Empire Builder Train ride from Chicago to Seattle
Mar 23rd, 2009, 10:05 AM
#22
Join Date: Nov 2005
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There are two types of sleeping car accommodations, the roomette for one or two persons and the bedroom for three or more. even if there are only two of you and you are going the entire distance I would opt for the bedroom it gives you more room and you can stand in the room when the bed is down, you can't do that in the roomette. The train is part of the adventure and I would take the train if you want to expect something different in your travel, But if you are a person who gets easily bored on long trips and asks "are we there yet"? before the trip ends, then rethink you plans. Another option, is to get off at select locations along the way, rent a car, and visit the local sights and activities, stay at a hotel for a night or two and re board the next day. Remember you need to make reservations as far out as possible. It may even be too late for some days this summer as I know that many travel dates are already sold out at least in sleeper.
Also I will plug the national "Trails to Rails" program a joint effort of the National Park Service and Amtrak, where uniformed guides offer insights along the way during the summer travel season. These are offered in the sightseer lounge car. There are separate groups involved along the way including Chicago to Winona, MN and other groups thru ND and MT and into ID and WA.
Have a nice trip.
Also I will plug the national "Trails to Rails" program a joint effort of the National Park Service and Amtrak, where uniformed guides offer insights along the way during the summer travel season. These are offered in the sightseer lounge car. There are separate groups involved along the way including Chicago to Winona, MN and other groups thru ND and MT and into ID and WA.
Have a nice trip.
Mar 23rd, 2009, 10:50 AM
#23
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Anne, I did once Chicago to Emeryville, and would not to it again. Food is included if you have a sleeper. On day 2 they've started to run out of some dishes. The last dinner was just leftovers. Bring lots of snacks, you will thank me later!
If you are with somebody, and have a roommette, there is no room for any kind of luggage except small totes, and the person on top sleeps with his nose in the ceiling. Imagine the tinest room you've seen, cut the size in half.
There is not much to do, and the scenery is not there all the time. If you love reading in the shaky train, and it will get next to scary violent shaking in the mountains, then the train travel is for you. Other then that, there is a TV in the lounge car.
Amtrak is usually late. Make sure they will hold your hotel reservation. I've met people on the train who lost a B&B non-refundable reservation as they didn't make it on time between 2 trains. My train was 7 hours late arriving at 1 am instead of 6 pm - big difference if you don't know the city and need to catch a taxi.
But you never know if you'd like it or not untill you try, and live to tell about the experience
If you are with somebody, and have a roommette, there is no room for any kind of luggage except small totes, and the person on top sleeps with his nose in the ceiling. Imagine the tinest room you've seen, cut the size in half.
There is not much to do, and the scenery is not there all the time. If you love reading in the shaky train, and it will get next to scary violent shaking in the mountains, then the train travel is for you. Other then that, there is a TV in the lounge car.
Amtrak is usually late. Make sure they will hold your hotel reservation. I've met people on the train who lost a B&B non-refundable reservation as they didn't make it on time between 2 trains. My train was 7 hours late arriving at 1 am instead of 6 pm - big difference if you don't know the city and need to catch a taxi.
But you never know if you'd like it or not untill you try, and live to tell about the experience
Mar 23rd, 2009, 01:55 PM
#25
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I was just looking at the "historical on-time performance" on the Amtrak site (they really don't lie about this I believe; I've seen horrendous on-time stats on their site) and it seems like they're doing better these days with on-time stats (even, I couldn't believe it, for the California Zephyr!).
FYI, for Feb. 2009 the Empire Builder was 86.5% ontime (defined as within half an hour of the expected travel time for journeys over 500 miles). Incidentally, the Empire Builder has always been one of their better long-distance runs for timeliness.
Here are the on-time stats: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1202243059386
FYI, for Feb. 2009 the Empire Builder was 86.5% ontime (defined as within half an hour of the expected travel time for journeys over 500 miles). Incidentally, the Empire Builder has always been one of their better long-distance runs for timeliness.
Here are the on-time stats: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1202243059386
Mar 24th, 2009, 11:54 AM
#26
Join Date: Dec 2008
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My wife and i took the cal zephyr as far as reno nv to visit my daughter. we were in a roomette. the stewards were great for both trips. the food was okay not gourmet but got a little old after a couple of days but it was a great time to get out of the roomette and roam and visit with people. some long time train travelers have said they have noticed a downgrade over the years from china to unbreakable plates and small details like that. the tracks need upgrading as the sleeping was always a challenge. i swear we were derailing several times. having traveled by train in germany this winter i found that an advil pm plays an important role in a good nights sleep on a sleeper train. if you dont like reading or being with the people you are with then the trip is long, its still long and will remain one of my favorite travel experience despite the many things that could bug you if you let them.
