CHICAGO — Amtrak has expanded its list of train cancellations in and out of Chicago because of a forecast of “extremely cold temperatures” to include an extensive number of state-supported services to Illinois and adjacent states.
The company had previously announced cancellations of the Empire Builder in both directions between Chicago and Spokane, Wash., for today (Jan. 17, 2025) through Monday, Jan. 20 [see “Storm cancellations, maintenance failures …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 13, 2025]. While the Builder is once again accepting reservations as of Tuesday, Jan. 21, some cancellations of state-supported trains have now been made through Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Cancelled in an advisory updated at 8 p.m.. ET today are the following trains (additional trains have been added in updates on Sunday, Jan. 19). Alternate transportation is being provided as noted; that information has also been updated several times.
The Chicago-St. Paul, Minn., Borealis:
— Westbound train No. 1333 on Saturday, Jan. 18; in both directions (trains 1333 and 1340) Sunday through Tuesday, Jan. 19-21. Alternate bus transportation will be provided all days.
Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee:
— On Saturday, Jan. 18, northbound trains 339 (a 5:08 p.m. departure from Chicago) and 341 (8:05 p.m.). Bus transportation will be provided.
— On Sunday, Jan. 19, southbound trains 332 (an 8:05 a.m. departure from Milwaukee) and 336 (1:05 p.m.) and northbound trains 337 (3:15 p.m.) and 341. Bus transportation will be provided.
— On Monday, Jan. 20, and Tuesday, Jan. 21: southbound trains 330 (6:15 a.m. departure), 334 (11 a.m.) and 336, and northbound trains 331 (8:25 a.m.), 337, and 341. Bus transportation will be provided both days.
— On Wednesday, Jan. 22, southbound trains 330 and 332 are canceled, a change as of Jan. 20 from the original plan calling for cancellation trains 339 and 341. Bus transportation will be provided.
Wolverine service between Chicago and Pontiac, Mich.:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19, eastbound trains 352 (departing Chicago at 2:15 p.m.) and 354 (departing 5:50 p.m.). Bus transportation will be provided. Update: Also cancelled on Sunday, according to Amtrak Alerts, are train 350 (a 6:45 a.m. departure from Chicago), because of equipment issues; train 353 between Jackson, Mich., and Chicago, because of crew issues, and train 355 (a scheduled 5:28 p.m. departure from Pontiac) because of equipment unavailability. Bus transportation will be provided for No. 353; Amtrak said at 10:15 a.m. it was attempting to arrange bus transportation for No. 350. No mention is made of alternate transportation for No. 355.
— On Monday, Jan. 20, and Tuesday, Jan. 21: eastbound trains 352 and 354; westbound trains 351 (a 5:43 a.m. departure from Pontiac) and 353 (an 8:50 a.m. departure). Bus transportation will be provided both days.
— On Wednesday, Jan. 22, westbound trains 351 and 353. Bus transportation will be provided.
The Chicago-Quincy, Ill., Carl Sandburg:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19, and Monday, Jan. 20: Westbound No. 381 (a 7:40 a.m. departure from Chicago) and eastbound No. 382 (a 5:30 p.m. departure from Quincy. Bus transportation will be provided both days.
The Los Angeles-New Orleans Sunset Limited:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19: Eastbound No. 2 is cancelled.
— On Monday, Jan. 20: Westbound No. 1 is cancelled.
The Chicago-San Antonio Texas Eagle:
— On Sunday, Jan. 19: Northbound train No. 422 is cancelled.
— On Monday, Jan. 20: Southbound No. 21 is cancelled between Fort Worth, Texas, and San Antonio.
— On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Northbound No. 22 is cancerlled between San Antonio and Fort Worth.
Amtrak cautions that additional cancellations or delays may occur because of the weather. Watch the Amtrak website or Amtrak Alerts and Amtrak NEC Alerts on X.com for additional updates.
The Chicago-New Orleans City of New Orleans:
— Monday, Jan. 20: Southbound No. 59 is cancelled.
— Tuesday, Jan. 21: Northbound No. 58 is cancelled; southbound No. 59 is cancelled between Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans.
— Wednesday, Jan. 22: Northbound No. 58 is cancelled between New Orleans and Memphis.
The current Accuweather.com forecast calls for lows between -1 degree and 3 degrees in Chicago Sunday through Tuesday; of minus-1 to to minus-15 Saturday through Monday in St. Paul, Minn., and of 2 to minus-4 in Pontiac Sunday through Tuesday.
— Updated at 7:15 p.m. CT with information on alternate bus transportation; updated Jan. 18 at 10:30 a.m. CT with addition of bus transportation for Carl Sandburg passengers’ updated Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m. with addition of bus transportation on most remaining trains; updated at 2:02 p.m. CT with Sunset Limited cancellations, and at 2:13 p.m. with additional Wolverine cancellations; updated at 6:20 p.m. with Texas Eagle and City of New Orleans cancellations. Updated Jan. 20 at 5:05 p.m. to reflect changes in Hiawatha cancellations on Jan.22.
