a good alternative as the train station is close to the light rail that goes to STL airport. . Amtrak does not appear very nimble ? T & E crews might be a problem but at least Chicago might have some extra qualified crews ? HEP qualified engineers from the commuter rails could be assigned to go with freight RR engineers. Equipment should be able to be found maybe some commuter equipment ? Detroit - CHI might also be a possibility ? The FAA could cancel those airports to ODR / MDW to allow for longer flights to operate thereby directing more passengers to the train routes ?
If Amtrak could put together some extra trains a directed service order to freight RRs from the STB & FRA would speed bureaucratic inertia. ?
Would imagine that commuter airline flights to locations like Springfield might be cancelled ?
Events like this are going to happen and the regulators need more discretion and Amtrak does need spare equipment /?
schlimm O'Hare serves an average of 183,300 passengers daily; Midway serves another 56,090. Amtrak carries about 9650 passengers daily in Chicago, which is only 4% of the airlines' volume. Doubtful Amtrak could help much.
O'Hare serves an average of 183,300 passengers daily; Midway serves another 56,090. Amtrak carries about 9650 passengers daily in Chicago, which is only 4% of the airlines' volume. Doubtful Amtrak could help much.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
According to PBS over 1000 flights cancelled Friday and so far today over 500. Wonder if Amtrak got any diverts ?
With all the problems discussed here about Amtrak. Remember, the airlines have it worse.
4:25 pm now and there seem to be more flights, outbound. Catching up time?
Reports of an arson fire at the Chicago Air traffic control center at Aurora has shut down the center. Adjacent centers may be able to handle some traffic ( Minneapolis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Toronto ( in Canada ). However controllers need qualification on routes they are handling much as RR dispatchers and Crews ). Do not know what the latest FAA rules are with the changes in ATC computers and TCAS. The many cancellations would seem to indicate not much traffic is moving.
Note: Low altitude ( below 18,000 feet ) control is much more difficult. The local approach control locations will be able to expand out some but have no idea how much. ( Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Toledo, Saint Louis & others.
A quick check showed almost all Amtrak trains out of Chicago today full. You wish that Amtrak was nimble enough to beg, borrow, or steal equipment to add onto regular trains ? Chicago - Saint Louis would be best for airline passengers to get to another operating centers.i Extra sections no way ? Just another reason not to put all the US's transportation eggs in one basket. Hopefully for airline passengers this is not a complete catastrophe. CHICAGO center controllers can probably be moved quickly to the other mentioned centers if necessary ?
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