10 replies to this topic

[NickG]

September 8, 2004
11:00 AM EDT

AMTRAK CONTINUES LIMITED FLORIDA SERVICE
Thursday's Silver Meteor & Palmetto to operate to and from Jacksonville and New York
Thursday's Silver Star and Auto Train canceled
Los Angeles - Orlando Sunset Limited service also affected

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak is continuing limited service to and from Florida.  Effective tomorrow (Sept. 9), the Silver Meteor and Palmetto will operate to and from Jacksonville via Florence, S.C.  No alternate transportation is available south of Jacksonville.  Other cancellations remain in effect, pending additional railroad infrastructure work and damage repairs. 

Amtrak services along the Eastern Seaboard and the Northeast Corridor are operating, subject to some delays in areas where Hurricane Frances lingers as a tropical depression with very heavy rains and associated electrical outages.

Amtrak is notifying customers of the following:

These trains from the north to Florida are affected:

Silver Meteor (Train 97) and Palmetto (Train 89), which are scheduled originate tomorrow (Sept. 9) from New York to Miami, will operate as far south as Jacksonville, with no alternate transportation available.  Continuation of the trains south of Jacksonville to Tampa and Miami is not possible at this time.  The Silver Star (Train 91), which is scheduled to originate tomorrow (Sept. 8) from New York to Miami, is canceled with no alternate transportation available.

Auto Train (Train 53), which is scheduled to originate tomorrow (Sept. 9) from Lorton, Va., to Sanford is canceled with no alternate transportation available.

These trains to the north from Florida are affected:

Silver Meteor (Train 98) and Palmetto (Train 90), which are scheduled to originate tomorrow (Sept. 9) from Miami, will originate from Jacksonville instead, with no alternate transportation available.  The Silver Star (Train 92), which is scheduled to originate tomorrow (Sept. 9) from Miami to New York, is canceled with no alternate transportation available.  

Auto Train (Train 52), which is scheduled to originate tomorrow (Sept. 9) and Friday (Sept. 10) from Sanford to Lorton, is canceled with no alternate transportation available.

This train from the west to Florida is affected:

Sunset Limited (Train 2), which is scheduled to originate tonight (Sept. 8) from Los Angeles to Sanford, will terminate in New Orleans instead, with no alternate transportation available. 

These trains to the west from Florida are affected:

Sunset Limited (Train 1), which is scheduled to originate tomorrow (Sept. 9) and Sunday (Sept. 12) from Orlando will originate in New Orleans instead, with no alternate transportation available.

Staffed Amtrak stations in central and south Florida that were closed before the hurricane arrived have now reopened for passenger ticketing and to answer customer questions, with shortened hours pending the resumption of full service.  Major electrical distribution outages, debris along tracks and damage to rail traffic control systems owned and maintained by CSX Transportation prevent an immediate restoration of all services.

Amtrak has added capacity to its Carolinian trains to and from New York and Charlotte (Trains 79 & 80) in order to accommodate passengers unable to travel to and from the Carolinas on the Florida services.

These plans are subject to change, as conditions dictate.