CHICAGO — Amtrak has announced a significant number of cancellations beginning Thursday, Jan. 11, for long-distance and state-supported trains serving Chicago in anticipation of a major winter storm expected to hit the Midwest Friday and Saturday. The majority of cancellations are Friday and Saturday. Also affected are St. Louis-Kansas City trains and, on the West Coast, the Coast Starlight.
According to a service advisory posted at this evening (Wednesday, Jan. 10) at 7:30 p.m., these long-distance cancellations, or route-shortenings, are in effect:
— The Empire Builder between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest will be cancelled in both directions Jan 11, 12, and 13;
— The eastbound California Zephyr is cancelled between Denver and Chicago on Jan. 11; and the westbound train is cancelled between Chicago and Denver on Jan. 12.
— The eastbound Southwest Chief is cancelled from Los Angeles to Chicago on Jan. 11, and the westbound train from Chicago to Los Angeles on Jan. 12.
— The northbound Coast Starlight is cancelled between Oakland and Seattle is cancelled today, Jan. 12, and Jan. 13; the southbound train is canceled Jan. 11 from Seattle to Oakland and Jan. 12-13 in its entirety.
State-supported cancellations:
These trains have been cancelled on Friday:
Michigan Service
— Chicago-Pontiac trains No. 354, 355.
— Chicago-Port Huron train No. 364.
— Chicago-Grand Rapids train No. 370
Amtrak Hiawatha
— Trains 330, 331, 334, 335, 338, 339, 343.
Missouri River Runner
— St. Louis-Kansas City No. 316
— St. Louis-Kansas City portion of No. 319
Lincoln Service
— Chicago-St. Louis No. 307
Illinois Zephyr-Carl Sandburg
— All trains (Nos. 380, 381, 382, 383)
Cancelled on Saturday, Jan. 13, are:
— Port Huron-Chicago train 365;
— Grand Rapids-Chicago train No. 371
— Milwaukee Chicago train No. 330
— St. Louis-Kansas City trains 311, 318 (Chicago-St. Louis portion of 318 still scheduled)
— Chicago-St. Louis train No. 300
— Chicago-Quincy trains 380-381.
As always, these plans are subject to change. Follow Amtrak Alerts or the Amtrak website for up-to-date information.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Chicago beginning Friday at 6 a.m., calling for snowfall greater than 6 inches with winds of 40 to 50 mph. Accuweather.com is forecasting 8 to 12 inches of snow.