NeoPatrick

fdcarlo, that's good to hear. We had considered the Coast Starlight a few times, including from SF or from Seattle to Klamath Falls (for Ashland). But I got so many negatives about possibly arriving in the middle of the night, hours late with no taxis, and about the trains being so delayed, dirty, and mismanaged, that we opted not to do that. I always want to pretend that US train travel can be like traveling by train in Europe, but so far it doesn't seem so.

dfr4848

bellhouse - OK now that I know what you're talking about. GrandLuxe isn't connected with Amtrak, literally or figuratively - except they sometimes contract to use their locomotives. But it's a separate train with their own equipment and schedules. They use to be called the American Orient Express.

We haven't taken the GranLuxe but did take the AOE a few years ago. Had a great experience (we went from Chicago to DC). Extremely nice accommodations, great food and service. Really first class. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The only downside is that, like Amtrak, they have to use rail lines owned by freight companies - and you're at their mercy. But considering the luxurious surroundings, the occasional delays are easy to handle.

FainaAgain

Emucom, there is a shower in the rommette car, downstairs, like a toilet, you go in, lock the door and take the shower.

Escargot, no, I liked the Amtrak food... when it was available! And we had plenty of drinks, water and juices were just out there, go and take as much as you want in the sleeper car!

I think we're talking about something different here. Bellhouse, the Orient Express is a tourist train, at least this is what I understood from watching the Travel Channel. Now they've changed the name... but maybe the same tours?

You probably want to re-post asking for Orient Express trains. It looks, they move at night, but at daytime they take everybody on tours in tour buses.

It was my impression, it's not a train per se, it's not to take you from point A to point Z, but to make it an organized tour in between. So, the question is, do you like organized tours? If yes, you'll like the train.

bellhouse

dfr4848 - thanks. Sounds like, apart from possible/probable delays, we would like it. Since we're going west to visit family and wouldn't have a tight schedule I don't think the delays would be much of a problem - just more time to relax on the train! FainaAgain - as I understand it, there are two types of trips. One is the guided tour type thing that you mentioned, and the other (if it is still running!) is just a straight Chicago to either LA or ? (another California area) trip. It's 2 nights and 3 days (hopefully!) one way.

dfr4848

bellhouse - you're correct that there are 2 types of trips. Some, like the National Parks tour, are more like guided tours. Others are more like going from point A to point B. They were running trips from Chicago to San Francisco (3 days/2 nights one way) this past Nov, but I don't see a similar trip on their schedule for next summer. I'd just keep checking with them and see if anything changes.

trainbird

I took the Grandluxe in 2007. Unfortunately the train was in very poor condition and from all reports I have heard, it still is. Broken air conditioning, broken toilets and confused, poorly trained staff made for a very difficult trip. I have since learned that the train was in poor condition when Grandluxe purchased it from American Orient Express. A recent review in a Chicago newspaper tried to put a pretty face on it, but it seems that the facilities are still breaking down which makes for unhappy passengers. The reporter tried to be nice, but was honest about its shortcomings. If the trip were not so expensive, it may be a fun trip, but when you pay for luxury and do not receive it - it is just a rip-off,

Nevisian

Grand-Lux used to be the American European Express between Chicago and Wash.D.C. and/or/NYC in the 1990s. It was on the back of Amtrak trains and then went to it's own power. Unfortunately it was too expensive for the overnight market from Chi to the East coast and went under. It's first resurrection was as The American Orient Express and that too failed. The cars sat around for a while and then were re-resurrected at the Grand-Luxe. It used to be a wonderful experience and I would like to try it again but if I'm going to spend that much $ for a train trip I want to go to Mexico's Copper Canyon or some route that Amtrak doesn't serve. If you're going Chi-LA take a bedroom (not roomette) accommodation on Amtrak's Southwest Chief.

bellhouse

Thanks. We ended up not having enough time to do the train thing, so I didn't even look into it anymore - we just flew out. I thought about how nice a train would be as I sat wedged into the airline seat - but looks like we made the right choice. Still, once DH retires....I've heard good things about the Canadian railroad, Europe's are great, and we were perfectly happy on Amtrak's autotrain and NY-RI trains in past years.

bellhouse

I just read in the Wall Street Journal that GrandLuxe has shut down unexpectedly.

FainaAgain

WOW! I hope nobody lost money on advance reservations!

dfr4848

According to one report, the company issued a statement saying it didn't know if customers would get their money back. Hopefully people put deposits etc on credit cards.

Dayle

Very interesting discussion. I was just looking at Amtrak to see if my parents (who no longer fly) could join me on a trip to NC.

LA to Charlotte would take 4 DAYS, IF they are on time. Even in a "bedroom" I can't imagine them tolerating this or getting any sleep. And the price is high!

The last time I took a long train trip was from SLC to Denver (many years ago). It was supposed to be a 9 hour trip, but became 16 hours.

It was supposed to be scenic, but due to the time of year was not. Had to look at all the "track kill" along the way.

THEN the woman carrying a baby with a fully loaded diaper got on....I thought she would take care of it once settled and underway. No. I was in the back of the car and she was in the front! Phewww! 1.5 hours later I found a conductor and told him something had to be done about the dirty diaper! He asked what car we were in and I answered that he would KNOW when he got there. I returned to my seat and in a few minutes he entered the car and zero'd in on the woman immediately. The look on his face was priceless. Horrified doesn't describe it.

By the time we got to Colorado Springs it was dark and you couldn't see out the windows because of interior lighting, so much for the "scenic" part.

Haven't been on a US train since.

FainaAgain

Dayle, I hope you will not be checking the Greyhound website, it would be even worse then Amtrak.

My son did Los Angeles - Colorado, he said the views were priceless. But at his age everything is just an adventure

Brahmama

I was interested in this posts and all the comments, but ended up mildly horrified!

We are leaving in 3 weeks on Amtrak going from Ft Worth to Chicago - (1 night with sleeper) and after 6 nigtsin Chi going to DC (1 night in sleeper) to stay 4 nights and then to New Orleans (1 night in sleeper) for 4 nights. This was going to be our wonderful relaxing fall getaway!

I'll post to this thread and let you know our experience with the trains/sleepers/and food when we get back.

Keeping my fingers crossed!
Carol / Brahmama

dfr4848

Carol - our experiences on Amtrak have been pretty good, including the routes you're taking - Nice accommodations (bedrooms), good service, and meals were surprisingly good. You just can NOT expect much on-time performance (most of which is not Amtrak's fault).

Hope your trip is good and yes please post report.

FainaAgain

Carol, Amtrak is running as usual. It's only the luxury thing went belly up. The most you'll face will be a light delay. The eastern part of Amtrak is usually more dependable.

bellhouse

brahmama - sounds like a great trip - I'm envious. I think traveling by train is so much fun - if you have the time it's way better than being stuffed in an airplane!

Dayle

Brahmama,

Yes, I hope you have a nice trip and everything goes well!

Definitely give us a trip report when you return. Train travel as an alternative is something lots of people are probably wondering about.

Buon viaggio!