Join the discussion on the following article:
‘Empire Builder’ to resume normal route and schedule
But note that even thought the schedule is being restored to “normal,” Amtrak will still allow no connections at Chicago from the eastbound Empire Builder to any eastbound trains except the Lake Shore Limited, and a seven-hour connection to a Thruway Bus headed for Michigan.
Though not an “eastbound” train, same day through ticketing is available from the eastbound Empire Builder to the southbound City of New Orleans.
While I applaud Amtrak for adding a sixth set of equipment in the Empire Builder rotation, they need to do more for the stability of the operation. One thing exacerbating delay is crew districts that are too long and in the wrong places. Amtrak needs to eliminate crew bases at St. Cloud, MN and Shelby, MT and move them to Havre and Fargo (crews would operate Milwaukee-St. Paul, St. Paul-Fargo, Fargo-Minot, Minot-Havre, Havre-Whitefish, and Whitefish-Spokane). Runs based west of St. Cloud and on either side of Shelby are so long that when the train is delayed for more than two hours, there is great risk of the crew expiring its hours of service, and more delay occurs as Amtrak scrambles for another crew. Also having crews change in St. Paul and Havre would be exceptionally beneficial as two crews could be on duty simultaneously for any locomotive modifications or picking up or setting out cars, as the need may arise. Severe winter weather also sometimes inhibits relieving these crews by automobile. Shortened crew districts would definitely stabilize the operation and make it safer. Amtrak just needs to do their part.
The Empire Builder will be “back on track” just in time for winter weather to disrupt the schedule.
You are most likely correct Philip. It has been snowing all day at the Bailey yard in Nebraska and hasn’t stopped as of yet. And so it slows (goes) as old man winter arrives.
Is that a NS train to the right in the photo?
The train is a northbound on the connection from the UP/CNW line that crosses over the Metra/CP/Amtrak route that can be seen in the background. The connection is at Tower 20 just south of Northbrook. If you look close, the second locomotive on the freight is a CN locomotive. CP trains have rights over this former CNW line to get from their Bensenville Yard to their line to Milwaukee and west. In Chicago, almost everyone runs over someone else, and locomotives seem to have no relationship to who is running the train.
A second, more dependable round trip Chicago- Twin Cities (Duluth extension?) is warranted. If the d-bag Wisconsin governor would act in the best interests of the Citizens of Wisconsin and not himself this would occur.
GN/Q never had a problem with jointed rail & old signals back in the 50’s/early 60’s! (except with exceptional snowfalls) As for Wis Gov obliging taxpayers to fund another R/T Chi-Twin Cities, I think Wis voters already let it be known their tax burden was too much! Gerald (long time EPB customer, past & present)
I just love how everyone who comments negatively about Gov Walker is not from Wisconsin.
Bullfrog! BNSF is committed to ending all passenger service on its rails.Gov Walker is interfering with interstate commerce and that is outside of his powers. The Federal Government only can do this because at our founding as a nation the states could not. Also he too wants to eliminate all Amtrak service to make his friends the freight railroads happy.
Mark, they’re just jealous. While I don’t agree with everything Gov. Walker has done he has made great progress in getting Wisconsin’s financial house in order. Perhaps, as tax revenue increases from more jobs, etc. some of the desired state supported rail services can be added.
It is going to be very interesting to see what effect Governor-elect Bruce Rauner’s efforts to “shake up Springfield” have on the Lincoln Service state subsidized AMTRAK trains here in Illinois.
Let’s be realistic about putting a 2nd daily Chicago-Twin Cities train in. The 1st daily train, the Empire Builder, doesn’t make money and its “trackage rights” are grandfathered in at historical rates plus inflation. A 2nd daily train would be an even bigger loser because it would have to pay a lot more to get access to “trackage rights” to operate on this crowded CP corridor. Why should any taxpayer subsidize this loss. About 50 flights a day are available in each direction between the cities, there is frequent cheap bus service and, of course, private cars are commonplace. Why should the taxpayer support a losing proposition to add a 2nd daily passenger service?