7 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL, 3/27/17:

 

 

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Some trains to be shut down for high-speed rail work

 

High-speed rail work will shut down some trains from Normal to Chicago and to St. Louis indefinitely starting April 3.

 

"Track work will affect the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle between Chicago and St. Louis, with chartered buses replacing trains in some instances," according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Story

[steve4031]

A week after I booked round trip BC for Rosalyn and myself on 303 and 304 I get this info.  I am traveling on 303 on a Saturday and 304 on Monday.  Unfortunately the article is vague about which days the disruptions will occur. 

 

A quick check of Amtrak's site indicates that no bustitutions are planned for my days of travel.  

Edited by steve4031, 27 March 2017 - 11:22 AM.

[KevinKorell]

A week after I booked round trip BC for Rosalyn and myself on 303 and 304 I get this info.  I am traveling on 303 on a Saturday and 304 on Monday.  Unfortunately the article is vague about which days the disruptions will occur. 

At this time Amtrak hasn't informed you or anyone in the public yet. The press knows before it is posted on Amtrak's website.

[steve4031]

I did test bookings on Amtrak. Trains were cancelled and 21/22 detoured on some days. 4/8 and 4/10 are normal operation days for the time being

[KevinKorell]

Now the announcement is on Amtrak's website under Service Disruptions.  Good news is that it says the service suspension will be one day, April 3rd, only.

 

 

 

Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle Trains Track Work

Effective Monday, April 3, 2017 Only

 

Construction continues to bring 110 mph speeds to the Lincoln Service. On Monday, April 3, 2017, track work will affect the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle between Chicago and St. Louis, with chartered buses replacing trains in some instances.

 

Lincoln Service

 

Trains 300, 301, 302 and 303 will be canceled. Bus service will replace all trains (except Train 300) at each station on the route.

All buses will depart earlier than the respective trains. Trains 304, 305, 306 and 307 will run on their normal schedules.

 

Texas Eagle

 

• Southbound Train 21/421 will detour between Chicago and St. Louis on April 3, 2017, and will not stop at Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington-Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville and Alton. Customers traveling to or from these stations can make reservations aboard available Lincoln Service trains or buses.


• Northbound Train 22/422 will operate as scheduled to St. Louis. On April 3, 2017, the train will detour between St. Louis and Chicago, and will not stop at Alton, Carlinville, Springfield, Lincoln, Bloomington-Normal, Pontiac and Joliet. Customers on Train 22/422 destined for Chicago will remain on the train. Customers on Train 22/422 ticketed to stations between St. Louis and Joliet will be provided bus service to their destinations.


• Customers traveling to or from Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington-Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville and Alton can make reservations aboard the Lincoln Service trains or alternate buses.


• Possible Delays: The Texas Eagle may encounter delays of up to 45 minutes traveling on the detour.


• Trains 321 and 322 will be canceled.

 

We appreciate your patronage and apologize for any inconvenience. For reservations and information, visit http://Amtrak.com, use our free mobile apps, speak with station personnel or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

 

Thank you for traveling with Amtrak.

[steve4031]

I wonder what they are doing that could be accomplished in only one day. Signal improvements that lead to more 110 mph running?

[KevinKorell]

Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle Trains Track Work

 
Effective May 15 - 24, 2017
 
Construction continues to bring higher speeds to the Lincoln Service. On the dates indicated below, track work will affect the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle between Chicago and St. Louis.

  Monday, May 15, 2017: Trains 305 and 307
 
Train 305 and 307 will operate from Chicago to Springfield only on May 15, 2017. Customers will be provided bus service between Springfield and Carlinville, Alton and St. Louis.

  Tuesday, May 16 - Tuesday May 23, 2017: Trains 300 - 307
 
From May 16 through May 23, 2017, all Lincoln Service trains (Trains 300 307) will operate between Chicago and Springfield only. Buses will replace all trains (except Train 300) between Springfield and Carlinville, Alton and St. Louis.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017: Trains 300 and 302
 
Trains 300 and 302 will operate between Springfield and Chicago only. Bus service will be provided for train 302 from St. Louis to Alton, Carlinville and Springfield.

  Buses Depart Earlier
 
Throughout this track work project, the buses replacing Trains 302, 304 and 306 will depart earlier than the respective trains. Please pay close attention to the bus departure time on your ticket.
 
Tuesday, May 16 through Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Texas Eagle Trains 21/321/421 and 22/322/422

• Train 21/421 will depart Chicago two hours earlier, at 11:45 am, and will depart St. Louis at the normal scheduled time of 7:55 pm.
• Southbound Train 21/421 will detour between Chicago and St. Louis from May 16 through May 23, 2017, and will not stop at Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington-Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville and Alton. Customers traveling to or from these stations can make reservations aboard available Lincoln Service trains or buses.
• Northbound Train 22/422 will operate as scheduled to St. Louis. From May 16 through May 23, 2017, the train will detour between St. Louis and Chicago, and will not stop at Alton, Carlinville, Springfield, Lincoln, Bloomington-Normal, Pontiac and Joliet. Customers on Train 22/422 destined for Chicago will remain on the train. Customers on Train 22/422 ticketed to stations between St. Louis and Joliet will be provided bus service to their destinations.
• Customers traveling to or from Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington-Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville and Alton can make reservations aboard the Lincoln Service trains or alternate buses.
• Possible Delays: The Texas Eagle may encounter delays of up to 45 minutes traveling on the detour, in addition to the two hours of time added to the train's timetable in each direction.
• Trains 321 and 322 will be canceled.

For reservations and information, visit Amtrak.com, use our free mobile apps, speak with station personnel or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
 
Thank you for traveling with Amtrak.

[KevinKorell]

​Nothing about the Texas Eagle in this one, so I'd assume from this alert that it will continue over the regular route.

 

 

 

Lincoln Service: Track Improvements Affects Service between Springfield and St. Louis

 

Effective June 3 - 7, 2017

 

Construction continues to bring higher speeds to the Lincoln Service. On the dates indicated below, track work will affect the Lincoln Service between Springfield and St. Louis.

 

Saturday, June 3, 2017: Trains 305 and 307

 

Trains 305 and 307 will operate between Chicago and Springfield only. Alternate transportation will be provided to and from Carlinville, Alton and St. Louis.

 

Sunday, June 4 - Tuesday, June 6, 2017: Trains 300 - 307

 

From June 4 through June 6, 2017, all Lincoln Service trains (Trains 300 - 307) will operate between Chicago and Springfield only. Bus service will replace all trains (except Train 300) between Springfield, Carlinville, Alton and St. Louis.

 

Wednesday, June 7: Trains 300 and 302

 

Trains 300 and 302 will operate between Springfield and Chicago only. Bus service will be provided for Train 302 from St. Louis, Alton and Carlinville, to Springfield. Bus service will not be provided for Train 300.

 

Saturday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 7, 2017: Northbound Buses Depart Earlier

 

Throughout this track work project, the northbound buses will depart earlier than the respective trains. Check with Amtrak for the most up-to-date bus schedules.

 

For reservations and information, visit Amtrak.com, use our free mobile apps, speak with station personnel or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

 

Thank you for traveling with Amtrak.