A number of the Amtrak trains scheduled today just got cancelled due to a crack found in a train car during a mechanical inspection. The Oregonian reports that this will continue throughout the weekend and disrupt service for all trains except the Coast Starlight.

I’ve taken the train to and from Seattle a number of times, and on almost every occasion, it’s been sold out. It’s a fairly pain-free way to travel, and this has got to be a huge headache for both Amtrak and people trying to travel this weekend. But I have to say that I’d rather have them err on the side of safety rather than giving it a quick shrug and continuing on as if nothing was wrong.

Hopefully they’ll fix the defect or find another manufacturer and get the trains up and running again soon. Bad enough that travel by train is dying a slow death in this country — hopefully this is just a slight blip rather than another nail in the coffin. Otherwise, so much for traveling to the Seahawks games in September.