Two Amtrak Routes Disrupted in the Western U.S. #MoRiver
(This news release is being redistributed by the Iowa Department of Transportation as a courtesy to Amtrak.)
Empire Builder & California Zephyr
June 29, 2011, 10:30 a.m. CDT
Amtrak Media Relations, Chicago: 312 880.5390;
email: [email protected]
After hours, weekends & holidays: 800 562.1904
Amtrak services on two routes in the Western U.S. are affected by flooding. Passengers with travel plans on these routes are urged to call 800-USA-RAIL for additional information.
Empire Builder (Trains 7/27 & 8/28)
Amtrak Empire Builder service is temporarily suspended between St. Paul, Minn., and Havre, Mont., with no alternate transportation available between those points, until further notice.
For those passengers traveling from Seattle and Portland, a combination of trains and chartered motorcoaches will provide service to Spokane, Wash., with the Empire Builder trains continuing east into Idaho and serving all Montana stops for Glacier National Park (including Whitefish, East and West Glacier and Essex), continuing east to terminate at Havre each afternoon. The trains will originate there to operate back west to Seattle/Portland.
For those passengers traveling west from Chicago, the Empire Builder trains will serve all their Wisconsin stops (including Wisconsin Dells), continuing west to terminate at St. Paul each evening. Each morning, the trains will originate there to operate back east to Chicago.
No other Amtrak service is available for these days in Minnesota (except Winona, Red Wing & St. Paul), in North Dakota and in Eastern Montana.
California Zephyr (Trains 5 & 6)
Amtrak California Zephyr service is temporarily suspended between Denver and Chicago for one day in each direction, affecting only the origination from Emeryville, Calif., (Train 6, eastbound) on June 29 and the scheduled origination from Chicago (Train 5, westbound) on June 30. This is due to railcar and train crew availability following Omaha area flooding.
Limited space is available for passengers via Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches at Denver (Routes 8603 & 8604) and connections to the Amtrak Southwest Chief (Trains 3 & 4) at La Junta, Colo. Daily Amtrak service is being maintained by other trains between Chicago and Galesburg, Ill.
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 for schedule information and train status updates.
# # #