HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Sunday, March 27 was the day Amtrak had set for restoring full service to all of its long distance routes including the Southwest Chief. Earlier this month Amtrak announced that it was not going to happen, although some long distance service has gone back to seven days per week. Most long distance trains had been reduced to five days of operation due to crew shortages.
Amtrak’s Marc Maglari says those issues remain. Amtrak did say they would release a summer operating schedule later but did not provide specifics. Amtrak is allowing ticket purchases for the Southwest Chief starting May 23rd but that does not mean they will operate as ticket holders for trains in April have found out.
Earlier Amtrak was asked to clarify the updated schedule and provided this statement.
“These restorations follow frequency reductions resulting from staffing and hiring shortages for skilled technical employees caused by the pandemic. We are working towards further frequency restorations on other impacted routes in the coming months as our hiring, training and staffing levels advance.”
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