Couldn't even make the trains run on time.
The problem many times has to do with delays from freight, as Amtrak relies on running over some of those same tracks. Amtrak needs its own tracks!
Freight traffic in Chicago has 100% preference on the rails and switches. Ain’t no way around it.
Couldn't even make the trains run on time.
Needs more subsidy.
In 2014 railroad engineers don’t carry cell phones?
Willie Green is deeply saddened.
Riding AMTRAK cross country in 1994, using
Burlington Northern lines, all the latrines
backed up, even in the compartments!
This was during June on the high plains.
It was a long 18 hours.
I live in NOVA and work in NYC and take AMTRAK weekly.
Service has been horrendous the last several weeks, and when my Acela was over an hour late last Thursday night into DC, I sent a complaint.
Today I get an acknowledgement of my complaint with a note that it may be as much as 6 weeks until I get a response.
Ugh.
Other railroads own the tracks (capitalism - because they built or bought them).
Amtrak uses the tracks through the graces of the owners. Amtrak passenger trains have last priority.
One should always make schedule calculations based on this and adjust arrival times by 10 - 20% of the trip total.
Some of the comments here are interesting. From what I remember, Amtrak always had priority over freight trains, even on the rails it does not own. That may have changed within the past 15 years but I don’t think so. Usually, when an Amtrak train is delayed, its an issue with switching or a mechanical issue. And yes, these issues routinely can take several hours to fix if the train is in the middle of nowhere when the breakdown occurs. Its one of the downsides of rail travel.
Freight has priority
In my experience with AmTrak, it’s best to expect it to be late... and don’t use it if being late at your destination is a big problem.
you just finding that out.Its the government whats left to say
You could have a 2+ hour delay taking any given flight, and day, just as easily.
I thought everyone knew that already about Amtrak.
A two hour late train is now worth a vanity on FR?
Yes, they did this just to annoy you. Sheesh.
Fly out of Chicago some time. You're lucky if you're only two hours late leaving.
Amtrack uses other company rail lines. They're at the mercy of their schedule and if any of their freight trains run late that'll delay the passenger train.
Yep, slower than driving costs more than flying, worst of both worlds.
Why would they call the train for you? If a plane is late, you can’t call customer service and have them call the pilot.
Delays will happen in travel. I rode Amtrack from Glenwood Springs, Colorado to San Francisco and then from San Francisco to Seattle and had a great time.