CHICAGO — Amtrak has added the Floridian and Heartland Flyer to its list of trains canceled because of forecasts of extreme winter weather.
Subsequent additions to the list include the Lake Shore Limited, Cardinal, and one round trip of the Wolverine.
The Chicago-Miami Floridian is canceled in both directions both today and Friday (Jan. 22-23); the Heartland Flyer between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, is canceled in both directions on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 23-24).
On Friday, Jan. 23, Wolverine trains No. 352 and 353 have been canceled. The Lake Shore Limited and its Boston section have been canceled in both directions on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24-25. For the Cardinal, the eastbound train scheduled to depart Chicago on Saturday and the westbound slated to depart Alexandria, Va., on Sunday havebeen scrubbed.
These moves follow previously announced cancellations involving the Borealis, City of New Orleans, Empire Builder, and Texas Eagle [see “Winter weather forecast …,” Trains.com, Jan. 21, 2026]. Amtrak’s full list of cancellations is currently available here.
As of late this morning, Amtrak is also cautioning in a customer advisory that service cancellations or delays may be necessary in the Northeast Corridor, and is waiving change fees for those who which to reschedule to avoid possible issues. It recommends that passengers regularly check the Amtrak mobile app or website for train status, and follow the Amtrak Alerts and Amtrak NEC feeds on X.com for updates.
A broad swath of the country from the Rockies to the mid-Atlantic states is now facing a variety of watches, warnings, and advisories for extreme cold or winter precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.
— Updated at 12:01 p.m. CT with advisory on Northeast service; updated at 6:40 p.m. CT with additional train cancellations. To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
The freight RR’s have now issued service advisories to customers due to the severe winter weather. If they expect problems with their own operations would Amtrak or the RR’s want Amtrak trains to be caught in the mayhem that could occur? The “good old days” which so many here refer to here are over, replaced by bare minimum service staffing in order pad the pockets of the stockholders. If only they had the free, well staffed hwy crews like the truckers have for their hwys
I don’t think patronage is a major factor. The Floridian operates with four coaches and three sleepers, mostly full, despite Amtrak’s outrageous prices. (An extreme example I found: If you want a bedroom on the Sunset next Sunday from LA to New Orleans it will only cost $2,949! One-way. Someone pays this, but I don’t know who or why.) The Blue Water is Michigan’s most popular train (being the only train on the route), yet lack of sufficient equipment required two supplemental buses for Chicago to East Lansing. passengers. Grand Trunk Western always had extra equipment available, even though coaches were not reserved.
I might agree with Sunday curtailments, but Thursday, Friday and the weekend? It is not here yet. What happened to the all weather nature of railroading? It is winter and will be for the next two months.
The bitter fruits of/for a ligation nation/society. What institutions can our society depend in tough times? Not many.
BINGO!!
Re: The last paragraph. The words for the winter weather this week is this: WINTER WEATHER.
It’s not the weather, it’s these two factors: (1) Lack of equipment. (2) Looking for less-patronized trains to cut.
Is it just Amtrak or has all of society become risk averse? Schools cancelled tomorrow in SE Wisconsin because tomorrow it’s going to be winter in SE Wisconsin. Nothing at all, nothing in the least bit, unusual in the forecast. Just another winter day.
Litagation Charles, litigation. In a society where people will sue at the drop of a hat and “lawyers” who will take these cases, companies cannot continue to lose money due to frivolios lawsuits. At one time there was an act of God clause. No more though, some one has to be held financially responsible.