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Rail Travel News is a twice-monthly print publication, published since Dec 10, 1970.
Publisher: Message Media Company,
PO Box 9007,
Berkeley CA 94709.
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   The following new schedule, effective Mar 8 for train 1 and Mar 9 for train 2, is now in Amtrak's Arrow computer:

Consist: One Baggage (peak season), one Transition Sleeper with
revenue space, one Sleeper, Diner, Lounge, Coach, Coach-Baggage LAX-ORL;
plus one Coach, one Sleeper LAX-CHI via SAS on #21/22. Extra sleeper
will operate to protect special group traffic.

The days of operation will be the same; the train  will require one additional set of equipment
for #1-2, as well as #421-422. Set will remain overnight in Los Angeles
for servicing.

Amtrak advisories follow:

EFFECTIVE ON THE ORIGIN DATES SHOWN, THE SCHEDULE OF THE
SUNSET LIMITED, TRAINS 1/2, AND THE TEXAS EAGLE THROUGH CARS
WEST OF SAN ANTONIO, TRAINS 421/422, CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHEDULE CHANGE IS TO REALISTICALLY
REFLECT RAILROAD OPERATING CONDITIONS IN AN EFFORT TO
IMPROVE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE.

TRAIN 1 - EFFECTIVE WITH ORIGIN DATE MARCH 8, 2005:
- NO CHANGE ORLANDO THROUGH BEAUMONT.
- DEPARTS HOUSTON 950P, 22 MINS LATER.
- DEPARTS SAN ANTONIO 540A, 2 HRS LATER.
- DEPARTS EL PASO 555P, 2 HRS 30 MINS LATER.
- DEPARTS TUCSON 105A, 4 HRS 8 MINS LATER.
- ARRIVES LOS ANGELES 1010A, 3 HRS 30 MINS LATER.

- NO LONGER CONNECTS WITH TRAIN 14, THE COAST STARLIGHT.
PASSENGERS FOR NORTH OF MTZ/SAC CAN TAKE SAN JOAQUIN
SERVICE FROM LAX AND CONNECT TO TRAIN 14.
 

TRAIN 2 - EFFECTIVE WITH ORIGIN DATE MARCH 9, 2005:
- DEPARTS LOS ANGELES 230P, 8 HRS EARLIER.
- DEPARTS TUCSON 220A, 7 HRS 20 MINS EARLIER.
- DEPARTS EL PASO 900A, 6 HRS 41 MINS EARLIER.
- DEPARTS SAN ANTONIO 100A, 5 HRS EARLIER.
(NO CHANGE TO 22/422 DEPARTING SAN ANTONIO.)
- DEPARTS HOUSTON 615A, 4 HRS 40 MINS EARLIER.
- ARRIVES NEW ORLEANS 400P, 4 HRS 30 MINS EARLIER.
- NO CHANGE NEW ORLEANS TO ORLANDO.

- ALL CONNECTIONS FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BROKEN. AN
OVERNIGHT STAY IN LAX AT PASSENGER'S EXPENSE REQUIRED.
- CONNECTION FROM BFD IS BUS 5872. NOTHING CONNECTS
FROM NORTH OF BFD TO THIS BUS. TRAIN 702/BUS 5802
IS NOT A VALID CONNECTION.
- CONNECTION FROM SLO IS TRAIN 774. NOTHING CONNECTS
FROM NORTH OF SLO TO THIS TRAIN.
- CONNECTION FROM SAN IS TRAIN 769.
- A LATER DEPARTURE TIME FROM LAX WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE
TO CONFLICTING METROLINK COMMUTER TRAIN TRAFFIC.

PASSENGERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE, OR DO NOT WANT, TO TRAVEL AT THE
NEW TIMES MAY BE REFUNDED IN FULL WITHOUT REFUND FEE, NON-
CANCELLATION PENALTY, OR ANY OTHER CHARGE OR RESTRICTION.

THIS APPLIES BOTH TO PASSENGERS WHO ARE ON THE ROUTE
BUT CANNOT TRAVEL AT THE NEW TIMES, AND TO PASSENGERS
WHOSE CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WHO HAVE NO
OTHER WAY TO GET TO THE TRAIN (THIS MAINLY APPLIES TO
SOUTHBOUND PASSENGERS FROM NORTH OF SLO OR BFD, INCLUDING
EVERYONE WHO WAS ON TRAIN 11 FROM NORTH OF SLO).

PASSENGERS WHOSE CONNECTIONS ARE BROKEN AND WANT TO CHANGE
SOUTHBOUND TRAVEL TO MAKE THE CONNECTION IN LAX MAY MAKE
THE FIRST CHANGE TO SOUTHBOUND TRAVEL WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
FARE. HOWEVER, AMTRAK WILL NOT PAY FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOTEL
STAY THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED IN LAX.
            --Source: Gene Poon, Amtrak
Back to February 22 news posting

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