traveling Amtrak cross country

Old Apr 17th, 2014, 09:49 AM
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traveling Amtrak cross country

I'm thinking of going from Detroit MI to Eugene OR via Amtrak and am soliciting experiences and/or advice.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 10:43 AM
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I haven't done that specific route, although I would like to, but I did Chicago to San Francisco in 2012, and enjoyed it. Details here: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...fornia-zephyr/

Also, you might read this: http://seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 11:22 AM
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A few years ago we took Amtrak from Seattle to Chicago and back. Even though we had sleeping rooms and ate in the dining car, it was not an enjoyable experience. We went through scenic areas when it was dark, sat on side tracks for hours while freight trains passed, suffered with slothful employees who told us they couldn't be fired, etc.

On the other hand, if your want to have a novel experience, are a young single person who meets people easily, have a lot of time to kill, and will save money by going by train rather than air--the train may be the ticket for you.

HTtY
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 12:13 PM
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Spouse took Amtrak from NY to TX via Chicago a few years ago and had much the same experience as happytrailstoyou -would never do it again.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 12:34 PM
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Why? Do you expect to "see the country" from the train? If that's what you want, drive.

Outside the northeast corridor, Amtrak is famous for being late, slow and basically bad. The better bet, if you want to see scenic areas of the country by train, is to target specific scenic areas to see (west of Denver, Alaskan Railroad, etc).

The US train system, again outside the DC to Boston stretch, is built primarily on single-track freight routes for which Amtrak has some right of usage but for which the freight liners have priority (thus the issues HTTY identified). Amtrak does not have a specific passenger-specific lines outside of major cities and offers sporadic service.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 12:53 PM
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Frankly, the equipment, food (and in a major way), and the service are a lot better on ViaRail Canada and the "Canadian" from Toronto to Vancouver has some spectacular scenery.

However, the situation is the same as with Amtrak in terms of priority of passage. ViaRail trains wait for those Canadian National freights to pass in both directions. Last time i did the trip the train was almost nine hours late getting to Toronto.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 12:54 PM
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And I'm sorry, Mr Big, but driving is not IMO the way to "see the country" unless you happen to be in the passenger seat
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 01:12 PM
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If you drive, you get to choose your route and control your timing. HTTY nailed it--my experience on Amtrak from Chicago to SF was also the same, and I would never try it again, either.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 01:15 PM
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BibRuss, I'm with you on driving to see the country--I've done so over many thousands of miles from California to Florida and from New York to Texas. The great guy who was my driving instructor taught be that good driving involves looking down the road ahead, and that skill has proven useful for enjoying deserts, mountains, rivers, bodies of water and other features of the natural world while driving around this great country of ours (and last October through the Pyrenees Mountains).

HTtY
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 01:26 PM
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Due to all the freight cars,(oil cars) coming out of North Dakota in the new baken oil field, Amtrak from Chicago to Seattle is almost ALWAYS late. A few days ago the Empire Builder was over 20 HOURS late and that is not unusual.
Unless you have lots of time to waste and LOTS of patience, I'd say find another way!
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 01:49 PM
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What is your attraction to Eugene OR?
Yes, Amtrak trains are often late, some worse than others.
Due to the large amount of oil being shipped out of North Dakota, avoid riding the Empire Builder.
If the California Zephyr is anywhere near on time, you will be going through the Glenwood Canyon mid afternoon. This is about the most scenic areas on any of the many trips I have taken on Amtrak in the west.
The trip up from Reno into California past Donner Lake is also very scenic. You should arrive in Sacramento before 5PM.
The California Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento is worth a visit if you arrive early enough (walking distance).
The northbound Coast Starlight doesn't leave SAC until 11:59PM. Be back to the station by 11PM.
You can check your bag all the way from CHI to EUG without worrying about carrying it around.
If you join Amtrak Guest Rewards you earn 2 points per Dollar spent on Amtrak travel. You can also earn points on a variety of online shopping sites.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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Make sure you have a good strong back and a well-padded ass.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 02:34 PM
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DW and I use Amtrak at least a couple of times a year; and while not a perfect travel experience, we enjoy it. Last month I went LA to Albuqerque and back. Train was early both directions.
In December we did the Coast Starlight LA to Portland. We were on time until a freight derailed in front of us.
Two years ago I did the Chicago to Seattle then a month later went the other direction. We were on time both trips.
I agree that some of the best scenery is at night, but how much is at night depends on the time of year. Summer days can be pretty long that far noth.
The food isn't great, but it is good enough.
Just my particular point of view, but I enjoy riding Amtrak, at last most of the time.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 03:21 PM
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Amtrak has added about 90 mins to the Empire Builder schedule, but sounds like that may not be enough. When I took the California Zephyr it was only ten minutes late, to my surprise, but the Coast Starlight ran three hours late due to engine trouble. If you have to be on time this is not the way to go, you need to relax and plan for delays.

"Make sure you have a good strong back and a well-padded ass." Not needed if you have a roomette or sleeper. Even if not, I find Amtrak much more comfortable than most economy class seats (JetBlue being an honorable exception).
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 03:54 PM
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The seats are very comfortable - much more so than a plane but the food is IMHO not really edible. And, unlike the NE corridor, the trains are late more often than not.

