Amtrak Cascades Train Cancelled

[Silver Queen]

Exactly. Everybody relax. I don't know where the original statement came from, but it definitely seems in error. I'm in the Seattle area and haven't heard of anything major going on.

That's reassuring. Thank you.

 

[bumbershoot]

it would really stink to get to the train station and find out you were being loaded onto a bus.

It does stink. That's why I post about slides on every Amtrak/Vancouver/Alaska thread I find, so people can be aware of it. Because there are issues with the bus that you don't have with the train. And it's not as much fun.


http://www.amtrakcascades.com/

http://www.amtrakcascades.com/PSN_0515-125.htm

"Due to bridge work being performed by BNSF Railway, Trains 510 and 517 will be cancelled on May 12."


Also linked to here: http://www.amtrak.com/cascades-train


When they say "on May 12" that's what they mean. On that day. Not "as of" that day.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We have booked 10 of us for June 19 in business class. We will have a ton a luggage because my dad is on peritoneal dialysis, so a bus with limited luggage would be a huge problem. I will be staying tuned with this one.

 

[bumbershoot]

So, having dealt with a train cancellation before (found out when we arrived at the train station in BC), I will tell you that it is NOT lkely to be a normal Amtrak bus. They have those scheduled already. So a person dealing with a cancelled train might, if the same thing happens with them as it did for us, get a chartered, unmarked, non-Amtrak train.

They know that people have the bags with them that they expected to get on the train. While a normal Amtrak bus might have limits, the ones chartered and put into service for people who booked a train will be different. They have to be.

This isn't something I would worry about.


Oh and for those that book business class, IF your train is cancelled and you're on the bus, you can expect to get the business class upcharge refunded. Others will get nothing refunded.

We have booked 10 of us for June 19 in business class. We will have a ton a luggage because my dad is on peritoneal dialysis, so a bus with limited luggage would be a huge problem. I will be staying tuned with this one.

http://www.amtrakcascades.com/Baggage.htm

Sharksfinatic, you know that the normal baggage allowance for the train is 2 bags, and the medical equipment allowance is listed under carryon?



And everyone remember that BNSF is freight, and freight owns the rails, and the rails carry a ton of stuff north and south. They aren't going to close the rails for an extended period of time unless something drastic happened.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

So, having dealt with a train cancellation before (found out when we arrived at the train station in BC), I will tell you that it is NOT lkely to be a normal Amtrak bus. They have those scheduled already. So a person dealing with a cancelled train might, if the same thing happens with them as it did for us, get a chartered, unmarked, non-Amtrak train.

They know that people have the bags with them that they expected to get on the train. While a normal Amtrak bus might have limits, the ones chartered and put into service for people who booked a train will be different. They have to be.

This isn't something I would worry about.


Oh and for those that book business class, IF your train is cancelled and you're on the bus, you can expect to get the business class upcharge refunded. Others will get nothing refunded.




http://www.amtrakcascades.com/Baggage.htm

Sharksfinatic, you know that the normal baggage allowance for the train is 2 bags, and the medical equipment allowance is listed under carryon?



And everyone remember that BNSF is freight, and freight owns the rails, and the rails carry a ton of stuff north and south. They aren't going to close the rails for an extended period of time unless something drastic happened.

Thanks for the link. I had checked in to the luggage limits before we booked the train, but due to the fact that he will have a letter from his doctor he actually has no limits and all of his stuff has to be carried on - can't risk it being lost or damaged (which this link confirms).

 

[Dug720]

It does stink. That's why I post about slides on every Amtrak/Vancouver/Alaska thread I find, so people can be aware of it. Because there are issues with the bus that you don't have with the train. And it's not as much fun.


http://www.amtrakcascades.com/

http://www.amtrakcascades.com/PSN_0515-125.htm

"Due to bridge work being performed by BNSF Railway, Trains 510 and 517 will be cancelled on May 12."


Also linked to here: http://www.amtrak.com/cascades-train


When they say "on May 12" that's what they mean. On that day. Not "as of" that day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I was only finding cancellation on the 12, so I was feeling better. Though confused as to where the "through late August" thing came from.

It's very reassuring to hear from people out there that they aren't hearing anything.

Obviously if there are slides that's something they can't control, but it does seem odd to shut down a major railway for all of the summer - especially knowing how many vacationers use it between Seattle and Vancouver for cruises and other things plus as you pointed out the shipping line - if there's any other choice.

 

[llachance]

You can't fix the rails, in the winter, in the snow. We were affected a couple of years ago. We were put on a bus, provided snacks and it was just fine. Got us there in one piece. Would I have preferred the train? Probably, but I didn't miss my cruise and the bus was just fine.

