Illini, Saluki Times to Change in January

Amtrak’s northbound Saluki rolls through Humboldt, Illinois, on Nov. 6.

Amtrak is using a time-honored trick to try to improve on-time performance in its Chicago-Carbondale, Illinois, corridor.

Starting Jan. 16, it will reschedule some trains to operate later at intermediate points. However, the running times of those trains between Chicago and Carbondale will remain the same.

The scheduled rimes for the northbound Saluki (No. 390) and Illini (No. 392 at Effingham, Mattoon, and Champaign-Urbana will be two to 10 minutes later. Times at Rantoul, Gilman, and Kankakee will be 10 to 20 minutes later, while Homewood will be 26 minutes later.

Time for the southbound Saluki (No. 391) and Illini (No. 393) will be three to 10 minutes later at  Kankakee, Gilman, and Rantoul, and 20 to 28 minutes later at Champaign-Urbana, Mattoon, Effingham, Centralia, and Du Quoin.

The arrival and departure times at Chicago and Carbondale for all four trains will remain unchanged. Also unchanged are the schedules of the City of New Orleans which uses the corridor during its daily trek between Chicago and New Orleans.

Amtrak and host railroad Canadian National have been locked in a dispute for years over time keeping for trains in the Chicago-Carbondale corridor and it is unclear if the schedule changes are a result of that dispute.

The Saluki and Illini are largely funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illini Running Hour Later Due to Track Work

Amtrak’s northbound Saluki sees some late fall foliage color in Humboldt, Illinois, on Nov. 6. The equipment for Train 390 turns in Chicago to become the southbound Illini later in the day.

Track work by host railroad Canadian National has the Chicago to Carbondale, Illini, operating an hour later than scheduled through Dec. 20.

Train 393 will depart Chicago Union Station during the period at 5:05 p.m. and hold that later schedule at all stations en route to Carbondale.

The track work does not affect operations of the Carbondale to Chicago Saluki.

CONO Operating on Modified Schedule Through October Due to Host Railroad Track Work

Canadian National track work will result in Amtrak’s City of New Orleans operating on a modified schedule on some days through Oct. 14.

In a service advisory posted on Amtrak’s website, the passenger carrier said trains 58 and 59 will operate earlier or later than their current schedules.

For the period Aug. 17 to Aug. 19, No. 58 will operate as Train 1058 and depart New Orleans at 2:45 p.m., an hour later than normal.

At Jackson, Mississippi, the train will be held until 8:14 p.m. and depart 2.5 hours later than its scheduled departure time. It will maintain that later schedule all the way to Chicago.

During the same time period, No. 59 will depart Chicago Union Station a half hour later than normal at 8:35 p.m. and maintain that schedule to New Orleans.

On Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, No. 59 will operate as No. 1059 and depart Chicago 90 minutes earlier than normal at 6:35 p.m. It will operate 90 minutes earlier to all stations en route to New Orleans.

For the period of Aug. 24 through Oct. 4, No. 58 will depart Jackson 30 minutes later than normal at 6:14 p.m. and maintain this schedule to Chicago. No. 58 will operate on its normal schedule on Labor Day (Sept. 5).

The City of New Orleans is slated to resume daily operate on Oct. 8. From that date through Oct. 14, No.58 will operate as No. 1058 and leave New Orleans at 2:45 p.m., an hour later than normal.

It will be held at Jackson until 8:14 p.m. where it will depart 2.5 hours later than normal. It will maintain that schedule to Chicago.

During this same time frame, No. 59 will depart Chicago at 8:35 p.m., 30 minutes later than normal and maintain that schedule to New Orleans.

Track Work to Affect NEC Schedules

Track work on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor will result in schedule changes effective Aug. 22.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said scheduled departure and arrival times of Acela and Northeast Regional trains may change by three to 10 minutes for northbound trains from Washington to New York. All Acela trains will depart Washington five or 10 minutes before the hour.

Sked Changes Set for Keystone Service Trains

Track work on Amtrak’s Keystone route in Pennsylvania will affect operations of certain westbound Keystone Service trains in June.

The schedule changes are in effect June 4-5, 11-12 and 25-26.

Train 615 will depart Philadelphia at 2 p.m., operating 5 minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 3:47 p.m.

Train 663 will depart Philadelphia at 11 a.m., operating 10 minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 12:55 p.m.

