It remains to be seen if Amtrak will suspend or reduce the operations of its long-distance trains, but an online report quoting a union official indicated that onboard service cuts are coming.
The official from the SMART Transportation Division said he has been told to expect sleeping car service to be suspended and dining removed from some trains.
However, the official said he has not been advised by the carrier if it plans to suspend any long-distance trains.
Amtrak has suspended several Midwest corridor trains including three roundtrips in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor and one roundtrip between Chicago and Detroit (Pontiac).
The Chicago-Grand Rapids, Michigan, Pere Marquette has also been suspended.
Service reductions for corridors in Illinois are expected but as of early Thursday morning had yet to be formally announced by Amtrak.
Amtrak operates three corridors in Illinois linking Chicago with Carbondale, Quincy and St. Louis.
The Chicago-Carbondale corridor has two roundtrips plus the Chicago-New Orleans City of Orleans.
The Chicago-Quincy corridor has two roundtrips while the Chicago-St. Louis corridor has four roundtrips plus the Chicago-San Antonio Texas Eagle.
An online report indicated that effective March 21 Chicago-Carbondale service will be reduced to the southbound Saluki and northbound Illini.
A similar service pattern is expected to be implemented for the Chicago-Quincy corridor with service to Chicago in the morning and returning service in the evening by trains 381 and 381 respectively.
In both corridors, the remaining trains could be covered with one equipment set.
The Empire Builder is also expected to begin carrying local passengers to and from Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Airport station. Neither are regular stops for Nos. 7 and 8.
The New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian also has been suspended along with all Keystone Service between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
Service reductions have been made in all other eastern corridors as well.
In a service advisory Amtrak said some stations that have ticket agents may not be staffed for all train arrivals and departure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amtrak said passengers should proceed to the platform for boarding if they encounter an unstaffed station that normally has agents directing the boarding process.
Other online reports indicated that Cascade Service between Portland and Eugene, Oregon, will be reduced to one roundtrip with trains 500 and 505 providing the service.
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak Cascades, Amtrak in Michigan, Amtrak long distance trains, Amtrak service cancelations, Amtrak service disruptions, Amtrak Wolverine Service, Amtrak's Hiawatha service, Amtrak's Pennsylvanian, Amtrak's Pere Marquette, Chicago-Carbondale corridor, Chicago-Detroit Corridor, Chicago-Quincy corridor, Chicago-St. Louis Corridor
Amtrak in the Heartland 
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