Harsh winter weather continued to lead to delays and cancellations for Amtrak on Wednesday, including in the Midwest.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said a week of temperatures near zero caused a series of “weather-related equipment issues.”
A Chicago-Port Huron, Michigan Blue Water round trip was cancelled on Wednesday as a result.
Reportedly, the problem involved the train’s two Charger locomotives and Amtrak maintenance was unable to fix the issue.
The same day the Chicago-bound Pere Marquette, which originates in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was terminated at its first intermediate stop in Hollard, Michigan, due to equipment problems.
Passengers were transferred to a bus to complete their journey to their destination.
Several corridor and long-distance trains that did operate on Tuesday and Wednesday encountered lengthy departure delays from Chicago.
After a late Tuesday arrival in Chicago from Carbondale, Illinois, the Saluki was canceled on Wednesday and its counterpart to Carbondale, the Illini, was cancelled that day.
Both trains were cancelled on Wednesday. Reportedly the problem that led to the cancellation of the Illini was a computer issue on the locomotive that locked up the brakes so that they would not release.
Elsewhere, Amtrak canceled trains in Virginia and the Carolinas ahead of a winter storm expected to bring ice and snow to the region.
The Auto Train was cancelled in both directions on today. Also cancelled were trains that terminate at Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke in Virginia, and the Palmetto to Savannah, Georgia.
The northbound counterparts to these trains have been cancelled for Thursday and Friday.
In the West the Coast Starlight has resumed operating over its entire route.
However, Wednesday departures of the Sunset Limited from Los Angeles and New Orleans were cancelled.
The Texas Eagle will originate in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday as scheduled. The westbound Texas Eagle will resume departing from Chicago on Friday.
The Oklahoma City-Fort Worth, Texas, Heartland Flyer remains suspended until Feb. 20.
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak and winter, Amtrak Coast Starlight, Amtrak Midwest Corridor trains, Amtrak service cancelations, Amtrak service disruptions, Amtrak southern long-distance trains, Amtrak western long-distance trains, Amtrak's Blue Water, Amtrak's Illini, Amtrak's Pere Marquette, Amtrak's Saluki, Amtrak's Sunset Limited, Midwest Corridor trains
Amtrak in the Heartland 
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