NEC schedule reduction

[blue streak 1]

Appears NEC going to a Saturday schedule checking reservations.  Appears effective Monday 16th.  Right now Albany does not appear to be reduced ?  As of 2115 EDT Fridaay.

All NEC  WAS - NYP - BOS  trains 7 days a week are on Saturday schedule effective Monday 16th.

[MMLDelete]

blue streak 1

Appears NEC going to a Saturday schedule checking reservations.  Appears effective Monday 16th.  Right now Albany does not appear to be reduced ?  As of 2115 EDT Fridaay.

 

I don't understand what you're saying. Could you explain?

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updated post sorry.

[BaltACD]

Guess they should really move to a 'traditional' Amtrak schedule system.

Once daily in each direction at each served location, preferably at O dark thrirty.

[charlie hebdo]

Even better,  on every other day. 

[blue streak 1]

Her is link to reduced service.  Harrisburg is now on Saturday schedule as well.

https://www.amtrak.com/planning-booking/policies/coronavirus.html 

[blue streak 1]

New Amtrak bulletin but no change noted.  

Updates to Service

March 15, 2020, 3:00 pm ET

While Amtrak continues to operate across the nation, we have adjusted some services due to significantly reduced demand in key markets. Impacted services are as follows:

 

• Northeast Corridor: Starting Monday, March 16, we will be operating approximately 40% of our typical weekday Northeast Corridor schedules. Our Northeast Regional and Acela service will still operate between Boston, New York, and Washington and Northeast Corridor services that extend into Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, and other states will continue to operate but with some reductions in frequencies for certain markets referenced below. 
• Keystone Service: In coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, starting Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 29, Keystone Service will be operating on its Saturday schedule on a daily basis, between Harrisburg and Philadelphia only, with no service to the Ardmore, Paoli, Downingtown, Parkesburg, Coatesville and Exton Stations.
• Amtrak Hartford Line and Valley Flyer: Starting Monday, March 16, Amtrak Hartford Line and Valley Flyer Service will be operating on its Saturday schedule on a daily basis.
• New York State Service: Starting Sunday, March 15, the Maple Leaf will only operate between New York Penn and Niagara Falls, New York, and the Adirondack will only operate between New York Penn and Albany, New York. Empire Service between New York City and Albany continues as scheduled.
• Winter Park Express: The Winter Park Express is canceled for the rest of the season. 

 

Other services may also be impacted as circumstances change and Café service will be suspended on some trains operating between Washington DC and New York City.

 

Customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will be contacted and typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day. 

 

Amtrak is waiving change fees on all existing or new reservations made before April 30, 2020. To change reservations, log in to your account or go to Modify Trip on Amtrak.com, or find your reservation from your account on the home screen in the Amtrak mobile app. A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary. If you want to cancel your reservation, you must call 800-USA-RAIL (not available via Amtrak.com or the app). 

 

[MidlandMike]

The  Winter Park Express was probably cancelled because the Colorado governor has closed all their state's ski areas for at least a week, and Winter Park itself has closed until further notice.  A friend's family was scheduled to go there next week on Amtrak's Zephyr.

[blue streak 1]

The following has occurred after much thought and various readings.  A lot may depend on what congress tells Amtrak to do.

The effort to slow the spread of this virus may cause Amtrak to be ordered to cut back LD trains.  The first might be one of the Florida trains ? Then  even the PPalmetto ? Then one or more of the CHI - west coast trains with connections made by the Coast Starlight route.  Then again it might be making them a 3 day a week trips which IMHO is the wrong way to go.

[blue streak 1]

Downeaster dropping one round trip tomorrow, two RTs WED.- FRI and 3 RTS SAT.

https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/22/messages/51287

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Link to latest update 11;:30 AM Wedensday.

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html 

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Another problem,  Amtrak cannot get medical clearances for recertifications.  This will affect truck drivers and airline pilots that need a new FAA 1st class physical evvery 6 months.

 

EDIT. Link for Other requests for non enforcementt of some items.

https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=commentDueDate&po=0&dct=N%2BFR%2BPR%2BO&D=FRA-2020-0002 

Note::  This list will change at present lists just 8 requests but more to come.

[blue streak 1]

Friday evening bulletin includes some west coast cancellations.

Service Modifications

 

Reduced schedules

 

• Northeast Corridor: Operating approximately 40% of typical weekday schedules, including Northeast Regional and Acela service.
• Adirondack (New York – Montreal): No service north of Albany
• Amtrak Cascades (Eugene – Vancouver, B.C.): No service north of Seattle
• Amtrak Hartford Line (New Haven, CT – Springfield, Mass.)
• Amtrak Thruway Bus routes
• Capitol Corridor (San Jose – Sacramento) as of Saturday, March 21
• Downeaster (Boston – Brunswick, Maine)
• Empire Service (New York – Niagara Falls)
• Ethan Allen Express (New York – Rutland, Vermont)
• Hiawatha (Chicago – Milwaukee)
• Illini/Saluki (Chicago – Carbondale) as of Saturday, March 21
• Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg Chicago – Quincy) as of Saturday, March 21
• Lincoln Service (Chicago – St. Louis) as of Saturday, March 21
• Maple Leaf (New York – Toronto): No service west of Niagara Falls, NY
• Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo – San Diego) as of Monday, March 23
• Valley Flyer (New Haven, CT – Greenfield, Mass.)
• Wolverine (Chicago – Pontiac)

 

Canceled services

 

• Keystone Service (Harrisburg – New York)
• Pennsylvanian trains (New York – Pittsburgh)
• Pere Marquette (Chicago – Grand Rapids)
• Winter Park Express (Denver – Winter Park Resort)

 

 

 

[Overmod]

blue streak 1

Another problem,  Amtrak cannot get medical clearances for recertifications. 

Your link is to a local file on a computer, and as such can't be opened by us.  Can you provide a proper working link?

The Amtrak request (PDF, dated 3/16. the same day FRA made its announcement about coronavirus) is here:

https://www.regulations.gov/contentStreamer?documentId=FRA-2020-0002-0004&attachmentNumber=1&contentType=pdf

[charlie hebdo]

Given the cancellations you posted,  why are trains like the Crescent and TX Eagle operating? 

[blue streak 1]

charlie hebdo

Given the cancellations you posted,  why are trains like the Crescent and TX Eagle operating?  

Partial answer.  Crescent, Silvers, and Cardinal have been opened for local NEC travel both ways.

[daveklepper]

There may be people whose travel is essential or highly beneficial to public health for whom these trains provide a service far more convenient than alternatives.