NEW YORK — Amtrak has cancelled or modified service for a number of trains in the Northeast beginning on Saturday, and taken similar steps for services in and around the Midwest beginning Sunday, according to a service advisory posted this evening (Friday, Jan. 5) on the Amtrak website and the Amtrak Alerts feed on social media site X.
The moves are in anticipation of forecasts of winter storms and are “for the safety of Amtrak customers and passengers,” according to the advisory.
On Saturday, three Northeast Regional trains will have their routes shortened, while six Keystone Service trains that normally run between New York and Harrisburg will only operate between New York and Philadelphia. Northeast Regional train No. 151, a 4:20 a.m. departure from New York, will operate only to Washington D.C.; No. 66, which normally originates in Roanoka, Va., will instead originate in Washington at 10 a.m. and operate to Boston; and No. 168, which originates in Washington at 3:25 p.m. and normally services Boston, will terminate in New York City. Afternoon Keystone trains affected are eastbound Nos. 670, 672, and 674, along with westbound Nos. 667, 669, 671.
On Sunday, Jan. 7, Northeast Regional No. 195 to Richmond, Va., which normally originates in Boston at 6:35 a.m., will instead originate in New York at 11:05 a.m. Acela No. 2271 will only operate between New York and Washington, D.C., while train No. 2290, a 7:40 a.m. departure from New York to Boston, is cancelled.
Midwest changes
On Sunday, Jan. 7, the westbound Empire Builder (Nos. 7/27) is cancelled; on Monday, Jan. 8, eastbound Missouri River Runner No. 316, a 4:05 p.m. departure from Kansas City, Mo., is cancelled, while westbound Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner No. 319 will only operate between Chicago and St. Louis.
More extensive changes are slated for Tuesday, Jan. 9:
— The eastbound Empire Builder (Nos. 8/28) departure from the West Coast is cancelled, as a result of the cancellation of the westbound train on Sunday.
— Three Hiawatha Service trains in each direction — southbound Nos. 330, 334, and 338; and northbound Nos. 331, 335, and 339 — are cancelled.
— Lincoln Service trains No. 300 (a 4:30 a.m. departure from St. Louis) and No. 305 (a 5:20 p.m. departure from Chicago) are cancelled.
— Missouri River Runner/Lincoln Service train No. 318 will only operate between St. Louis and Chicago; Missouri River Runner No. 311, the 8:10 a.m. departure from St. Louis, is cancelled.
— Illinois Zephyr No. 380, the 6:12 a.m. departure from Quincy, Ill., and Carl Sandburg No. 381, the 7:40 a.m. departure from Chicago, are cancelled.
— Wolverines No. 352, the 2:15 p.m.. departure from Chicago, and No. 353, the 8:50 a.m. departure from Pontiac, Mich., are cancelled.
As of Friday evening, the National Weather Service was forecasting heavy snow to develop in the Northeast late Saturday through Sunday morning, with snowfall of 6 to 12 inches north and west of Interstate 95 from Philadelphia to Providence, while a strong storm system arriving in the Pacific Northwest on Saturday is expected to emerge over the Central U.S. early next week.
Those holding reservations for any of the affected trains can modify their plans on the Amtrak app, at Amtrak.com, or by calling 800-USA-Rail. Watch the Amtrak website or app, or Amtrak social media sites, for updated train status. Amtrak cautions that all this information is subject to change.
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