SEPT. 21, AS OF 1:00 P.M. EDT:
AMTRAK TO RESUME SOUTHEAST/FLORIDA SERVICE
Delays expected along Auto Train & Palmetto routes
Amtrak plans to resume some service between the Washington area and Florida on Monday, but is telling passengers to prepare for delays while the train operates through areas with limited commercial electric power in the wake of Hurricane Isabel.
On Monday, Amtrak will operate the Auto Train, which transports passengers and their vehicles to and from Lorton, Va., near Washington, and Sanford, Fla., near Orlando.
Although commercial electric power is still out at the Lorton terminal, Amtrak crews are powering the depot using a locomotive.
Also on Monday, Amtrak will originate the Miami-Jacksonville-New York Palmetto (train 90) in Miami.
Both the Auto Train and the Palmetto are expected to encounter delays of up to three hours or more in the Richmond, Va., area, where power outages have disrupted track-side signals and grade crossing warning devices along the route owned by CSX Transportation.
On Sunday, Amtrak restored all east-west services between Chicago and New York City and Washington, subject to intermittent delays due to power outages.
On Saturday, Amtrak restored Keystone services in Pennsylvania, along with the Crescent (trains 19 & 20) between New York-Washington and New Orleans, via Atlanta, and service within North Carolina on the Carolinian (trains 79 & 80). The Carolinian will operate only between Charlotte and Raleigh on Monday.
Amtrak restored all services in the Northeast Corridor on Friday and the regular schedule of trains is being operated between Washington and Boston, via New York.
Amtrak's full press release can be found here.