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[NickG]

From Amtrak, 9/9/05:

Amtrak Works to Restore Service to Louisiana and Mississippi

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is working to restore passenger rail service in Louisiana and Mississippi that was suspended due to extensive damage to rail lines and facilities caused by Hurricane Katrina.

“Rail lines and facilities are pretty badly beaten up, but the freights and Amtrak are working hard to restore service,” said Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn, including the routes used by Amtrak and owned by freight railroads.

“We are doing a damage assessment of our facilities and we’ll start repairs very soon. We want to resume our operations as quickly as feasible in New Orleans and other communities in Louisiana and Mississippi Amtrak serves,” Gunn added.

The latest update is as follows:

The City of New Orleans (trains 58 & 59). Normally providing daily service between New Orleans and Chicago this train currently operates between Jackson, Miss., and Chicago. Starting with the southbound departure on Sept. 12 and the northbound departure on Sept. 13, the train’s southern terminus will be extended to Hammond, La.

The Crescent (trains 19 & 20). Normally operating daily service between New Orleans and New York, this train presently operates between Atlanta and New York. Starting with the southbound departure on Sept. 12 and the northbound departure on Sept. 14, the train’s southern terminus will be extended to Meridian, Miss.

The Sunset Limited (trains 1 & 2). Usually serving passengers between Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla. through New Orleans on a three-day-per-week schedule, the Sunset Limited now operates between Los Angeles and San Antonio. There are no plans presently to extend the train’s eastern terminus or to initiate service east of New Orleans.

Repairs to Rail Lines and New Orleans Station begin

The freight railroads that own the rail lines over which these three Amtrak trains operate are working to repair miles of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Amtrak employees are working to restore operations at the Amtrak station in New Orleans. However, no date is yet known for the re-opening of passenger rail service in New Orleans.

Amtrak is offering full refunds and waiving all penalties for passengers who had made reservations traveling to or from New Orleans or other areas served by the affected trains.