Air, bus, train services interrupted

• By BILL LODGE
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Sep 1, 2008 - UPDATED: 10:31 p.m.

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Storm-canceled air service was expected to resume in Baton Rouge today, but officials for Greyhound Lines had no estimate Monday for the return of  bus  transportation.

Amtrak officials in Chicago said rail service from New Orleans to Memphis, Tenn., is not expected to resume before Wednesday.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari also said rail service between New Orleans and Lake Charles may not resume before Thursday.

Abby Wambaugh, a spokeswoman for Greyhound’s Dallas headquarters, said she had no estimate for the resumption of bus service for Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lake Charles.

“That’s just going to be a wait-and-see situation,” Wambaugh said, adding that the U.S.  Department of Homeland Security ordered Greyhound to halt bus service from New Orleans prior to Gustav’s arrival.

She said customers can seek updated information at (800) 231-2222.

For customers with access to computers, Wambaugh said, questions about many routes can be answered at: http://www.greyhound.com/home/en/ServiceDisruptionAlerts.aspx.

Wambaugh warned customers not to be confused by the status listed for some routes: “If it says ‘canceled or delayed,’ it’s been canceled.”

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport weathered a power outage Monday, said Ronnie L. Pickard, manager of airport marketing  and air service.

But runways did not appear damaged at about 6 p.m., Pickard said.

“We have no structural damage in the terminal building, as of right now,” Pickard added.

And, Pickard said, flights were expected to resume this morning.

He said Delta Airlines is expected to send a flight to Atlanta at 11 a.m.