I'll be taking the Coast Starlight from Seattle south to Sacramento. Does it ever run along the coast?

Specifically, I would like to know how to book the sleeper - which side of the train will odd number/even number rooms be on?

Thanks!

It runs alongside Puget Sound for a little while, and alongside the Columbia River for a little while, but after Portland, no. Don't know about the compartments; you'd want the right side going south.

Until the end of April 2008, there is no sleeper compartment service available on the Coast Starlight trains, because there was a massive mudslide on the railroad tracks in central Oregon in January 2008. Amtrak only offers coach class service on the Cascade trains from Seattle to Portland and motorcoach (bus) service between Portland and Sacramento. Until Amtrak is able to restore rail service on the Coast Starlight route between Portland, Oregon, and Sacramento, California, sometime in April 2008, it's not a good time to consider rail travel between these two points. Check the Amtrak web site for updates and details about the resumption of Coast Starlight service by Amtrak.

The Coast Starlight runs along Puget Sound and a bit of the Columbia River, but most of the route between Seattle and Sacramento is inland. The route in Northern California southbound is an overnight trip, so the views of California's mountains and volcanos cannot be seen, unless you plan your trip to travel on the night of a full moon.

If you can schedule your trip on the Coast Starlight train after Amtrak restores rail service between Portland and Sacramento, the trip is definitely worth waiting for.

Geoff - we made reservations for the sleeper car yesterday with an Amtrak agent!! We even asked about potential problems, or the dining car being out of service (which we had also heard about) and they claim none of that is true... I sure hope they are right! We've paid our money, so let's hope all is ok.

The train leaves Seattle at 9:45am, so we have quite a bit of daylight to see scenery - especially with the time change.

Gardyloo - why do you say we would want the western side of the train? Is the view better?

If you're on the right (west) side heading south, you'll see the bit of Puget Sound that Gardyloo is talking about.

Not too long after leaving Seattle, the Starlight does run along the water for a bit... to the west of the train tracks.

There was just an article in the paper the other day that the Coast Starlight south of Portland is still bus to Scaramento until at least mid-late April.
If memory serves correctly the even numbered compartments are on the right side.

Thanks everyone - the agent assures me the train is running all the way to Sacramento, but I'm going to call again... sometimes you don't get the same answer twice

Well, Amtrak says the train will definitely be running by April 1st, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

From Amtrak's own site:

<<Amtrak restored train service over a portion of the route on Friday, February 1, between Los Angeles and Sacramento, with no alternate transportation north of Sacramento. Amtrak will extend the service via motorcoaches, with the first southbound motorcoach, representing the Coast Starlight, Train 11, departing Portland on Friday, February 29. The first northbound motorcoach from the Coast Starlight, Train 14, will depart Sacramento for Portland on Saturday, March 1. Motorcoaches will make stops in both directions at Sacramento, Medford, Eugene, Salem and Portland, Ore. The motorcoaches will also make meal and rest stops to accommodate passengers along the route.

For the train section of this special service, only Coach class will be offered. No sleeping car accommodations will be available. Food and beverage service will be available in a lounge car. The more formal dining service will also be suspended. The Coast Starlight will continue to operate as an all-reserved train and passengers will be able to check bags at stations that normally offer that service.

The railroad route is not expected to reopen through the mudslide area until April.>>

I heard the slide obstructing the track is still moving at an inch/hr with no end in sight of when will be fixed
May be a long time before trains roll in that area again

I did the round-trip, and let me assure you, going from Seattle down you'll get better views then the other way.

Don't know how they number the sleepers, but if you don't like your side, you can go to the observation car for a few hours.

Remember the old adage- the best laid plans:
As best as I can remember on the Starlight it is even rooms north and odd south but Amtrak does its own thing quite a lot and puts the cars on "Backwards" on this route which means you can request a room to be on the ocean or scenic side and come to find out that at boarding time the car has been reversed and you are on the opposite side. I have always been assigned the roomettes on the "bad" side and ended up on the scenic side. I've been very lucky. Going on the southbound with my my Mom this summer and to be safe we have across the isle roomettes so we have both sides covered no matter which way they do the car.