11 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

From AMTRAK's website:

Florida Train Service Affected by Tropical Storm Bonnie

Important message for passengers traveling or planning to travel on the Silver Service (Silver Meteor trains #97/#98, Silver Star trains #91/#92), Palmetto (trains #89/#90) and Auto Train (trains #52/#53) between August 12 and 13, 2004:

Tropical Storm Bonnie, which is forecast to reach hurricane force by Wednesday night, is expected to make landfall on the Florida panhandle during the early hours of Thursday, August 12, reaching the Savannah, GA, and Charleston, SC, area by early evening. Heavy rain, high surf and flooding conditions are expected. These weather conditions will affect Amtrak's service though Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Effective Thursday, August 12, for one day only, the following northbound trains are cancelled:

    * Silver Meteor, train #98, departing Miami at 7 a.m. for New York
    * Silver Star, train #92, departing Miami at 10:35 a.m. for New York
    * Palmetto, train #90, departing Miami at 3 p.m. and Tampa at 8:25 p.m. for New York
    * Auto Train, train #52, departing Sanford, FL, at 4 p.m. for Lorton, VA

Effective Thursday, August 12, for one day only, the following southbound trains are cancelled:

    * Palmetto, train #89, departing New York at 7:15 a.m. for Miami/Tampa
    * Silver Star, train #91, departing New York at 11:30 a.m. for Miami
    * Auto Train, train #53, departing Lorton, VA, at 4 p.m. for Sanford
    * Silver Meteor, train #97, departing New York at 7:01 p.m. for Miami

There will be no changes to the Carolinian (trains #79/#80), Crescent (trains #19/#20) or Piedmont (trains #73/#74.)

There will be an update posted on the afternoon of August 12 regarding service for Friday, August 13.

Amtrak regrets the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding during this time. Please call 1-800 USA-RAIL for more information.

And wait until Charley comes, already a hurricane and already poised to hit Southern Florida.

[KevinKorell]

Train Service in Florida and the coastal areas of Georgia and the Carolinas Affected by Tropical Storm Bonnie/Hurricane Charley

Due to severe weather resulting from two storms, Tropical Storm Bonnie, followed by Hurricane Charley, heavy rain, high surf and flooding conditions are expected in Florida, and the coastal areas of Georgia and the Carolinas. These weather conditions will affect Amtrak's service though these areas.

Effective Friday, August 13, for one day only, the following northbound trains are cancelled:

* Silver Meteor, train 98, departing Miami at 7 a.m. for New York
* Silver Star, train 92, departing Miami at 10:35 a.m. for New York
* Palmetto, train 90, departing Miami at 3 p.m. and Tampa at 8:25 p.m. for New York
* Auto Train, train 52, departing Sanford, FL, at 4 p.m. for Lorton, VA

Effective Friday, August 13, for one day only, the following southbound trains are cancelled:

* Palmetto, train 89, departing New York at 7:15 a.m. for Miami/Tampa
* Silver Star, train 91, departing New York at 11:30 a.m. for Miami
* Auto Train, train 53, departing Lorton, VA, at 4 p.m. for Sanford
* Silver Meteor, train 97, departing New York at 7:01 p.m. for Miami

There will be an update posted on the afternoon of August 13 regarding service for Saturday, August 14.

Amtrak regrets the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding during this time. Please call 1-800 USA-RAIL for more information.

[KevinKorell]

for one day only

Um, that's two days now, and I suspect a third might be coming. So much for our all-weather mode of travel! It's not that Amtrak can't handle the rain, but rather its host railroad, and we all know who that is....

[EdFindlay]

Um, that's two days now, and I suspect a third might be coming. So much for our all-weather mode of travel! It's not that Amtrak can't handle the rain, but rather its host railroad, and we all know who that is....

It's not the rain but the winds and debris that is the problem. Even if the tracks were in terrible condition or the best condition debris on the tracks and high winds at the statiosn is something that has to be taken seriously.

It's wait and see for now, Amtrak might have a point in not running the trains or Amtrak might look foolish for overreacting to the forcast. Best to err on the side of caution with those systems.

