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Amtrak Train from California to Oregon or Washington

Amtrak Train from California to Oregon or Washington

Old Jul 24th, 2014, 10:51 AM
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Amtrak Train from California to Oregon or Washington

Hi everybody:

Has anyone taken the Amtrak Train from California to Oregon or Washington? We are thinking of taking it from San Jose, California to Portland, Seattle. We will be 2 adults, 2 senior citizens and 1 5 year old kid. Has anyone taken it? Would you recommend it? Does it have nice views, etc.?

Thanks in advance,
Manisha
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 11:13 AM
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I have taken it from Eugene Or to Sacramento return. It was OK- however Amtrak is notoriously late especially going north. I think my train was 5 hours late or something like that.

A man and son on the train were going to Seattle and got off in Eugene and rented a car for the rest of the trip.

That was a few years ago and I hear things have improved since then but have not taken the train since. I would check with Amtrak regarding their on time arrival and departure record.
There is some pretty scenery between and Klamath and Eugene-
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 03:14 PM
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In February I took the Coast Starlight from LAX all the way to CMO (Chemult Oregon). The night before I was on the Sunset Limited from Tucson to LAX. The Sunset Limited arrived about a half hour early into Los Angeles. Because I was a sleeping car passenger, I got to leave my luggage in the lounge while I went out to breakfast at Phillippes. The Coast Starlight left right on time and was about half an hour late into Sacramento.
I arrived at my home station (CMO) about 15 minutes late.
The cost for this 2 train trip? 15000 Amtrak Guest Rewards Points plus a tip for the Sleeping car attendant. The cut of beef I got in the Pacific Parlour Car was the best I ever ate on a train.
If you are in a hurry to get someplace-please fly.
The Amtrak website does have a place to check OTP for the past 30 days and the past year.
Amtrak trains are at the mercy of freight dispatchers so not every delay is Amtrak's fault.
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 03:42 PM
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I've been on it several times over the years with generally good experiences, keeping in mind I enjoy train travel even when it's late. I'll be doing Sacramento to Seattle next week so I'll let you know how it goes.
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 04:01 PM
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I've been on it but only for a short stretch (Seattle to Albany). It is notoriously behind schedule (like hours and hours late). Yes there is some pretty scenery in some places.

I've always though it would be fun to do it Seattle to Los Angeles. I'd want to have a sleeper cabin for that.
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 04:33 PM
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If being on time isn't vital it could be fun. One thing that is stooooooopid IMO - Both directions you pass Mt Shasta in the dark. One of the most iconic views anywhere along the route and the whole train sleeps through it.
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 07:52 PM
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I took Amtrak from Oakland to Chemult, Oregon, last week. (Amtrak bus from Chemult to Bend.) It was very pleasant. true, it is an overnight ride (and we didn't book a sleeping car), but there was plenty of legroom and the ability to get tp and visit the observation car, etc. I slept some, and awoke as dawn came and we passed Mt Shasta--very special. The early morning views onto central Oregon's landscape were beautiful. The train was delayed about 20 minutes by a passing freight train that had priority. I loved sitting in the observation car from Klamath Falls to Chemult. I have driven the route many times but got a different perspective from the train. I will take it again.
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Old Jul 24th, 2014, 10:26 PM
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is that a 15 yr old boy or a 1 yr plus 6 mo old boy? Very boring if it is a teenager and VERY long. A lot of travel at night (as I recall) so you miss some of the best scenery. Haven't done it for years. Last train ride was Oakland to LA which took almost 12 hours. Some people park themselves in the observation deck and never leave their seat so it is very hard to get one to enjoy the openness of the car and the scenery.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 09:17 AM
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Thanks everybody for your responses! If we take the train, we would take it for the true experience of it (not efficiency or cost). To truly enjoy the scenery and enjoy our time together as a family. But it sounds like perhaps there is not much scenery to enjoy. I also looked at some pictures and videos on YouTube and it is different from the Amtrak trains that I have taken (that is, no arrange such that 4 seats face each other). I am also now getting concerned about where we would store our luggage and whether we would even get convenient seats easily (since we would be boarding mid journey on the way there and back).

