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‘Empire Builder’ schedule lengthened to accommodate route congestion
My take is that even with the weather and increased traffic, BNSF is having a real problem running it’s northern transcon. This whole situation has taken them by surprise and quite frankly they don’t know what to do about it right now. This is almost akin to the UP meltdown ten years ago or so. BNSF recognizes the problem and is putting huge amounts of $$ into the line from Minot east and even in Monmtana where they can add a second main. But until that work in finished the Builder will be always 3-5 hours late getting into Minneapolis-St Pal & Chicago. The BNSF dispatchers have also played a role in this fiasco.
A heck of a way to run a railroad!
This is one way to improve a pathetic schedule to make more trains arrive on time !!
How long would the trip take if Amtrak were to move Chicago-Seattle/Portland service over to the old North Coast Limited route. It seems this would avoid much of the oil train congestion.
Is there anything that can be done to restore a Coast Starlight connection? How about a Thruway bus from Pasco to Klammath Falls?
Is this the best response from the “Railroader of the Year…?” As we say in Chicago, “gimmeabreak!”
As Boardman’s proposed FY15 budget throws the Long Distance Routes to the wolves so he can focus funding on just maintaining and operating his own NEC, who is there to stand-up for the national system passengers to prevent this obvious cascading of any meaningful cooperation by the BNSF? Where is the FRA; or DOT? Or, is this deliberate intent to assassinate Long Distance Routes the embryonic stage to trigger re-regulation; ICC, and the return of other boogey monsters?
Ever since the Supreme Court ruled last summer against Amtrak’s business approach to contracting performance with the freight railroads, all we have witnessed is the “Southwest Chief” route up for grabs as its ROW deteriorates; with a weak template concept by Amtrak to unfairly dump its costs onto individual states. Now, comes the further schedule stabbing of the “Empire Builder”–both routes operated by the BNSF. In reference to legal terminology, are we facing a “conspiracy of silence” inside the Beltway?
As the schedule of the “Builder” was already padded (e.g., #7 is approx 4 hrs. longer), Amtrak’s dance backwards with BNSF now directly attacks the entire Glacier Park/Essex/Whitefish route experience-and will hit the space demand. Ironically, Amtrak is still not focused on rectifying the known issues of the passenger experience: pathetic overcrowding of its “7-11” cafe lounge (extensively utilized instead to seat coach passengers); lack of a first class lounge car; slamming of the diner; lack of a fourth sleeper; lack of a coffee shop-type car for coach passengers.
Seeing the forest from the trees means cutting the flowers in diners and the juice in sleepers results in pennies saved, compared to lost revenues due to inadequate bar operation and training (selection/inventory, cocktails) and meaningful food choice for
“LANDON ROWELL from ILLINOIS said:
How long would the trip take if Amtrak were to move Chicago-Seattle/Portland service over to the old North Coast Limited route. It seems this would avoid much of the oil train congestion.”
It’s interesting how many railfans speculate this way, and why they think a parallel route would be congestion free! Of course, such is not the case. How much longer? Probably 8-24 hours, depending on the amount needed for infrastructure improvements, including stations. Not only is the former North Coast Limited just as or more congested, but it has less capacity than the Empire Builder route to begin with.
@IRA - well, it doesn’t sound like it’s really under Amtrak’s control. Keeping the published schedule accurate would seem to me to be a good thing rather than have it based upon what the world should be like…
Should we rebuild the old Milwaukee Road Pacific Extension?
“GREGORY HAINSWORTH from INDIANA said:
Should we rebuild the old Milwaukee Road Pacific Extension?”
Sure, why not? Except that it was always the high-cost route (hence its demise), and that rebuilding this inefficient route would be infinitely more expensive than adding capacity to existing routes. Money is no object. Evidently.
Living on the Hi-Line (Shelberia, MT), I await the new “Empire Builder” timetable, with 'bated breath. During ‘normal’ times, #7 arrived, from Havre o/t. 5-minutes dwell, for a crew change. Why do they need an extra 35 minutes? What has changed from GFK-FAR (ND) to add 1:10 to the sked? “Sum Ting Wong”, methinks.
For one thing the line Between Whitehall and Butte, the line over Homestake Pass will have to be rehabbed in order for it to be put back in service, Also, the old NP route is much longer than the GN route. That was once the Amtrak’s Hiawatha route which was killed under the Jimmy Carter administration.
I think the new schedule is necessary because of the current BNSF reality. However, 4:30 AM at Whitefish is not so good where many people including myself often board. Could hurt business.
I guess I was lucky when I rode from Chicago to Seattle last June because the train arrived at Seattle exactly on time. But if it is really as bad now as this article suggests perhaps Amtrak should consider using the former Northern Pacific route instead.
My comment disappeared so I will try again with an abbreviated version. Maybe Amtrak should consider using the former Northern Pacific route instead.
It would appear that the BNSF has forgotten about passengers for the sake of the oil. They have even forgotten about grain. Maybe they should go south to the old NP route. for such service.
Why not do what really needs to be done here and that is to discontinue the Empire Builder west of St. Paul until the situation is straightened out. Run the EB as a day train on an expedited schedule between Chicago & St. Paul. The now excess cars can be used elsewhere to increase capacity where needed and once BNSF has it together again reinstitute the Builder. In the meantime Amtrak will save money by not running the train at all west of St. Paul. I know I won’t take it again after my last experience.
Increasing schedule travel times are just a cover for the rail industries incompetence. It seems rail service, freight and passenger, has deteriorated. Resources and good personnel have been cut to the bone with little margin forerror
AMTRAK and certain states, want to invest in the ROW to alleviate the congestion. Come up with a plan. In the coal fields, when congestion was the issue, contractors, railroads combined to address ASAP. Make it happen and shorten not length AMTRAK schedules. We can not put more overcrowded airplanes in the air, and in our airports. Get together and utilize the American know-how.
I may just be the guy on the sideline, or in the stands, but if what I read in the May 2014 issue of TRAINS, page 6 & 7 sheds any light on the subject, it sounds as if BNSF’s lines are strained to capacity in the area. Capital improvements may be in the works, but have yet to come on line. With what the article says about increased oil traffic, the delays in grain shipments seem to be in order, but not appreciated. Delays to the Empire Builder may be just another casualty to the increased freight movements at this time.
I’d like to add a positive note re: AMTRAK. I had a reservation on Cascades southbound from SEA to PDX on May 8, then change to #28 Empire Builder to Bingen. Then I read here that #28’s schedule changes on 4/15. I called AMTRAK today and an agent changed both trains, expeditiously and politely. Of course, I’m only going to White Salmon/Bingen, not Chicago.