Amtrak cancels trains, eyeing Irene
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefAmtrak Thursday evening said it was canceling some of its long-distance trains south of Washington, D.C., beginning Friday and lasting throughout the weekend, due to the approach of Hurricane Irene.
Amtrak said its Auto-Train service between Sanford, Fla., and Lorton, Va., and the New York-to-Jacksonville portion of its Silver Star, would be canceled. The Silver Meteor and the southbound Palmetto, terminating at Savannah, would be canceled for the three days.
Other trains, including the northbound Palmetto and the Carolinian, linking New York and Charlotte, N.C., will be canceled for two days, Saturday and Sunday, Amtrak said.
Amtrak said Thursday it “regrets any inconvenience” from the cancellations, but the agency warned "additional cancellations may be necessary in the coming days as the major storm moves north."
Amtrak Friday had not yet made any changes to its Northeast Corridor service, but was ready to do so if and as Hurricane Irene approaches the Northeast this weekend.
