NEWS




National Railroad Passenger Corporation
Amtrak Intercity
210 South Canal Street
Chicago, Illinois 60606-5715



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				       ATK-96-163
July 12, 1996 - 6:00 P.M. ET				       Contact: Marc Magliari
								                      312-655-1338

AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN CANCELED BY HURRICANE BERTHA

	CHICAGO -- Significant weather-related delays to Amtrak equipment and crews resulting from  operations in the area battered by Hurricane Bertha have led Amtrak to cancel both the north and southbound departures of this afternoon's Auto Train (Trains #52 and 53), which normally operate to and from Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla.

	Passengers may receive refunds for regular tickets on the Auto Train, but no alternate transportation will be provided by Amtrak.

	Other trains, which are either en route away or are some significant distance from the affected area, are continuing to operate at this time.  This trains include the Silver Meteor (Trains #97 and 98) and the Silver Star (Trains #81, 91, 92 and 82), the Piedmont (Trains #74 and 73) and the Carolinian (Trains #80 & 79).  These trains might be subject to weather-related delays.

	Amtrak will continue to monitor the progress of the weather system and its effect on tracks used by in the area in order to determine train schedules during the next 24 hours.  

	For up-to-date Amtrak train information, passengers are advised to contact their local Amtrak station or 1-800-USA-RAIL.

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