10 replies to this topic

[NickG]

From the Jackson, MS Clarion-Ledger:

MERIDIAN — An evacuation plan via Amtrak train for New Orleans residents trapped by Hurricane Katrina's devastation and floodwaters is being worked out by Amtrak president David Gunn, Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith said today.

The full story is here.

[KevinKorell]

This article confirms that 1800 people will be are being transported from the New Orleans area to Houston on Amtrak. From San Francisco, CA Chronicle, 9/1/05:

Thousands escaping floods begin arriving in Houston

Thousands of exhausted and hungry people fleeing the devastation in New Orleans swarmed into this city today and began filling the Astrodome, which has been transformed into a shelter for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Story is here.

[KevinKorell]

San Antonio is getting into the act. Although nothing is mentioned about moving refugees by train to SAS, obviously a train full of people could continue past Houston to San Antonio. From KPRC-TV, Channel 2 in Houston, TX, 9/1/05:

San Antonio To Welcome Hurricane Refugees

SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio will house victims of Hurricane Katrina at a former Air Force Base, Mayor Phil Hardberger said Thursday.

Read this story here.

[NickG]

From the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, 9/3/05:

Exhausted refugees arrive by Amtrak

While his new friend Felicia Hendricks sat in a chair by the railroad tracks and breathed through an inhaler, Philip Harvey bit into sandwich he’d just been given by a Salvation Army.

Hendricks and Harvey had just arrived in Lafayette by train from New Orleans with about 100 other people, all refugees from Hurricane Katrina who were being transferred by bus to points west, possibly Dallas or San Antonio, said an Amtrak official.

The full story is here.

[EvergreenRailfan]

I really wished that Amtrak could have done more, and more press coverage. People have to know it is there, and that Amtrak can be a good tool to use in disaster relief.

[BillMagee]

The rail infrastructure damage in and around New Orleans was so severe that Amtrak was a very limited option for evacuation. They could basically run one route only, to the west; and even then only took evacuees about 150 miles to a point where busses fanned out. The inflexibility of rail compared to the bus and air options reduced the real value of what Amtrak could provide. The bottom line is that in this case and given these circumstances, Amtrak was not a very effective means of evacuation. I think the central element was and is getting those poor souls out the best way possible regardless of means. Public relations and political gamesmanship are really not that important given the human suffering. Amtrak did all they could do given limited capability and physical constraints.

[both-places-bill]

Anyone know where the equipment to Lafayette came from? In the picture it appears to be Superliner equipment. Was some equipment caught in NOL or did they bring some in from the west?

[AmtrakFan]

Bill, They brought Horizon's in from Los Angeles to help out.

[ICGsteve]

If we as a nation are going to rebuild NO then we are going to have to take a look at how we can vacate the city in 48 hours. We can never trust the levies again, and there is no economical way to get everyone out using only the roads as was tried this time because we don't have $20 billion to spend on road capacity that almost never would get used . There is also the whole issue of the fact that the large underclass of NO had no way to leave the city, as they had no cars, no busses, and the highways could not have handled all of the city leaving even if the underclass had rides. The underclass was abandoned, probably at least 5K died or will die as a result, which is an outcome that AMerica can not tolorate. Cities can be evacuated by rail in two days, and it could have been done here, but there was no plan. WE are going to have to seriously consider having two or three fleets of passenger rail equipment prepositioned and on standby across the nation in the event of natural disasters or terrorist acts, in the hands of FEMA, and give the federal government the power to take over sections of railroads immediately upon a signed order from the President.

Edited by ICGsteve, 06 September 2005 - 11:35 AM.

[AlanB]

Anyone know where the equipment to Lafayette came from?  In the picture it appears to be Superliner equipment.  Was some equipment caught in NOL or did they bring some in from the west?

Bill,

The one train that did run into NOL was indeed Superliner equipment. Here's the breakdown thanks to Mike Palmieri's post in a Yahoo Newsgroup.

<Sunday>

Here is a summary of Amtrak's hurricane evacuation operations over the past few days.  Since I am now I North Texas, all of this is based on second-hand information!

Thursday 1 Sep. - Amtrak deadheaded a train into Avondale, LA at the west end of the Huey Long Bridge.  The train consisted of three P42's (182, 3, 63) and about twelve cars.  This may have been equipment that was previously moved from New Orleans to McComb, MS to escape the storm. It came down the CN main line from the north, ran over the CN Baton Rouge Branch from Hammond, LA to Baton Rouge, crossed the Mississippi River, and than ran over the UP (ex-MP/T&P) to Avondale.

Friday 2 Sep. - Amtrak ran P42 22, a sleeper and a diner (38004?) from Houston to Lafayette, LA over the UP/BNSF Sunset Route to use as a command center.

Saturday 3 Sep. - Amtrak ran an 11-car evacuation train from Avondale to Lafayette:

182 P42
3 P42
64 P42
------------
33006 lounge
34032 coach
31590 coach-smoker
34020 coach
33008 loounge
34012 coach
33023 lounge
38022 diner
31020 coach-baggage
38008 diner
34079 coach

After the train got to Lafayette, the 64 was placed on the east end of the consist, so the train could operate in both directions.  Later on Saturday, all additional trips were cancelled until at least Tuesday so that government officials could resolve "destination problem" for the passengers.

Sunday 4 Sep. - Amtrak is dead-heading a train from San Antonio to Lafayette.  It has P42's 130 and 71 with seven cars, and is supposed to arrive in Lafayette around midnight.

There is also a possibility that this equipment could be used to provide commuter service at the New Orleans.


Mike

Michael M. Palmieri - formerly from New Orleans, Louisiana

Additionally, as I mentioned in Sunday night's chat, one of our other OTOL friends BNSF_1088 shot a short video of the rescue train at Cade, LA. heading towards NOL. You can view that video here.