 

[Silver Queen]

You can't fix the rails, in the winter, in the snow. We were affected a couple of years ago. We were put on a bus, provided snacks and it was just fine. Got us there in one piece. Would I have preferred the train? Probably, but I didn't miss my cruise and the bus was just fine.

I appreciate all of the good folks who replied to this thread with good information and good sense. I definitely feel better now. As I mentioned in my original post, my initial information came from another discussion board where the poster reported that the Amtrak rep told them that it would end sometimes in August. I guess we all know how you can get inaccurate information from many sources, including company reps. I don't post on the other board (that deals primarily with cruising), but will keep an eye out.

 

[Kimberly1]

Please keep us posted everyone as you travel through summer. We are booked for early August and only booked because we wanted to experience of the Amtrak (obviously we'd understand a last minute issue).

 

[Crystal O_o]

Can I ask, why are you guys taking a train to Seattle to fly out? Is it cheaper or something?

 

[Kimberly1]

I am flying into Seattle and taking Amtrak to Vancouver as it was significantly cheaper for us

 

[Dug720]

I'm going the other way - Vancouver TO Seattle - after my RCCL cruise disembarks in Vancouver. But it's the same answer as those flying into Seattle. Much cheaper.

(I also loved Seattle when I was there last year and want to explore it more.)

 

[Crystal O_o]

I'm going the other way - Vancouver TO Seattle - after my RCCL cruise disembarks in Vancouver. But it's the same answer as those flying into Seattle. Much cheaper.

(I also loved Seattle when I was there last year and want to explore it more.)

I am taking the same rccl cruise where it ends in Vancouver. June 2016. I had no idea since I can't book flights yet.

 

[xlxo]

Can I ask, why are you guys taking a train to Seattle to fly out? Is it cheaper or something?

How much you save depends on where you are going to and when you are flying...

• the convenient Quick shuttle means $50 extra per person from cruise terminal to airport
• About the same for the train, but there are two trips a day that may or may not fit your schedule. You also need to factor in train to airport to cruise terminal costs. You also need to factor additional time at the trains station and waits for your transfers.
• Car rental is another option for larger groups, but you need to plan ahead for border congestion... especially on weekends that can take a few hours
• it's an extra 3 to 5 hours to get from Vancouver to Seattle.... In Vancouver you can take off at noon. In Seattle it will be late afternoon
• some may choose to Orca whale watch their way from Vancouver to Victoria and onwards to Seattle.
• you also loose out on extra time to explore your bonus port of Vancouver. It's bigger than all the Alaskan ports combined!

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

"Due to bridge work being performed by BNSF Railway, Trains 510 and 517 will be cancelled on May 12."

I blame Warren Buffet. After all, BNSF is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the link. I had checked in to the luggage limits before we booked the train, but due to the fact that he will have a letter from his doctor he actually has no limits and all of his stuff has to be carried on - can't risk it being lost or damaged (which this link confirms).

Even on a train it's going to be hard to find room for a his stuff. I hope hope hope it is just today and you don't get the bus because it's going to be hard to impossible to find lots of room for his supplies in the seating area of the bus itself.

Is there a service that can supply those things directly to the cruise ship? Ah, looked it up, it's not for Disney. But if you ever have a cruise on some Celebrity ships, some Royal ships, and I think one Holland ship with your dad: http://www.dialysisatsea.com/ Though I know there are different kinds of dialysis, and maybe they don't do peritoneal...

Can I ask, why are you guys taking a train to Seattle to fly out? Is it cheaper or something?

Many people do find that it's a lot cheaper. But the Vancouver airport is gorgeous; nearly a destination in itself, so I've considered flying up even though we live *right here*!

We were put on a bus, provided snacks and it was just fine.

You got snacks???? We did not. We did not even get water. And the bathroom wasn't working.

And it was because of a slide, and we found out as we got into Seattle that the rail ban was being lifted that evening. If we had known this we would have gone right back to a hotel and stayed the night, because the train is *that* much more pleasant than the bus was for us.

I blame Warren Buffet. After all, BNSF is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

Do you think he'll be out working on the rails?

 

[Kimberly1]

Anyone know if they have run the last two days as scheduled? Or how we'd find out?

 

[MUN]

I blame Warren Buffet. After all, BNSF is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

You want the bridge to be able to handle the train traffic, don't you?

 

[Dug720]

Anyone know if they have run the last two days as scheduled? Or how we'd find out?

You could go on the website and pretend like you are going to book. You can see availability without having to pay anything.

 

[MelSpees]

There are no alerts so it is running just fine.