[KevinKorell]

Thankfully Bonnie has fizzled out --- we had heavy rains from its remnants here in the Northeast on Friday. Charley however has hit Florida worse than expected, and has resulted in continued cancellations of the AUTO TRAIN, Silver Service, and now the eastern portion of the SUNSET LIMITED as well.


Friday night's update:

Train Service through Florida and the Coastal Areas of Georgia and the Carolinas Affected by Hurricane Charley


Due to severe weather resulting from Hurricane Charley, heavy rain, high surf and flooding conditions are expected in Florida, and the coastal areas of Georgia and the Carolinas. These weather conditions will affect Amtrak’s service though these areas.

Effective Saturday, August 14, for one day only, the following northbound trains are cancelled:

Silver Meteor, train 98, departing Miami at 7 a.m. for New York
Silver Star, train 92, departing Miami at 10:35 a.m. for New York
Palmetto, train 90, departing Miami at 3 p.m. and Tampa at 8:25 p.m. for New York
Auto Train, train 52, departing Sanford, FL, at 4 p.m. for Lorton, VA

Effective Saturday, August 14, for one day only, the following southbound trains are cancelled:

Palmetto, train 89, departing New York at 7:15 a.m. for Miami/Tampa
Silver Star, train 91, departing New York at 11:30 a.m. for Miami
Auto Train, train 53, departing Lorton, VA, at 4 p.m. for Sanford
Silver Meteor, train 97, departing New York at 7:01 p.m. for Miami

In addition, the Sunset Limited, trains 1 and 2, will originate and terminate in New Orleans. Train 2, which departed Los Angeles August 11 with a scheduled arrival in New Orleans on August 13 and points in Florida on August 14, will terminate in New Orleans. Train 1, scheduled to depart Orlando and points in Florida on August 15, will originate in New Orleans on August 16.

Amtrak regrets the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding during this time. Please call 1-800 USA-RAIL for more information.

[dcwarner]

From Amtrak's own site:

Train Service through Florida and the Coastal Areas of Georgia and the Carolinas Affected by Hurricane Charley.

Due to severe weather resulting from Hurricane Charley, heavy rain, high surf and flooding conditions are expected along the East Coast from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic region. The resulting weather conditionswill affect Amtrak's service in this area.

Florida Services:

On Saturday, August 14, the following northbound trains are cancelled:

Silver Meteor, train 98, departing Miami at 7 a.m. for New York
Silver Star, train 92, departing Miami at 10:35 a.m. for New York
Palmetto, train 90, departing Miami at 3 p.m. and Tampa at 8:25 p.m. for New York
Auto Train, train 52, departing Sanford, FL, at 4 p.m. for Lorton, VA

On Saturday, August 14, the following southbound trains are cancelled:

Palmetto, train 89, departing New York at 7:15 a.m. for Miami/Tampa
Silver Star, train 91, departing New York at 11:30 a.m. for Miami
Auto Train, train 53, departing Lorton, VA, at 4 p.m. for Sanford
Silver Meteor, train 97, departing New York at 7:01 p.m. for Miami

In addition, the Sunset Limited, trains 1 and 2, will originate and terminate in New Orleans. Train 2, which departed Los Angeles August 11 with a scheduled arrival in New Orleans on August 13 and points in Florida on August 14, will terminate in New Orleans. Train 1, scheduled to depart Orlando and points in Florida on August 15, will originate in New Orleans on August 16.

Services in Virginia and North Carolina:

On Saturday, August 14, the following southbound trains will be affected as follows:

Carolinian, train 79, from New York at 6:25 a.m. will terminate in Richmond, VA
Regional, train 99, from Boston at 8:40 a.m., will terminate in Richmond, VA
Piedmont, train 74, from Raleigh, NC, at 8:47 p.m. is cancelled
Regional, train 67, from Boston at 9:45 p.m. will terminate in Richmond, VA on 8/15

On Sunday, August 15, the following northbound trains will be affected as follows:

Carolinian, train 80, from Charlotte 7:50 a.m. is cancelled through to Washington, D.C.
Piedmont, train 73, from Raleigh at 7:15 a.m. is cancelled
Regional, train 194, from Newport News at 9 a.m. is cancelled through to Richmond, VA

Amtrak regrets the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding during this time. Please call 1-800 USA-RAIL for more information.

