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Amtrak rerouted for work
Published March 21, 2003
By LEE JUILLERAT
Amtrak passenger train service between Klamath Falls and Sacramento is experiencing delays because trains are being rerouted for track maintenance.
While that's bad news for some, it opens a unique opportunity for others.
Track work is being done by the Union Pacific Railroad, which owns the line used by Amtrak, over alternating weeks through May 7.
During the work, Amtrak's Coast Starlight trains are being detoured so usual stops are not being made at the Northern California cities of Chico, Redding and Dunsmuir.
Instead, during construction periods Amtrak is now traveling from Sacramento to Klamath Falls through Oroville, Keddie Junction, Greenville, Almanor, Westwood and Bieber. No stops are being made in any of those cities, but the rerouting has caused scheduling problems.
"There have been delays," said Amtrak spokeswoman Sarah Swain. "It's been disruptive in that sense."
On Thursday, for example, the northbound Amtrak Coast Starlight scheduled to arrive at 8:25 a.m. reached Klamath Falls about 7 p.m.
Despite the late trains, Swain said people are not being bused to make other Amtrak connections, except on a "case-by-case" basis.
The delays aren't necessarily bad news for train buffs because the new temporary route takes Amtrak trains through Northern California's scenic Feather River Canyon. Service through the canyon offered by the California Zephyr passenger train was discontinued in March 1970.
Ted and Sylvia Blishak, who operate Accent on Travel USA, a Klamath Falls-based travel agency that specializes in international train trips, traveled from Greenville to Klamath Falls on a special train several years ago.
"You can see the east side of Mount Shasta and it looks completely different from any of views we normally get," said Sylvia Blishak. "It was just so beautiful. It was green and there were lots of wildflowers."
She said in years past, when reroutes were scheduled through the Feather River Canyon, "People would call and say, 'I want to go.'"
With the delays, north and southbound Amtrak passengers are often traveling between Klamath Falls and Sacramento by daylight, not at night as regularly scheduled.
The temporary route also marks the first time that passengers trains have traveled between Keddie Junction and Klamath Falls.
Swain said the rerouted Amtrak trains are traveling on Burlington Northern-Santa Fe rail lines that are typically used only by freight trains.
"There are many rail enthusiasts who are excited about it."
Under current plans, Amtrak's Coast Starlight trains will travel the detour route to Monday, March 31 to April 9, April 15 to April 22, and April 26 to May 7. Swain said those dates could be changed and suggested people call Amtrak at (800) 872-7245 (USA-RAIL).
Information on arrival and departure times for Amtrak trains in Klamath Falls is available by calling 884-2822.
Regional Editor Lee Juillerat covers Lake, Siskiyou, Modoc and northern Klamath counties. He can be reached at 885-4421, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at lee@heraldandnews.com.
By LEE JUILLERAT
Amtrak passenger train service between Klamath Falls and Sacramento is experiencing delays because trains are being rerouted for track maintenance.
While that's bad news for some, it opens a unique opportunity for others.
Track work is being done by the Union Pacific Railroad, which owns the line used by Amtrak, over alternating weeks through May 7.
During the work, Amtrak's Coast Starlight trains are being detoured so usual stops are not being made at the Northern California cities of Chico, Redding and Dunsmuir.
Instead, during construction periods Amtrak is now traveling from Sacramento to Klamath Falls through Oroville, Keddie Junction, Greenville, Almanor, Westwood and Bieber. No stops are being made in any of those cities, but the rerouting has caused scheduling problems.
"There have been delays," said Amtrak spokeswoman Sarah Swain. "It's been disruptive in that sense."
On Thursday, for example, the northbound Amtrak Coast Starlight scheduled to arrive at 8:25 a.m. reached Klamath Falls about 7 p.m.
Despite the late trains, Swain said people are not being bused to make other Amtrak connections, except on a "case-by-case" basis.
The delays aren't necessarily bad news for train buffs because the new temporary route takes Amtrak trains through Northern California's scenic Feather River Canyon. Service through the canyon offered by the California Zephyr passenger train was discontinued in March 1970.
Ted and Sylvia Blishak, who operate Accent on Travel USA, a Klamath Falls-based travel agency that specializes in international train trips, traveled from Greenville to Klamath Falls on a special train several years ago.
"You can see the east side of Mount Shasta and it looks completely different from any of views we normally get," said Sylvia Blishak. "It was just so beautiful. It was green and there were lots of wildflowers."
She said in years past, when reroutes were scheduled through the Feather River Canyon, "People would call and say, 'I want to go.'"
With the delays, north and southbound Amtrak passengers are often traveling between Klamath Falls and Sacramento by daylight, not at night as regularly scheduled.
The temporary route also marks the first time that passengers trains have traveled between Keddie Junction and Klamath Falls.
Swain said the rerouted Amtrak trains are traveling on Burlington Northern-Santa Fe rail lines that are typically used only by freight trains.
"There are many rail enthusiasts who are excited about it."
Under current plans, Amtrak's Coast Starlight trains will travel the detour route to Monday, March 31 to April 9, April 15 to April 22, and April 26 to May 7. Swain said those dates could be changed and suggested people call Amtrak at (800) 872-7245 (USA-RAIL).
Information on arrival and departure times for Amtrak trains in Klamath Falls is available by calling 884-2822.
Regional Editor Lee Juillerat covers Lake, Siskiyou, Modoc and northern Klamath counties. He can be reached at 885-4421, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at lee@heraldandnews.com.
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