"A fire burning in Tunnel 7 on Union Pacific's Cascade Line approximately 33 miles southeast of Oakridge has closed the I-5 rail corridor indefinitely, the Oregon Department of Transportation reported...The Union Pacific hoped the interruption of the line would not last longer than 10 days..."
But Jonathan is in for an interesting time:
"Amtrak is not offering any substitute service between Oakland and Eugene...This will continue until Friday..."
Film at eleven...
What is AMTRAK's refund policy in a situation like this? I'm booked in a standard bedroom and, if I was bussed, would lose that night. It seems to me that the accomodation fee should be refunded.
In reality, if the line isn't open by then I'd probably ask for a full refund and fly to Eugene instead. That would, it turns out, actually be cheaper than the railfare + accomodation fee.
Hoping for the best.
Frank in foggy SBA
Why can't Amtrak turn the trains at Klamath Falls instead of Oakland??? They did that last year when UP was doing tunnel work in the same area. A bus bridge between Eugene and K-Falls would be only a minor inconvenience to travelers, and wouldn't kill many a long-planned vacation.
And out of curiousity, is there any connection between last year's tunnel work and this year's fire which apparently got into the tunnel lining?
You haven't been to Pennsylvania! LOL!
There are many underground coal fires running through the rocks which periodically will pop up to the surface. Ref: http://www.osmre.gov/ocphotoh.htm for one.
According to a post on Trainorders.com
quote:
Starlight: Starting Aug 20th, train 14 and 11 will operate a full consist between
Los Angeles and Klamath Falls. Bus bridge
to Eugene, then one lounge and required coaches will operate Eugene-Seattle.The fire is major and could take some time to get open.
Here is the report that I saw talking about what probably caused the closure of the former SP Cascade line from Eugene, OR to Chemult, OR
--- Daniel :
========================================: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/I5corridortrains/message/3487
From: "rbulkle"
Date: Sat Aug 14, 2004 7:51 pm
Subject: Re: Another tunnel fire
I heard about the fire in tunnel 7 this afternoon while I was on the
Forest Service road below the track between Abernethy and Cruzatte.
Apparently the second unit on a southbound was belching flame when it
passed a northbound, and by the time the northbound got to the tunnel
the fire was getting pretty well established in two or three units. I
heard the number of the culprit unit but didn't register it. Of
course, until I hear otherwise I will assume that it was a GE. I had
to go and couldn't follow the firefighting, but a helper unit that had
made it to Crescent
Lake (having had its own problems on the way up)
was instructed to bring all the water cars from there down to the
tunnel. With creosoted timbers and similar things, the fire could
burn for a while.
quote:
Originally posted by sbalax:
What is AMTRAK's refund policy in a situation like this? I'm booked in a standard bedroom and, if I was bussed, would lose that night. It seems to me that the accomodation fee should be refunded.
Last year we were booked in bedrooms from Boston to Chicago on the LSL, but were bustituted from Boston to Albany while CSX was doing track work. Amtrak refunded us the bedroom accomodation charge BOS-ALB, even though we only lost about five daylight hours in the bedroom. They also provided us with free boxed lunches (sandwiches, chips and drinks), which was kind of nice.
This is not ideal but it is certainly better than a bus ride from Sacramento or Oakland.
I'm going to continue to monitor this closely since I have to be in Eugene on the 27th. Luckily, I have several other options including flying as a "non-rev" from LAX to Houston to PDX and then taking the Cascade down to Eugene.
Frank in overcast SBA.
;-P
quote:
Originally posted by daniel3197:
I have heard reports around the internet that freight diesels manufactured by General Electric have a nasty habit of sometimes belching flame when they are throttled-up.
If this is a known problem why would any engineer enter a tunnel like that (assuming that was, in fact the cause).
Stupid question: can they seal the ends of the tunnel and starve the fire of oxygen?
BTW, I think Julie sounds more like the housewife type.
quote:
Posted by Mr. Toy
BTW, I think Julie sounds more like the housewife type.
I'm sure that some of the youngsters here have encountered a few websites featuring "hot" houswives.
Speaking of hot, I hope that that fire's out by September 8, when we're scheduled to take #14 up to Portland.
And she deffinetly sounds like a telemarketer.
quote:
Originally posted by Grandma Judy:
Julie is just a little too perky for me - on the other hand, perky is better than grumpy!
My wife suspects 'Julie' of being my mistress. The one I call when I want to talk about things (like trains) which don't interest my wife.
------------------
David Pressley
I spotted the northbound Starlight today between SBA and GOL and it seemed to be pretty much on time.
I'm wondering if AMTRAK makes any effort to notify passengers about the problem. I would think that I would be getting a call about the change in plans. Or would I have to just arrive at the station on departure day to be told that part of my journey would be on a bus or, if continuing on to SEA, in coach.
Today's LA Times mentioned the halt in freight traffic but didn't mention any change to AMTRAK service.
Frank in SBA
P.S. I don't believe the USPS lady is "Julie". She sounds more like the "Time Lady".
I am also having a problem with the tunnel situation. I would like to go to Eugene from Portland off the Empire Builder next week. The first connection from the EB is a Thruway, but the EB has been typically 1-2 hours late into Portland lately. When I miss the Thruway, the CS is next. But on the website, every day of the CS from PDX to EUG is listed as "service sold out". Does this mean I would have to wait for an evening Talgo?
Now anything that puts me on a train instead of a bus is usually ok, but I want to rent a car at the station at EUG and the Talgo is too late to do that. Would Amtrak be able to put me on a "sold out" train if they missed the previous guaranteed connection?
I am going to call Amtrak, but you guys may know more than they do.
It's a good thing I'm retired or I couldn't have this much fun.
My Starlight trip on #14 SBA/EUG on 08/26 is still on even though it will mean a bus from Klamath Falls to EUG.
Frank in, finally, sunny SBA
Topic: About Amtrak Trains or Service
Subject: Coast Starlight
Message: Hello, I am taking the Coast Starlight in December from Los Angeles to Chemult, Oregon. I was wondering if the tunnel fire will be repaired by then or if I will have to take a bus and will there be a price difference?
Thank you.
Dear Anton,
Thank you for contacting us. We have no estimate on track restoration in the tunnel. I know December is 3 months away, but this fire is on a side of a cliff, and very hard to get to.
You will have to call back later to see how we are handling this train.
We hope this is helpful.
Sincerely,
Marcia
Amtrak Customer Service
------------------
--Anton L.
pillsbury09@excite.com
AIM: pillsburyMN
See my posting under "Tunnel Collapse" for the latest chapter! It appears I will be riding in a sleeper SBA/EUG for just $39.00...
Best,
Frank in sunny SBA