Amtrak's cross-country train from Seattle cut by flooding
Amtrak suspended service Tuesday on part of its Empire Builder cross-country passenger train because of severe flooding in the Midwest.
The tracks in and around the town of Minot, N.D., are closed because of Souris River flooding.
The closure means rail passengers from Seattle and Portland can't take the train to its Chicago terminus. Instead, the train will go east only as far as Havre, Mont., and then turn west back to Seattle /Portland. For travelers westbound from Chicago, the train will terminate at St. Paul, Minn.
Amtrak is not providing alternate bus transportation between the cities, and it's unclear when the full Empire Builder service will resume. The long-distance train is very popular at this time of year for vacationers.
Passengers can call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL for information. Here's an update from Amtrak's website ( www.amtrak.com ):
" Amtrak service in part of Minnesota, all of North Dakota and in eastern Montana is affected by the closure of BNSF Railway Co. tracks in and around Minot, N.D., due to what is predicted to be the worst flooding in more than 120 years. Effective in both directions with the originations of June 21, Amtrak Empire Builder service will be temporarily suspended between St. Paul, Minn., and Havre, Mont., with no alternate transportation available between those points until further notice.
For those passengers traveling from Seattle and Portland, a combination of trains and chartered motor coaches will provide service to Spokane, Wash., with the Empire Builder trains continuing east into Idaho and serving all Montana stops for Glacier National Park (including Whitefish, East and West Glacier and Essex), continuing east to terminate at Havre each afternoon. The trains will originate there to operate back west to Seattle/Portland.
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Amtrak stopped service Tuesday on part of its Empire Builder train between Seattle/Portland and Chicago because of severe flooding in the Midwest. By Seattle Times travel staff For those complaining about Amtrak subsidies -- what's the government's
Zeki and Gliz Kiy of Ankara, Turkey, were on Amtrak's "Empire Builder," returning from a trip to the West Coast and going back to Washington, DC, before flying home to Turkey earlier this month. But while they were on the train, the Kiys learned Amtrak
By the Herald staff The Empire Builder train service that operates between Pasco and Portland has been affected by flooding in North Dakota. The train originates in Seattle and travels to Chicago and back. Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman,
-- If you're planning a train trip to the Pacific Northwest this weekend, you might have to change your plans. Amtrak's Empire Builder – which runs from Chicago through Wisconsin to Seattle – has not been operating the middle of its route because of
AP Service on Amtrak's Empire Builder route between St. Paul, Minn., and Havre, Mont., was suspended since June 21 because of flooding along the Souris River in North Dakota. Amtrak says trains are offering limited service east and west of those points
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Another feature of this location is its proximity to the United States. Situated approximately 40 miles from the US/Canada border, Vancouver will be easy to reach by land. You may wish to consider rail travel as a relaxing and affordable method to travel to the Games. Given the elevated demand for airline seats into Vancouver around the time of the Olympics, a land alternative may be the most enjoyable way to get to Vancouver. One: You must first decide your gateway city. Seattle and Portland, Oregon are the logical choices. Although both cities enjoy great air service, you may wish to take the Empire Builder from Chicago or Minneapolis/St. Paul to either gateway city. You will experience the vast Northern plains and the scenic Rocky Mountains (including Glacier National Park) along the way. Alternatively, you can fly into California and take the Coast Starlight north from Los Angeles or Oakland. Like the Empire Builder, this train has Superliner sleeper accommodations. Finally, there is Amtrak Cascades service five times a day between Portland and Seattle. Two: Once you reach Seattle, you have multiple means of transportation north to the Olympic Games. You can travel on one of two Amtrak Cascades trains that include a stop in Bellingham, Washington before arriving in Vancouver. Alternatively, you can connect to an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach that only stops in Surrey and Richmond, British Columbia before its arrival in Vancouver. If you really want to explore numerous modes of transportation, you can take the Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran from Seattle to Victoria, BC and the Pacific Coast Lines bus service from Victoria to Vancouver. Three: The next decision is where to stay. Most people will elect to find lodging in Vancouver. The Pacific Central Station, Amtrak’s depot in Vancouver, is two blocks from the Main Street – Science World station on TransLink’s SkyTrain service. Four TransLink and two Coast Mountain bus lines run close to the train station. You will want your hotel to be close to a transit lines since there will not be any private automobile parking at the Olympic venues. The good news is that your Olympic event ticket gives you unlimited, free access to the TransLink system on the day of that event and the early morning of the next day. Four: Two alternative bases for the Olympic Games are Bellingham, WA and the Whistler, British Columbia areas. Bellingham is about sixty miles from Vancouver.
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