Amtrak has announced a suspension of service between Seattle and Portland, setting off travel complications for passengers through Tuesday morning. This interruption comes in the wake of a landslide south of Kelso, Washington, which has blocked the tracks and forced a delay initially set to resolve Sunday night, now extended to 10:45 AM PT, Tuesday, January 23, MyNorthwest reports.
The travel disruption has impacted several Amtrak routes, notably the six daily Amtrak Cascades and the lone Coast Starlight that ply the West Coast, Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed via KGW8. Previously bound for Seattle, trains are now terminating in Portland as an interim measure to contend with the landslide situation, the aftermath of which has necessitated a 24-hour moratorium on all passenger trains based on BNSF Railway rules, which has caused disruptions that many were not equipped to handle or were not expecting it, as their travel plans were abruptly altered.
In lieu of the suspended rail service, Amtrak has committed to providing buses to ferry passengers past the site of the landslide, though this has brought scant comfort to some. One commuter, Grace Henneford, found herself stuck in Kelso after being rebuffed on an Amtrak train en route to Portland; Henneford told MSN that the service halt left many scrambling as Amtrak failed to arrange adequate alternative transportation or lodging, leading her and other passengers to coordinate shared Uber rides out of pocket.
Amtrak has advised that customers with reservations on the affected trains will generally be placed onto other trains with similar departure times or an alternate day, additionally waiving additional fees for reservation changes during this modified schedule, which may do little to quell frustration among travelers who have been inconvenienced by this unscheduled act of nature stranded passengers while also not addressing the immediate needs of those who had been left hanging without clear guidance or support from the company states. Complaints regarding communication and customer care have surfaced, with Henneford emphasizing the lack of outreach from Amtrak concerning refunds or travel vouchers, despite her praise for the helpfulness of the train staff during the ordeal.
Passengers seeking updates on train statuses and those needing to adjust their travel plans are encouraged to use Amtrak's mobile app or contact their reservation center directly. More detailed information on Amtrak’s refund and cancellation policies can be found on their official website.
