Another PARTIAL victory for rail advocates. They never give everything, do they? Are you ready to ride a bus from Sacramento to Portland? Press release and PHOTOS below!

Coast Starlight #11 is about to depart the San Luis Obispo station on time on February February 18, 2008, with three coaches, one Sightseer Lounge, and a baggage car.

Coast Starlight #14 arrives at the San Luis Obispo station 20 minutes EARLY on the same day, 2/18/08, with an identical consist. At least they are running the trains on time. But, note the date for resumption of train service on the full route is now “April.”
(RailPAC Photos by Russ Jackson)

February 19, 2008

AMTRAK EXTENDS COAST STARLIGHT SERVICE

Thruway Motorcoach Service available between Sacramento and Portland
Train Service continues between Los Angeles and Sacramento

OAKLAND – Amtrak is adding Thruway motorcoach service on a portion of the disrupted Los Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight route, beginning Friday, February 29, 2008. The Thruway motorcoach service will connect the Coast Starlight route segment between Sacramento and Portland, Ore., making connections with the Coast Starlight train at Sacramento and other Amtrak train service at Portland. The Thruway motorcoach will connect with the Chicago-Portland Empire Builder at Portland.

Train service on the Coast Starlight route was suspended between Los Angeles and Seattle on January 19, due to massive mudslides over the railroad north of Chemult, Ore. Union Pacific Railroad, the owner of the line, is working to restore the tracks affected by the slides. All railroad traffic through that area is currently suspended.

Amtrak restored train service over a portion of the route on Friday, Feb. 1, between Los Angeles and Sacramento, with no alternate transportation north of Sacramento. Amtrak will extend the service via motorcoaches, with the first southbound motorcoach, representing the Coast Starlight, Train 11, departing Portland on Friday, February 29. The first northbound motorcoach from the Coast Starlight, Train 14, will depart Sacramento for Portland on Saturday, March 1. Motorcoaches will make stops in both directions at Sacramento, Medford, Eugene, Salem and Portland, Ore. The motorcoaches will also make meal and rest stops to accommodate passengers along the route.

For the train section of this special service, only Coach class will be offered. No sleeping car accommodations will be available. Food and beverage service will be available in a lounge car. The more formal dining service will also be suspended. The Coast Starlight will continue to operate as an all-reserved train and passengers will be able to check bags at stations that normally offer that service.

The railroad route is not expected to reopen through the mudslide area until April.