Brief Zephyr Restart
Yesterday, Amtrak attempted to restart full service on the California Zephyr, after a week where service was suspended between Sacramento and Reno. But the westbound train was dramatically late.
( Westbound Restart )
Amtrak #5 normally passes our house around 7:45 PM. Yesterday, it passed us westbound at about the time that #6, its eastbound counterpart, normally passes our house around 4:45 PM. #6 was running late as well, but not as badly late, and was making its Reno station stop as #5 came through. Based on Amtrak's track-a-train map, the dispatcher held #5 at Clark siding (second siding east of Sparks) for #6. This is the "late trains get later" principle, in that #6 was only about an hour late and might be able to make up some of its time, but #5 was a lost cause. It would eventually limp into Emeryville at 2:49 AM the next morning, 10h39m late. Ouch!
( Eastbound Restart )
Today's westbound train came through this afternoon also badly delayed, and the eastbound isn't even on the board, so I suspect they're short-turning the train at Reno again.
( Westbound Restart )
Amtrak #5 normally passes our house around 7:45 PM. Yesterday, it passed us westbound at about the time that #6, its eastbound counterpart, normally passes our house around 4:45 PM. #6 was running late as well, but not as badly late, and was making its Reno station stop as #5 came through. Based on Amtrak's track-a-train map, the dispatcher held #5 at Clark siding (second siding east of Sparks) for #6. This is the "late trains get later" principle, in that #6 was only about an hour late and might be able to make up some of its time, but #5 was a lost cause. It would eventually limp into Emeryville at 2:49 AM the next morning, 10h39m late. Ouch!
( Eastbound Restart )
Today's westbound train came through this afternoon also badly delayed, and the eastbound isn't even on the board, so I suspect they're short-turning the train at Reno again.