15 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Today's update:

Amtrak New Orleans Service Suspended following Hurricane Isaac
Sunset Limited, Crescent and City of New Orleans trains

August 30, 2012
1:15 p.m. CT

All Amtrak service to and from New Orleans is temporarily suspended through September 1, following the landfall of Hurricane Isaac. No alternate transportation is available to and from New Orleans and the three cities where Amtrak service will temporarily originate and terminate.

Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2

This three-days-weekly service from Los Angeles and Tucson will terminate and originate in San Antonio, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Louisiana or in Beaumont or Houston, Texas, eastbound through September 3 and westbound through September 2. BNSF Railway Co. owns, controls and maintains most of the Louisiana segment of the Sunset Limited route. Amtrak is working closely with BNSF regarding repairs being made and reopening of the tracks for freight and Amtrak trains.

Amtrak Thruway Bus Connections at Houston to and from Longview and Galveston are continuing to operate.

Crescent, Trains 19 & 20

This daily service from New York and Washington will terminate and originate in Atlanta, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana through September 1. Norfolk Southern Railway owns, controls and maintains the segment of the Crescent route in the affected states. Amtrak is working closely with Norfolk Southern regarding repairs being made and reopening of the tracks for freight and Amtrak trains.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59

This daily service from Chicago will terminate and originate in Memphis, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Mississippi and Louisiana through September 3. CN owns, controls and maintains the segment of the City of New Orleans route in the affected states. Amtrak is working closely with CN regarding repairs being made and reopening of the tracks for freight and Amtrak trains.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on http://Amtrak.com/ or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com/alerts for Service Alerts and Passenger Notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the http://Amtrak.com/ home page.

[KevinKorell]

Amtrak Begins New Orleans Service Restoration
Sunset Limited and Crescent resume service over their full routes, City of New Orleans remains suspended south of Memphis

August 31, 2012
3:45 p.m. CT

Most Amtrak service to and from New Orleans is being restored following the landfall of Hurricane Isaac. However, Amtrak service between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis remains suspended through at least September 3.

Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2

This three-days-weekly service is restored with the departure of the westbound Train 1 from New Orleans on September 5 and the departure of eastbound Train 2 from Los Angeles on September 2. BNSF Railway Co. owns, controls and maintains most of the Louisiana segment of the Sunset Limited route and Amtrak appreciates BNSF’s work to reopen the tracks for Amtrak trains.

Crescent, Trains 19 & 20

This daily service is restored with the departure of the southbound Train 19 from New York on September 1 and the departure of the northbound Train 20 from New Orleans on September 2. Norfolk Southern Railway owns, controls and maintains most of the Crescent route and Amtrak appreciates Norfolk Southern’s work to reopen the tracks for Amtrak trains.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59

This daily service from Chicago will terminate and originate in Memphis, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Mississippi and Louisiana. CN owns, controls and maintains the segment of the City of New Orleans route in the affected states. Amtrak is working closely with CN regarding repairs now being made and reopening of the tracks for freight and Amtrak trains on a date to be announced.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on http://Amtrak.com or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit http://Amtrak.com/alerts for Service Alerts and Passenger Notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the http://Amtrak.com/ home page.

Hmm, I wonder if Amtrak appreciates CSX’s work to reopen the tracks for Amtrak trains..... after Katrina. Or did they never get the memo?

[KevinKorell]

Sunday's update:

Amtrak New Orleans Service Restoration Continues
Sunset Limited service restored, City of New Orleans remains suspended south of Memphis

September 2, 2012
6:30 p.m. CT

Most Amtrak service to and from New Orleans is restored following the landfall of Hurricane Isaac. However, Amtrak service between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis remains suspended through September 6.

Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2

This three-days-weekly service is restored with the departure of the westbound Train 1 from New Orleans on September 5 and the departure of eastbound Train 2 from Los Angeles on September 2.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59

This daily service from Chicago will continue to terminate and originate in Memphis through September 6, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Mississippi and Louisiana. Further adjustments are pending between Memphis and New Orleans.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on http://Amtrak.com/ or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com/alerts for Service Alerts and Passenger Notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the http://Amtrak.com/ home page.

I don't think any freeways were washed out, but then the City of New Orleans does run next to some fairly small roads which might have been. And the Memphis-New Orleans segment is daytime, so why not offer interim express bus service at very least between MEM, Jackson, and NOL, which is where the majority of passengers are travelling to or from?

[KevinKorell]

Tuesday update:

UPDATE: Amtrak New Orleans Service Restoration Continues
Sunset Limited service restored, City of New Orleans remains suspended south of Memphis

September 4, 2012
2:00 p.m. CT

Most Amtrak service to and from New Orleans is restored following the landfall of Hurricane Isaac. However, service between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis remains suspended through September 7.

Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2

This three-days weekly service is restored with the departure of the westbound Train 1 from New Orleans on September 5 and the departure of eastbound Train 2 from Los Angeles on September 2.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59

This daily service from Chicago will continue to terminate and originate in Memphis through September 7, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on http://Amtrak.com/ or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com/alerts for Service Alerts and Passenger Notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the http://Amtrak.com/ home page.

[KevinKorell]

Wednesday update:

Amtrak New Orleans Service Restoration To Be Complete Next Week
City of New Orleans train to planned to operate south of Memphis on September 10

September 5, 2012
3:00 p.m. CT

Amtrak service between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis will resume September 10, following a suspension of service due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaac. Other Amtrak routes to and from New Orleans from Los Angeles (Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2) and New York (Crescent, Trains 19 & 20) have previously been restored.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59

This daily service from Chicago will terminate and originate in Memphis, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Mississippi and Louisiana, through September 9. CN owns, controls and maintains most of the City of New Orleans route and Amtrak appreciates CN’s work to reopen the tracks for Amtrak trains, effective with the departure from Chicago on September 9 and in both directions on September 10.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on http://www.Amtrak.com/ or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit http://Amtrak.com/alerts for Service Alerts and Passenger Notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the http://Amtrak.com/ home page.

[KevinKorell]

Friday update --- the date slips again.....

Updated: Amtrak New Orleans Service Restoration To Be Complete Next Week
City of New Orleans train anticipated to operate south of Memphis on September 11

September 7, 2012
4:30 p.m. CT

Amtrak service between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis will resume on a revised date of September 11, following a suspension of service due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaac. Other Amtrak routes to and from New Orleans from Los Angeles (Sunset Limited, Trains 1 & 2) and New York (Crescent, Trains 19 & 20) have previously been restored.

City of New Orleans, Trains 58 & 59

This daily service from Chicago will terminate and originate in Memphis, rather than New Orleans, with no service on this route in Mississippi and Louisiana, through September 10. CN owns, controls and maintains most of the City of New Orleans route and Amtrak appreciates CN’s work to reopen the tracks for Amtrak trains, effective with the departure from Chicago on September 10 and in both directions on September 11.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on Amtrak.com or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit http://Amtrak.com/alerts for Service Alerts and Passenger Notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the http://Amtrak.com/ home page.