Amtrak Cancels Midwest Trains During Christmas Travel Period Due to Pending Winter Storm

Just in time for Christmas Amtrak is curtailing service in the Midwest in advance of a winter storm that will bring subzero temperatures and heavy snow in some places.

The cancellations affect corridor service from Chicago to Milwaukee, St. Louis and Detroit (Pontiac). Also affected is the route between St. Louis and Kansas City and the Chicago-Seattle/Portland Empire Builder.

The cancellations are in effect on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cancelled are Wolverine Service Trains 352 and 353 between Chicago and Pontiac; Lincoln Service Trains 300, 301, 305 and 306 between Chicago and St. Louis; and Hiawatha Service Trains 329, 332, 333, 336, 337 and 340.

On the Missouri River Runner route trains will not operate on Saturday or Sunday between St. Louis and Kansas City, which means there will be no Amtrak service on those dates.

The Empire Builder will not depart Chicago or from the West Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Keystones Reserved for Christmas Travel

Amtrak announced this week that reservations will be required for travel on Keystone Service trains between Dec. 21 and Dc. 30.

This includes all trains operating between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Reservations will not be required for monthly and 10-ride ticket holders.

On Christmas Day, Keystone Service trains will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Pacific Surfliners Shift to All Reserved This Week

All Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains will require reservations for travel between Dec. 23 and 28.

In a service advisory Amtrak said a ticket will only be valid on the train on which a passenger holds a reservation.

During this period, multi-ride passengers with a monthly pass or 10-trip ticket must also confirm each trip in advance through the Amtrak RideReserve program.

Travel can be confirmed at Amtrak.com or on the Amtrak app by retrieving a ticket, choosing the date and direction of travel, and selecting “Confirm” on the train you would like to reserve a seat on.

Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or at a staffed Amtrak station.

The Rail2Rail programs (COASTER and Metrolink) will observe a blackout period on the same dates, Dec. 23 through Dec. 28.

Trains will operate on a holiday schedule on Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas Day.

More information is available at PacificSurfliner.com/holiday