By Railfan & Railroad Staff

CHICAGO — Intense winter weather across the northern tier of the nation is disrupting holiday travel on Amtrak. 

An Arctic cold front was bringing snow and below-zero temperatures to a large swath of the country this week. Axios reports that about 33 million people were under winter storm watches as of Tuesday. 

The impact of those winter woes was already being felt by passengers aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder between Chicago and Seattle/Portland. Due to numerous mechanical issues, Train 8 that departed Seattle and Portland on Monday night was more than 12 hours late by the time it arrived in Montana on Tuesday and it wasn’t looking like it was going to make up much time as a storm walloped the Northern Rockies. The previous day’s eastbound Empire Builder, was more than 11 hours late on Tuesday afternoon as it made its way through Minnesota. 

In advance of even colder conditions later this week, Amtrak has preemptively canceled the Empire Builder runs due out of Chicago and Portland/Seattle on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, likely disrupting holiday plans for hundreds of passengers. 

Meanwhile, in anticipation of cold weather and snow in the midwest, Amtrak was canceling Missouri River Runner trains 311 and 316; Lincoln Service trains 300, 301, 305 and 306; and Wolverine Service trains 352 and 353 on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.