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak anouncement for Sunday, 8/15:

Train Service through Florida and the Coastal Areas of Georgia and the Carolinas Affected by Hurricane Charley

 


Due to severe weather resulting from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Charley, heavy rain, high surf and flooding conditions are expected along the East Coast from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic region. The resulting weather conditions will affect Amtrak's service in this area.

Florida Services:

On Sunday, August 15, the following trains are cancelled:

Silver Star, train 91, departing New York at 11:30 a.m. for Miami
Silver Star, train 92, departing Miami at 10:35 a.m. for New York
On Sunday, August 15, the following services will be modified:

Silver Meteor, train 98, will originate in Sanford. Bus transportation will be provided from Miami to Sanford. 
Silver Meteor, train 97, departing New York at 7:01 p.m. will terminate at Sanford. Bus transportation will be provided from Sanford to Miami and intermediate points to discharge passengers only. 
Palmetto, train 89, departing New York at 7:15 a.m. will terminate at Jacksonville. 
Palmetto, train 90, will originate in Jacksonville. 
The Sunset Limited, trains 1 and 2, will originate and terminate in New Orleans. 
Both the northbound and southbound Auto Train, trains 52 and 53, will operate according to the published schedule.
Services in Virginia and North Carolina:

On Sunday, August 15, the following trains will be cancelled or modified:

Carolinian, train 80, will originate in Washington, D.C. 
Piedmont, train 73, from Raleigh to Charlotte is cancelled. 
Regional, train 66, will originate in Richmond. 
Regional, train 194, will originate in Richmond.
Amtrak regrets the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding during this time. Please call 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information

[KevinKorell]

Charley is fast-moving, and its remnants will already be hitting the Northeast tonight and Sunday. No doubt that the reason service is being turned around at Sanford is due to devastation in Central Florida. And now, don't look now but Hurricane Earl is on his way.....

[NickG]

Apparently, Amtrak and CSX changed their minds about service yesterday. I found this news release on Amtrak's website:

AMTRAK RESTORES LIMITED SERVICE TO FLORIDA ON SUNDAY AUGUST 15

WASHINGTON - Amtrak will restore limited service to Florida effective Sunday August 15, 2004.  All Florida service had been cancelled due to Hurricane Charley and Tropical storm Bonnie.

On August 15, Amtrak will restore the Palmetto service, (trains 89, 90) between New York and Jacksonville, Fla only and the Silver Meteor (trains 97, 98) between New York and Sanford, Fla. only.  The New York City-Charlotte, N.C. Carolinian (train 79) will operate normally, the Raleigh-Charlotte Piedmont (train 74) will operate normally and the Boston-Newport News Regional (trains 99, 199) will operate normally.  The Auto Train (trains 52, 53) that operates between Lorton, Va. and Sanford, Fla. will also return to regular service on Sunday, August 15.

Amtrak service that remains suspended for Sunday, August 15: The Silver Star (trains 91, 92).  New York City-Charlotte, N.C. Carolinian (train 80 between Charlotte and Washington, D.C.), and Raleigh-Charlotte Piedmont (train 73).

Passengers who had plans to travel on the above-mentioned cancelled Amtrak trains will be re-accommodated on other trains once additional service resumes.  If passengers choose not to be re-accommodated, they may request a refund.  Updates may be obtained on Amtrak's website, www.amtrak.com, or by calling its toll-free information and reservations number, 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Amtrak is working in conjunction with the CSX Transportation, which owns and operates the railroad between Washington and Miami to make service decisions based on the most up-to-date weather forecasts and actual conditions on the railroad.  Amtrak will issue additional advisories about any other adjustments to service.

[NickG]

Here's Amtrak's most uninformative update for today:

Important Information for Passengers Traveling in Southwest Florida and New York State

Due to conditions resulting from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Charley, Amtrak services in central and southwest Florida, as well as New York's Empire Corridor, have been affected.

In the state of Florida, power failures and track damage have modified Silver Service.

In New York state, track damage has resulted in service disruptions between Albany and New York City. In some cases, trains are cancelled, while in other cases, trains may be terminated in Albany and alternate transportation is provided.

Service between Washington, D.C., New York Penn Station and Boston is operating normally.

Please call 1-800 USA-RAIL for the latest train status information. Amtrak regrets the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding during this time.