Amtrak cancellations expand as extreme cold targets Chicago

Amtrak cancellations are stretching across several days as a winter weather forecast calls for extreme cold around Chicago, affecting multiple long-distance routes and the regional Borealis, as Trains.com reported. The first cancellations begin today, Wednesday, Jan. 21.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Both eastbound and westbound Empire Builder departures are canceled from today through Saturday, Jan. 24. Beginning Thursday, Jan. 22, Amtrak will also cancel the City of New Orleans and the Texas Eagle in both directions, also through Saturday.

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On certain dates, the Texas Eagle will also operate with through-service changes. The through service scheduled to depart Los Angeles on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23 will terminate in San Antonio rather than continue to Chicago. In the other direction, the through service scheduled to leave Chicago on Jan. 23 will originate in San Antonio.

Regional service is also impacted on the Chicago–Twin Cities Borealis. Departures in both directions on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23 are canceled, and Amtrak said no other regional service had been suspended as of this morning.

Amtrak cancellations and customer options

Amtrak said it is taking the steps “out of an abundance of caution,” after consulting contract meteorologists, host railroads and local officials. Customers are being offered rebooking options and refunds without penalties. The railroad said safety remains its priority, including limiting exposure to hazardous conditions for passengers and employees and protecting rail equipment, while supporting state and local guidance advising the public to avoid travel during the winter storm.

Winter weather forecast: extreme cold and lake-effect snow

The National Weather Service expects low-pressure systems to reach the Great Lakes region beginning tonight, bringing extreme cold and major lake-effect snow in areas downwind of the lakes, according to a National Weather Service winter weather update. Wind chills could fall below minus-50 degrees in the Northern Plains, and up to 2 feet of snow could fall downwind of Lake Ontario. For the Chicago area, the forecast includes Friday highs from 3 degrees to minus-5 and lows from minus-5 to minus-14, with wind chills as low as minus-35.

Amtrak also directs customers to a page on its website explaining how it responds to severe winter conditions, a topic also covered by Railway Supply.

Other Chicago-area cancellations and Northeast monitoring

In unrelated moves, Amtrak also canceled Lincoln Service train No. 302 between St. Louis and Chicago today because of equipment issues, along with two Wolverine trains: No. 350 between Chicago and Pontiac, and No. 355 between Pontiac and Chicago.

In the Northeast, Amtrak said it is “closely monitoring” the storm’s path and that service adjustments may be necessary.

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