Hello Reader,
I hope you're staying warm! If you're staring out at snow and ice, this is your reminder that Amtrak's booking window opens 11 months in advance—so you can already reserve summer and fall travel or at least start your research.
Annual Crescent Trackwork: What You Need to Know for Winter 2026
If you’re planning to ride the Crescent between Atlanta and New Orleans anytime soon, here’s a heads-up: Norfolk Southern’s annual trackwork is in full swing and is affecting service through the end of February.
Here’s the deal:
Right now, through February 26, the Crescent is operating on a split schedule south of Atlanta:
- Weekends (Friday-Sunday): Full train service from New York to New Orleans as usual
- Weekdays (Monday-Thursday): The train terminates in Atlanta, with bus substitution on the Atlanta-New Orleans segment
That means that if you’re traveling between Atlanta and any of these stations on a weekday, you’re on a bus: Anniston, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Picayune, Slidell, or New Orleans.
Why does this happen every year?
Norfolk Southern owns the tracks south of Atlanta, and there is a lot of single-track in that territory with some seriously curvy sections, especially between Atlanta and Birmingham. Those curves require regular maintenance, so NS brings its track crews south for the winter to handle it.
They set up 12-hour work windows (roughly 7 AM to 7 PM) during which no trains can pass through. Freight trains can wait it out and run at night. Amtrak can’t, because the Crescent’s schedule puts it right in the middle of those daytime work windows.
This pattern has been consistent since at least 2000, so if you’re a regular Crescent rider, plan accordingly. Book weekend travel to stay on the rails, or be prepared for a 10+ hour bus ride on weekdays, depending on your starting or ending point.
Bottom line: If your dates are flexible and you want the full train experience, travel Friday through Sunday. Otherwise, you’ll get there, just not quite as you’d planned.
What is Kev Up To?
I'm eyeing a repeat trip on the City of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras Service in May. I enjoyed it enough the first time to want to do it again—but this time, I might reverse the route and bring my mom along. She's flying back to Florida in April to help my sister's family, and this would be her ride home to Wisconsin. If she and I fly home instead, I might take the train down as I did a few weeks ago.
In non-Amtrak news, I was elected Director of Public Affairs for the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society. It turns out that running a travel website translates well to managing nonprofit communications. The group is active and wants to stay that way, and I'm excited to work with the board. I have already worked on improving the website.
The Cheddar State has been frigid since I got back from Florida, and I'm getting restless. I want to go for walks, but it's too cold to do anything beyond what's necessary. I love Wisconsin from late spring through early fall, but I'll take the cold over alligators, venomous snakes, and hurricanes any day.
Bringing things to a close
Special thanks to my Patreon supporters. Did you know Patreon members receive a monthly postcard from my travels? If you'd like the full trip reports, extra photos, and those postcards, you can join the Patreon community today! Starting at $5 a month. This program helps me to do more research.
Want to help in other ways? Hit the green button below to contribute directly, or check out the support page for more options.
Can't contribute financially? No problem. Sharing this newsletter with fellow travelers helps more than you know.
Until Next Week!
Safe travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith
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