NEWS: UP, Amtrak Agree on Sunset Limited Change

[Justin Walker]

FYI:

 

Amtrak and Union Pacific have agreed to tweak the schedules of the Sunset Limited.  The westbound Sunset Limited (Train #1) will depart from New Orleans on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (instead of the current Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule).  This will improve fleet utilization by eliminating wasted days where trains had been sitting in New Orleans.

The schedule of both Sunset Limited trains (Trains #1 and #2) have also been adjusted to restore connections with the Coast Starlight in Los Angeles.  Note: Restoring these connections was one of this organization's recommendations in our 2010 white paper.

However, as part of this agreement, Amtrak is not allowed to ask Union Pacific for any service increased along the Sunset Route for the next two years.

The new schedule will take effect on May 7, 2012.

See the new schedule here in Amtrak's press release.

See detailed analysis of the change on RailPAC's website.

-Justin

[am458]

Now we just need to work on having the connection between #11 and #4.

This was one connection that was very popular at one time.

On Mar 28, 12:34 pm, Justin Walker <jwalke...@gmail.com> wrote:
> FYI:
>
> Amtrak and Union Pacific have agreed to tweak the schedules of the Sunset
> Limited.  The westbound Sunset Limited (Train #1) will depart from New
> Orleans on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (instead of the current
> Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule).  This will improve fleet utilization
> by eliminating wasted days where trains had been sitting in New Orleans.
>
> The schedule of both Sunset Limited trains (Trains #1 and #2) have also
> been adjusted to restore connections with the Coast Starlight in Los

> Angeles.  *Note: Restoring these connections was one of this organization's

> recommendations in our 2010 white

> paper<http://www.coaststarlight.net/projects/ImprovingAmericasPremierLongDi...>
> .*
> *
> *

> However, as part of this agreement, Amtrak is not allowed to ask Union
> Pacific for any service increased along the Sunset Route for the next two
> years.

> *
> *

> The new schedule will take effect on May 7, 2012.

> *
> *

>
> See the new schedule here in Amtrak's press

> release<http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=Mu...>
> .

>
> See detailed analysis of the change on RailPAC's

> website<http://www.railpac.org/2012/03/15/amtrak-changes-the-sunset-limited-s...>
> .
>
> -Justin