34 replies to this topic

[jebr]

I don't think there would be any impact to the MSP schedule, but just a heads-up that Target Field will likely be very busy on Saturday evening. Kenny Chensey and Jason Aldean are performing at Target Field, and it appears to be close to sold out. There may be an additional Northstar trip surrounding this event; they did one last year for the Chesney concert, but so far have not announced one for this year's event.

 

More information

[KevinKorell]

Thanks for the heads up.  We could encounter some crowds inbound towards Target Field coming from the mall. And if most are at the concert when it begins at 5 PM, we will be getting back to the Target Field station shortly after 6 when it's in progress. Hopefully we get out of town and are headed back to St. Paul before the concert lets out.

[jebr]

Itinerary has had several minor changes for the day of Saturday, July 18th, our full day in the Twin Cities.  Here is what was updated:

• Per our discussion on a recent Sunday chat, the over 3 hours of dwell time at Mall of America was too long. Therefore, the two segments from St. Paul Union Depot to Downtown East and from Downtown East to Mall of America were pushed back approximately one hour 12 minutes. This allows people to sleep a little later in the event we arrive late from Chicago the night before, and it reduces the Mall of America dwell time to a little over 2 hours, which should be sufficient If we have to split up to different food courts or if some do want time to walk around for a bit.

 

It's a good thing we're starting later in the day. Metro Transit just released an alert for this weekend alerting of scheduled maintenance. (Frustrated that they didn't notify people earlier.)

 

Here's the important part:

 

Starting at 7:00 p.m Friday until 11:30 a.m. Saturday and again 3:00 a.m. Sunday until 11:30 a.m Sunday, buses will replace Blue Line trains between Franklin Avenue and Target Field stations and Green Line trains between Stadium Village and Target Field stations.

 

Assuming the maintenance ends at the scheduled time, there should be no impact to the itinerary as written. It is worth noting that if people are wanting to travel to/from Minneapolis on Friday night for whatever reason they will be affected by this. Anyone staying in downtown Minneapolis (I am not aware of anyone doing so) will also be affected by this.

Edited by jebr, 14 July 2015 - 04:47 PM.

[KevinKorell]

Wow thanks very much for that update, Jeb.   I agree we should be in the clear.  Everyone on the participant list for the Twin Cities needing a hotel is staying in St. Paul, not Minneapolis.  If the construction runs late on Saturday, I guess the only solution would be to deal with the bustitution.  We would still get all rail mileage later in the day after Mall of America and after the Northstar trip on the way to dinner and back to St. Paul.    And especially if we come in late on #7/27, I don't see anyone who might have planned a moonlight light rail ride as opposed to getting to their hotels and sleeping.

 

It's a good thing that Saturday activities were pushed back a little later.  AND it seems that we are in reality lucky that that concert is being held at Target Field on Saturday evening, as that prevented a total weekend shutdown.

[KevinKorell]

Each evening I'm in a hotel I will try to update our itinerary to reflect what we did up to that point.  The actual times are now up to date for the Pennsylvanian trip.

 

Also, we are well aware of issues happening with the Empire Builder.  Hopefully things will work out for our two trips.

[CNJRoss]

Also, we are well aware of issues happening with the Empire Builder.  Hopefully things will work out for our two trips.

 

I think you will be OK for 7/27(17).

 

7/27(15) departed ontime;  Appears 7/27(16) has been annulled due to lack of equipment.  The next expected arrival in CHI is 8/28(13) late this afternoon, more than 24 hours late.  That equipment should turn as 7/27(17).

 

Also appears Amtrak may be "short turning" trainsets at White Fish and St. Paul:

"Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said passengers on the Empire Builder were being bused between Wolf Point and Minot, North Dakota, on Wednesday. However Empire Builder traffic between Whitefish and St. Paul, Minnesota, would be suspended on Thursday."

 

The damaged track should be returned to service later today; slow orders are likely due to the extent of the damage and repair required.

 

Ross

 

7(15) CHI departure:

Departed

On time

2:15 pm

Wed, Jul 15 2015

Scheduled Departure 2:15 pm

 

7(16)  CHI departure status:

CHI

Status currently unavailable due to service disruption

Thu, Jul 16 2015

Scheduled Departure 2:15 pm

 

 

 

8(13) CHI arrival status:

Estimated Arrival

24 hours, 28 minutes late

4:23 pm

Thu, Jul 16 2015

Scheduled Arrival 7/15 3:55 pm

 

8(14) CHI arrival status:

 

Estimated Arrival

14 hours, 39 minutes late

6:34 am

Fri, Jul 17 2015

Scheduled Arrival 7/16 3:55 pm

 

[KevinKorell]

Itinerary updated Thursday evening showing the results of our day on light rail and inclines in Pittsburgh.

[KevinKorell]

Itinerary now shows the next chapter of our trip, the Capitol Limited trip.

[KevinKorell]

Our itinerary is now up to date with the actual times through Friday night's westbound Empire Builder arrival into St. Paul.

[KevinKorell]

The itinerary has been updated up to include activities of  Saturday, 7/18/15 in the Twin Cities, including unexpected shuttle buses and multiple dinner destinations that split group into multiple return trips to St. Paul.