(The following story by Dan Whisenhunt appeared on the Anniston Star website on January 23.)
ANNISTON, Ala. — People who regularly ride Amtrak between New Orleans and Atlanta will have to find another route in February.
The train, which stops in Anniston, will not run Monday through Thursday for four weeks startingon Feb. 10, according to a spokesman for Norfolk Southern, which owns the tracks.
Company spokesman Robin Chapman said the maintenance is routine.
Documents obtained by The Star show the work will include repairs to 84 miles of ties, putting new rails in 22 curves, a bridge replacement, welding 300 rail joints and installing six new switches.
The document said if work is completed early, service will resume as early as possible.
“We do (repairs) when the resources are available to do it and when the weather cooperates,” Chapman explained. “Generally we do our work in the South during the winter months when it makes it difficult to (make repairs) in the northern territories.”