Norfolk Southern, Amtrak adjust service to avoid Gordon

Norfolk Southern Railway and Amtrak yesterday announced service alerts for trains operating in Gulf Coast areas that potentially could be affected by Tropical Depression Gordon.

NS is monitoring the storm's path and the potential impact heavy rain may have on operations in and around New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, NS officials said in a service alert.

Precautionary measures are being taken to protect infrastructure and rail equipment is being repositioned away from low-lying areas. Shipments typically interchanged over New Orleans are being detoured to alternate gateways, they said.

Meanwhile, Amtrak has adjusted service for its Crescent route, which operates between New York City and New Orleans, and its Sunset Limited route, which operates between New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Amtrak will waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservations during the modified schedule, railroad officials said in an announcement.

Gordon made landfall as a tropical storm late last night along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, according to the Weather Channel. The storm is now a tropical depression, the station reported this morning.