(The following story by Chris Hubbuch appeared on the La Crosse Tribune website on June 19.)
LA CROSSE, Wisc. — Flooding last week in Wisconsin and Iowa has disrupted passenger train service across the country and resulted in delays for passengers traveling to and from La Crosse.
The Empire Builder has been suspended since Sunday between St. Paul and Chicago because of flooding near Reisville, Wis. Two Chicago-to-California routes have also been disrupted by flooding in Iowa.
The disruption comes during Amtrak’s peak season and during a year of record ticket sales. So far this year in La Crosse, ridership is up more than 14 percent, with an average of about 2,400 passengers getting on and off the train each month.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the bus travel has caused delays and led to some travelers canceling plans. It has also cost the railroad more, though he didn’t know yet how much.
The railroad has offered rain checks or refunds, Magliari said.
Meanwhile, Amtrak is running buses between St. Paul and Chicago but isn’t making its usual stops in Portage, Columbus and Milwaukee because of road closures, Magliari said.
The shift to bus service — combined with flood-related road closures — has led to delays.
Lualla Pederson, who takes the train as often as three times a week to visit her 93-year-old husband at the VA hospital in Tomah, waited Wednesday at the Amtrak station in La Crosse.
Normally, the train would get her to Tomah about
11:30 a.m., giving her about six hours to visit before catching the westbound train. On Wednesday, the bus wasn’t expected to reach La Crosse until 1 p.m.
Florence Ransburg came last week from Detroit to visit a friend. At Milwaukee, she said, passengers were put on a bus that arrived in La Crosse about midnight instead of the scheduled 7:15 p.m.
“Every which way it was flooded,” she said Wednesday as she waited for a bus to take her home.
Magliari said beginning Saturday trains will be on a detour route between St. Paul and Chicago — but Wisconsin passengers will still be on buses.
How long isn’t clear yet.
Canadian Pacific Railroad, which owns the tracks, has to wait for the water to recede before workers can check for damage, CP spokesman Jeff Johnson said.