I have heard the trip though Canada is better but have not done it myself.

I would never ride Amtrak again except in the NE corrido.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 04:06 PM
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"but the food is IMHO not really edible"

This is true of the food on the east coast trains, it is not true of the long distance cross-country trains. Breakfast and lunch are not great, but edible, and dinner is good. (I recommend the crab cakes.) It is true that the food is better on the Canadian, breakfast and lunch being good and dinner on occasion excellent.

On the east coast I board with a sandwhich - Union Station has some good outlets.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 10:11 PM
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We did the Amtrak Auto Train (Sanford, FL - Lorton, VA) twice, R/T.

Our car secured in the back. We had a small but comfortable sleeping room. The food and service was very acceptable at the sit down, white table cloth restaurant car. We also had free wine for few hours. The train was little late each way but nothing serious.

We loved the experience. That's why we did did it TWICE..... Our car wear and tear was worth all that and more plus us not having to drive back and forth was worth much more. We were visiting with my wife's family and also visting Washington DC and NY City. AFAIK, this is the only auto train.

Just telling you that train trips could be fun. It's not as bad as some here make it sound.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 06:21 AM
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I've taken Amtrak long-distance trains with a roommette 23 times over the last 10 years, including twice on the Empire Builder train to Seattle as well as many more short haul trains. I do know that really bad things happen in terms of delay sometimes. Waiting in Jacksonville, the Florida-bound Amtrak Silver Meteor to Miami was 8 hours late, for example, as I was took my northbound train this past January (Note: a big snowstorm had just passed through the Northeast Corridor and my northbound train was on time.)

However, in 23 times travelling by Amtrak none of the long-distance trains have ever been more than 4 hours late and 21 times the trains were under 2 hours late. In my experience 2-3 hours late is something one should be prepared for on the long-distance routes; that 20 hours late is not a "USUAL" occurrence, but an exceptional one. I view it kind of like plane travel; things can and do go wrong sometimes in terms of delay; I have friends and family that have sat in the plane on the tarmac for many hours also and had to spend nights in airports. I would not avoid doing a cross-country train trip out of concern that the train might arrive 20 hours late just like I would not avoid taking a flight out of fear of being stuck in an airport or just like I would not avoid doing a road trip out of concern that an accident could happen that will block the roadways for hours. If the idea of delay makes you anxious, perhaps a thought would be to spend a night in Chicago along the way?

All this said, the Chicago to Portland/Seattle train really passes through some beautiful country along the Mississippi River and through Glacier National Park. Park rangers board the train in Montana to discuss the geology and history of western Montana. Given the length of the journey, I would highly recommend getting a roommette so you can sleep. It's important to know that travelling by roommette however is a good bit more expensive than coach and flying; as much as I love trains, I don't think I could do coach for 2 nights (I sleep best horizontal). When I went, there was even a wine and cheese tasting hosted in the dining car for sleeper car passengers. Meals are included in the price of the ticket and showers are avaiable.

Have fun whatever you decide. Daniel
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 06:59 AM
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Like Daniel, I am a fairly frequent AMTRAK traveler and, again like him, I don't do coach for overnight travel. For me, it is a relaxing way to travel and I enjoy the opportunity to meet and talk with a variety of interesting people along the way.

A distinction needs to be made between the food one buys in the café car and the food served in the dining car. I agree food from the café car is barely edible but the dining car is, in my experience, always acceptable and sometimes, quite good. For sleeping car passengers, dining car meals are included in the price of the room.

My experience with arrival times varies widely. Some long distance trains I've been on have been early, some late, and some on-time. I've also sat for hours on the tarmac at O'Hare waiting for a gate. I much prefer waiting on the train!

Because of my health problems, I was not able to do an AMTRAK long distance trip last year but that was the first year in twenty I have not and I have another one scheduled next month from NYC to Miami with a week's stop in Savannah and I'm looking forward to it.

My suggestion is to try it. You may not enjoy it. On the other hand, you may find it very enjoyable. The only way you'll know is to try.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 09:58 AM
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One low risk way to make this trip would be to take a Wolverine train to Chicago (5-6 hours). If you don't like your train ride, take the El to O'Hare and fly to Portland. Rent a car in Portland for your trip to Eugene. Do you have friend/family at the U of O?
The other way to get from Portland to Eugene is on an Amtrak Cascade train (Talgo) which is more comfortable than the Viewliner trains. Amtrak also runs buses from Portland to Eugene.
Over the past 12 years I have ridden on these trains: NE Corridor, Maple Leaf, Capitol Ltd., Lake Shore Ltd., Crescent, Silver Meteor, Empire Builder (Portland and Seattle legs), Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, SW Chief, Sunset Ltd., Cascades, San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner and the ViaRail Canadian. I also took a side trip on ViaRail from Winnipeg to Churchill and return.
The latest train that I was ever on was the Canadian when it arrived in Winnipeg 16 hours late after a snowstorm in Western Ontario took down the signals. It didn't snow at all in Winnipeg the day before.
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