Weather – Page 2 – Railfanning.org

California Zephyr Route Restored by Union Pacific Railroad

February 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Railroad has reopened the route through the Sierra Mountains used by the daily California Zephyr (Trains 5 & 6) between the San Francisco Bay and Chicago. The tracks were blocked on Feb. 1 in a mishap involving UP snow-removal equipment. Westbound Train 5, originating from Chicago on Jan. 30 Amtrak managers responded to the Placer County location where the westbound California Zephyr was stopped. Later, a decision was made to reverse the train to Reno, Nevada, where about 160 passengers were housed and fed at Amtrak expense in area hotels, awaiting alternate transportation that was provided today. At

Amtrak Restoring Partial Coast Starlight Service

February 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak is restoring service on a portion of the route of the Coast Starlight, beginning Feb. 6. Following discussions with the Union Pacific Railroad, service on the route was suspended between Los Angeles and Seattle on Jan. 19, due to massive mudslides over the railroad north of Chemult, Ore. All railroad traffic through that area has been suspended and is not expected to resume for many weeks. The first northbound departure of this version of the Coast Starlight, Train 14, will leave Los Angeles on Feb. 6 at 10:15 a.m., making all regularly-scheduled stops and arriving in Sacramento

More Than 150,000 Rail Passengers in Southern China Stranded

January 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BEIJING — Thousands of Chinese railway passengers were stranded following heavy snow in southern China. More than 150,000 passengers were stranded at the Guangzhou railway station. The station is on the southern end of a the rail line that connects Beijing. Many of the passengers were heading home for Lunar New Year holiday. An additional 450,000 passengers were expected to be stranded in the coming days. It isn’t clear when rail service might be restored. Several major highways and airports were also been closed because of the heavy snows and freezing rains. — Railfanning.org News Wire

Coast Starlight Suspended Due to Massive Mudslides

January 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHEMULT, Ore. — Following mudslides over railroad tracks north of Chemult, Ore., on Jan. 19, Amtrak Coast Starlight service will be disrupted Jan. 24 through Jan. 31. No alternate transportation is provided. Union Pacific Railroad has suspended all railroad traffic through the area. The northbound Coast Starlight (Train 14) is canceled from Los Angeles to Seattle from Jan. 24 through Jan. 31. The southbound Coast Starlight (Train 11) is canceled from Seattle to Los Angeles from Jan. 25 through Feb. 1. These dates may be extended. Although the Coast Starlight is canceled in its entirety between Los Angeles and Seattle

Weather Continues to Cause Problems for Amtrak

December 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Due to extreme weather in the Pacific Northwest resulting in downed trees, mudslides and the closure of Interstate 5 in the Olympia, Wash., and Chehalis, Wash., area, Amtrak Cascades service between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, will be cancelled Tuesday (Dec. 4). There with be no alternate transportation. Other Amtrak services will also be affected. Train service on the Amtrak Cascades service (between Portland and Vancouver) will be cancelled on Tuesday (Dec. 4) with no alternate transportation. Normal train service will operate between Eugene, Ore., and Portland. The Coast Starlight will terminate at Eugene with alternate transportation only between

Amtrak Service Disrupted Following Mudslides

December 3, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE — Amtrak service in the Pacific Northwest was suspended following mudslides that blocked the railroad. Train service on the Cascades (which runs between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia) has been cancelled, and alternate transportation will be provided to all station stops. Also, service on the Coast Starlight will terminate at Eugene with alternate transportation provided between Eugene and Seattle. The Empire Builder will terminate at Everett, Wash., with alternate transportation provided between Everett and Seattle. It is expected that the service disruption will continue through tomorrow (Dec. 4). Amtrak apologizes for any inconvenience. Passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or

Service Alert: Missouri Mules Disrupted by Railroad Closure between St. Louis and Kansas City

January 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Railroad has informed Amtrak of several blockages on the route used by the Missouri Mules passenger trains between St. Louis and Kansas City. The railroad could not provide an estimate of when the tracks will be cleared of trees and other debris caused by freezing rain and ice. In addition, more than a dozen freight trains were halted on the route between St. Louis and Jefferson City. Therefore, the westbound trains from St. Louis, Trains 311 & 313, and the eastbound trains from Kansas City, Trains 314 & 316, have been cancelled for today. No alternate transportation is

Streetcar Service Returns to St. Charles Line

January 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW ORLEANS – Streetcar service is returning to the historic St. Charles line in New Orleans now that a federally funded project to replace electrical lines used to power the system is complete, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said. “Today, the streetcars’ familiar sounds return to St. Charles Avenue for the first time since Katrina hit, heralding to the world the resilience of this city,” Peters said. “Where cable hung following the storm, today neat rows of overhead wires stand ready to power New Orleans on a streetcar we should call Revival.” Peters noted that the Department of Transportation’s

Service Alert: Amtrak Pacific Northwest Service Disrupted by Mudslides North of Seattle

December 28, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE – BNSF has imposed a curfew on passenger trains between Seattle and Everett, Wash., due to mudslides. Here are service interruptions announced by Amtrak: AMTRAK CASCADES: Service north of Seattle by Amtrak Cascades trains has been canceled through Thursday evening, December 28, with alternate motorcoach transportation provided to and from Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Service south of Seattle to and from Eugene, OR, is not affected. EMPIRE BUILDER: The Chicago-Seattle Empire Builder will originate and terminate in Everett, instead of Seattle, through Thursday evening, December 28, with alternate motorcoach transportation provided to and from Seattle and Everett. This information

Coast Starlight to Originate in Portland, Cascades Service Operating Normal

December 19, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE – Amtrak service in the Pacific Northwest has returned to normal with the exception of the Coast Starlight, train No. 11.Train No. 11 will originate in Portland Monday, Dec. 18, with alternate transportation between Seattle and Portland. Amtrak Cascades will operate as scheduled. Passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for additional information and train status updates. – Special to Railfanning.org News Wire