Train 667 will depart Philadelphia at 5 p.m., operating 5 minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 6:50 p.m.

Train 669 will depart Philadelphia at 7 p.m., operating 5 minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 8:50 p.m.

Track Work to Affect Keystones on Weekends

Track work will lead to schedule changes to Amtrak’s Keystone Service on weekends starting May 21 and lasting through June 26.

Train 615 will depart Philadelphia at 2 p.m. and operate five minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 3:47 p.m.

Train 663 will depart Philadelphia at 11 a.m, operating 10 minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 12:55 p.m.

Train 667 will depart Philadelphia at 5 p.m, operating five minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 6:50 p.m.

Train 669 will depart Philadelphia at 7 p.m., operating five minutes later to Harrisburg, arriving at 8:50 p.m.

Auto Train to Run Hour Later Starting May 2

Amtrak plans to change the schedule of the Auto Train on May 2.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said that the Auto Train will arrive and depart its terminals in Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, one hour later. Trains 52 and 53 will be rescheduled to depart at 5 p.m. and arrive at 9:59 a.m. at both terminals.

Check-in for all vehicle types begins at 12:30 p.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Station hour will now be 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at both terminals.

The service advisory did not give a reason for the schedule change.

Track Work to Affect Empire Service Schedules

The westbound Maple Leaf is about to arrive at Buffalo Depew station in July 2011.

Track work being performed in New York state will result in schedule changes for Empire Service trains and the Maple Leaf.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said the work is occurring between Niagara Falls, New York, and Hoffmans.

The new schedules take effect April 25 and will remain in place through Oct. 23.

The eastbound Maple Leaf will depart Niagara Falls at its normal time of 12:17 p.m., with intermediate station adjustments from Buffalo Exchange to Albany-Rensselaer, where it is expected to arrive on its regular schedule.

Train 280 will depart Niagara Falls at 3:42 a.m., 10 minutes earlier than normal, with intermediate station adjustments from Niagara Falls to Rome. It will depart Utica on its regular schedule.

Train 284 will depart Niagara Falls at 6:31 a.m., 16 minutes earlier than normal, with intermediate station adjustments from Niagara Falls to Rome. It will depart Utica on it regular schedule.

The westbound Maple Leaf  will depart Albany-Rensselaer at 10:10 a.m., 10 minutes later than normal, with intermediate station adjustments between Albany and Niagara Falls for an arrival at the latter 25 minutes later than scheduled.

Train 281 will depart Rochester at 5:24 p.m., five minutes later than normal, with intermediate station adjustments between Rochester and Niagara Falls. It will arrive in Niagara Falls 10 minutes later than scheduled.

Train 283 will depart Syracuse at 6:49 p.m., five minutes later than normal, with intermediate station adjustments between Syracuse and Niagara Falls. It will arrive in Niagara Falls 15 minutes later than scheduled.

NEC Schedules Change Today

Amtrak on Monday (March 28) changed several schedules of trains serving the Northeast Corridor.

In a service advisory the passenger carrier said the changes were due to track and infrastructure work being made along the corridor.

Scheduled departure and arrival times of Acela and Northeast Regional trains may change by three to 10 minutes in both directions between Boston and Washington.

Acela 2152 will replace the 2150, operating approximately one hour later. All Acela trains will depart Washington 10 minutes before the hour.

Some Wolverine Service Times to Change

Amtrak Wolverine Service No. 350 curves off the Chicago Line of Norfolk Southern onto Amtrak-owned track at Porter, Indiana, on Feb. 27, 2022.

Amtrak will modify the schedules of three Wolverine Service trains between Chicago and Detroit (Pontiac) effective March 7, 2022.

In a service advisory Amtrak said the scheduled changes are due to planned track work and other infrastructure projects being sponsored on the segment of the route owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation and Amtrak.

Train 350 will originate in Chicago 35 minutes earlier at 6:45 a.m. It is currently scheduled to depart Union Station at 7:20 a.m.

Train 352 will originate in Chicago 55 minutes later at 2:15 p.m. It is now scheduled to depart at 1:25 p.m.

Train 353 will originate in Pontiac 48 minutes earlier at 8:50 a.m. It now departs there at 9:38 a.m.

Times at en route stations will be adjusted accordingly and Amtrak advised passengers to check for the latest arrival and departure times at those cities.