CHICAGO — Amtrak has canceled plans to offer Polar Express holiday rides from Chicago Union Station in 2022, citing ongoing staff shortages.
A message on the Polar Express Union Station Facebook page cites “a system-wide shortage of railroad personnel” that means there are not enough crews to operate the trains.
“We have enjoyed operating the Polar Express trains in Chicago the last few years,” Amtrak said in a statement, “and Amtrak would look forward to operating them again in the future. However, until we have sufficient train crews to operate this private charter service in addition to our scheduled trains, we must give staffing priority to our public services, particularly during the holiday season.”
Amtrak launched Polar Express rides from Union Station in 2015, but COVID-related issues cancelled all trips in 2020 and led to cancellation of the final week of scheduled excursions in 2021.
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