Due to a collapsed UP tunnel, near Oakridge, the Starlight route is only EUG-SEA, SEA-EUG and LAX-SAC, SAC-LAX.
For a brief period, passengers were bused from Eugene and Klamath Falls to pick up the train headed south. That has now stopped.
They say June 23rd, at the earliest, for the completion of the tunnel repair. I have reservations for July 9th, Martinez to Eugene. Hopefully, the train will be back up and running by then.
Richard
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
I have a reservation for June 25th KFS-SEA. So far, no word from Amtrak about my trip.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Good luck, Vincent. June 25th is cutting it a little close. Hopefully the CS will be back rolling by then. Klamath to Eugene is my favorite segment along the route.
Richard
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
I've taken the Starlight southbound several times between EUG and KFS. The sun usually sets somewhere south of EUG so I've never been able to see the Siskiyou Mountains in full daylight. But this announcement is too close for my comfort--maybe another time.
Rather than make the whole trip on the Starlight, I will now fly to Portland, spend some time at Powell's and then catch a Cascades train back to Seattle. Changing the reservation required a long time on hold but the agent I spoke to was super efficient and got the change made quickly.
Posted by daniel3197 (Member # 27) on :
It looks like soem VERY GOOD news for SP Cascade subdivions from Eugene OR to Chemult OR. The following Trianorders post says the line is supposed to Open Tomorrow 20 June Weds 2018. This is a LOT sooner than I was expecting this to happen. Lets hope the Tunnel STAYS open I expect UPRR to require a few days to clear the Backlog of Freight trains on this line Likely Before AMtrak can operate. WE Shall WAIT and see: ----Daniel
I just received this message when I logged in to the UP site.
THE WORK ON CASCADE SUB TUNNEL 11 IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED 6-20-18 AT 1800. EXPECT TRAIN LINEUPS TO VARY OVER THE NEXT 72 – 96 HOURS UNTIL NORMAL OPERATIONS RESUME. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE DURING THIS TIME.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Daniel: Thanks for the post. I hope normal operations do resume by this weekend. I think I will check train status, Sat or Sun, to be reassured. Again, thanks.
Vincent: I haven't taken the Starlight, south to Klamath Falls, in at least 14 years. I can't remember ever seeing the Siskiyou mountains. I have seen Mt. Shasta, in the early morning, on northbound #14 before arriving at Klamath Falls. I do remember, on #11 southbound, that the train went by some very scenic lakes between Oakridge and Klamath around sunset. I don't know, however, which lakes. I see, on a map, that the lake(s) I remember could have been Odell Lake or Crescent Lake. Possibly even Upper Klamath Lake, but it might have been past sundown by then, even near the the time of the summer solstice.
Richard
Posted by daniel3197 (Member # 27) on :
well the latest Reply effectively says it is a GAURANTEE with UPRR crew board being repopulated. IT Really IS a GO for UP Former SP Shasta Route Corridor. Big Congrats to ALL for getting this Big Job DONE : ----Daniel
I got the same message as well when logging on to the computer this afternoon.
The ZLCBR 20 is planned for it's normal routing up the I-5 corridor and they are adding people back to boards, so it seems like things are in fact getting ready to open up
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
Amtrak is still showing my original trip itinerary as "SOLD OUT", so I assume UP hasn't given Amtrak the "ALL CLEAR" yet. I hope UP can get the job done and quickly reopen the line to Amtrak, but I'm glad I changed my plans.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I just checked train status (5:15 PM Sunday). No. 14 is up and running and will be into Seattle on time or a few minutes early. No. 11 is expected to be on time into Calif.
Nothing mentioned, yet, on the Amtrak "Service Alerts and Notices". I'm glad for the passengers who booked #14 and #11 for today.