Amtrak cancellations winter storm Fern: six routes affected

Amtrak cancellations winter storm Fern are adding to travel disruption as U.S. forecasters warn the system could hit more than a dozen states. Airlines are bracing, too: major carriers, including American Airlines, have waived change fees at multiple airports, and AccuWeather says thousands of flights could be affected this weekend.

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

Amtrak has announced service disruptions across six routes, canceling 12 trains outright and adjusting itineraries for three others. The operator published the details in an Amtrak Service Alerts and Notices update tied to Winter Storm Fern and cited an emailed statement AccuWeather shared with TheTravel.

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Amtrak cancellations winter storm Fern: route list and dates

The advisory was posted on Wednesday, January 21, and later expanded from four routes to six. Here are the Amtrak cancellations due to winter storm Fern, including train numbers and the dates they are affected:

• Empire Builder — trains 7/27 and 8/28 (January 21–24)
• Texas Eagle — trains 21 and 22 (January 22–24)
• Heartland Flyer — trains 822 and 821 (January 23–24)
• City of New Orleans — trains 58 and 59 (January 22–24)
• Borealis — trains 1333 and 1340 (January 22–23)
• Floridian — trains 40 and 41 (January 22–23)

Amtrak also flagged a separate operating change for Friday, January 23: Texas Eagle train 421 will originate in San Antonio, while train 422 will terminate there. Passengers whose train is canceled will be offered rebooking options and full refunds.

Amtrak’s 2025 Ridership report shows that routes such as the Empire Builder, the Floridian, and the Texas Eagle welcomed over 350,000 passengers last year, meaning thousands of travelers are likely to be affected.

Why winter storm Fern is expected to disrupt travel?

Amtrak said it made the call “out of an abundance of caution,” after consulting meteorologists, local officials, and host railroads. AccuWeather described Fern, in an emailed statement shared with TheTravel, as a “rare” winter storm for the South and Southeast, a risk echoed in an AccuWeather winter weather update.

Forecasters warned that heavy snow of more than six inches could threaten areas from the Plains and the Tennessee Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Freezing rain and severe icing are also expected from northern Texas across the South to the Carolinas. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said snow and ice from this storm could spread across a vast region that rarely experiences winter weather of this magnitude. He warned that heavy ice accumulations followed by a deep freeze can lock in dangerous conditions long after the storm passes. He added that airports, interstates, and major rail corridors could face multi-day shutdowns, creating cascading disruptions to travel, commerce, and supply chains well beyond the hardest hit areas.

The New York Times reported that several Southern states are likely to see snow over the weekend, including New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Ohio.

When and why snow leads to Amtrak cancellations?

Severe winter weather can force Amtrak to suspend service, including during the 2025 Christmas holidays when Storm Devin led the operator to cancel several trains. Amtrak says extreme conditions can be dangerous for employees traveling on snow-covered roads to reach work, and for passengers trying to get to stations.

Power outages are another concern. On its website, Amtrak says its teams weigh the risks of stranded trains or a loss of power that could put the well-being of employees, customers, and first responders at risk if trains encounter downed trees or other hazards.

Amtrak also notes that it is not always the sole decision-maker in these situations. Host railroads evaluate their own operating risks and decide whether rail travel can continue safely.

With both air and rail networks under pressure, travelers impacted by the current Amtrak travel alert winter storm Fern are advised to rebook their train trips rather than switch to flying, since meteorologists predict that thousands of flights could be affected over the weekend. Related service guidance for riders has also been summarized by Railway Supply.

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