Shar - thats one 5 year old girl (my daughter).

Thanks again for your opinions. Will have to think more on this one.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 12:50 PM
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You will see beautiful scenery from Oregon north--it's all in daylight. As for the seating, when we boarded in Oakland (onto the train that had started in Southern California), the train staff assigned seats to each party, keeping them together. I don't recall seeing any 4-seat facing arrangements, but you can sit two on one side of the aisle and two on the other in the same row. In the observation car there were opportunities for 4 people to sit together around a table. (Of course, not everyone can sit in the observation car so seating there is not guaranteed, but there was some rotation as people left the car to go back to their assigned seats or to deboard.) You can also sit together in the dining car (you make a reservation with the conductor on the train and he or she calls your name over the loudspeaker when your table is ready). You might want to contact Amtrak customer service to ask about seating specifics and how to guarantee that your group will be seated together.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 05:43 PM
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Today's Coast Starlight left Klamath Falls right on time (8:17AM).
It arrived in Eugene 3 minutes late (not hours) as some would have you believe. There is usually room for one large suitcase per adult in the luggage rack at the foot of the stairs or just inside the lower (handicapped) coach seating area to the left of the stairs. Whatever else you carry will go up the stairs with you to go in the overhead bins. The limit is 50 lb. or whatever you want to lift overhead. When a family group is together, the Conductor will require solo travelers to sit together to allow the family to sit together. If either of the seniors has a disability, they both can sit downstairs and can have food brought to them.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 07:02 PM
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>>It arrived in Eugene 3 minutes late (not hours) as some would have you believe. always late - only that it is sometimes VERY late. The fact that arrived on time today . . . Well gold stars all around . . .
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 07:14 PM
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Rode an Amtrak train in San Diego that was going up to LA (we got off in Carlsbad) and there were 4 seats facing each other that were reserved for families so perhaps there might be on your long train ride.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 08:14 PM
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The Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor trains only run in California and use different cars than the Superliner coach cars used on the Coast Starlight.
At the base of coach seats there is a release lever to be pushed by foot that allows the seat to be reversed. This is generally not allowed to be done by passengers but on board staff can do it if you are going for a long distance.
There are several tables in the lower level of the sightseer lounge/cafe car if the upstairs is full.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2014, 08:48 PM
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Sorry for the delay in responding as promised. I just got home from my trip today. I was on the Coast Starlight on August 4/5 from Sacramento to Seattle. The trip was very nice, as it always has been for me but we were late. It was delayed somewhere south of Sacramento by a wildfire and arrived in Sacramento 4 hours late.

One side benefit of that is we did pass Mt. Shasta just as dawn was breaking and it was very beautiful, especially for the 10 minutes or so it was bathed in Alpenglow.

They were able to make up some time and we were only 3 hours late into Seattle. I know that drives some people crazy but I just sit back and enjoy the ride, no matter how long it may take.
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Old Aug 24th, 2014, 04:25 AM
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dwooddon--

That's great that you got to see Mount Shasta... seems almost worth being late just for that! 3 hours is not too bad; I tend to assume things might be that late for the long-distance rides so if in a sleeper, like you, I don't mind so much.

Best wishes, Daniel
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Old Aug 24th, 2014, 06:50 AM
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I do remember a wintertime northbound Coast Starlight trip in coach. The weather in Sacramento was cold but with no snow on the ground. Somewhere north of Chico, it had snowed earlier and the wind had been from the south. For a long stretch, snow had blown into the signals. When this happens the train is restricted to 25 MPH instead of the standard 65-79 MPH.
I got to see Mt. Shasta for quite a while in the dawns early light. Who cares if I got home 3 hours late?
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