Amtrak travelers faced unexpected detours on Wednesday as the rail service canceled several routes, including the Borealis Chicago-St. Paul service, over safety issues discovered during routine maintenance inspections. In a correspondance obtained by KARE 11, the company's crews found "corrosion in several Horizon railcars" prompting the removal of the equipment from service.
Chartered buses have derailed train plans for many, serving as the transportation alternative for half of the Hiawatha route between Milwaukee and Chicago and the full Borealis route. The Downeaster service between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, will now operate with fewer passenger cars, potentially indicating crowded rides for some passengers. An Amtrak spokesperson announced the development of a "long-term plan", according to a statement from KARE 11, while railcars undergo repairs.
At Chicago Union Station, the shift to roadway transportation instead of rails caught some passengers by surprise. Dan Hun, a 23-year-old trying to decipher which bus to Milwaukee he should take, told the Chicago Sun-Times, "I feel a little bit weird," as he navigated the information gap on the crowded sidewalk. Others, like Brian Schuster, had no complaints about the change, mentioning he was notified by an early text from Amtrak and found the bus ride to Chicago to be "great."
Don Carr stood in line waiting for a bus to Milwaukee, about to visit his daughter, and he felt that Amtrak handled the change effectively. "To go to Milwaukee — not a big deal. It's a short ride," Carr explained in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. Meanwhile, some passengers from Milwaukee arrived in Chicago with texts and emails in hand, alerting them earlier in the morning about the switch to bus transportation.
Since the Borealis line's inception last May, its popularity has surged, with over 100,000 riders within five months and around 300 passengers per train, as reported by KARE 11. With dynamic ticket pricing mirroring airlines, the line appeared to be a successful venture for the American railway company. While prices started at $41, rising to as much as $179 during peak times, it beckoned travelers onto the rails with the promise of scenic and efficient travel.
