Recent content by dcipjr

I’m also not sure why the VL-1s are in better shape. Has the quality of materials in use declined that sharply over the years? Actually it looks like RailPlan might have been sold in 2021. Maybe this has something to do with it. It’s just a bad look for Amtrak that these cars were delivered...

Hi all, I recently rode on the Cardinal in a Viewliner II (in the bag-dorm) and was shocked at how poorly these cars seem to be aging. There were cracks in the plastic all around the room, the door wouldn't slide open and shut well, the table was stuck, and everywhere you looked things were...

You're right—it does. I won't try transferring to the Cardinal again. The scenery is lovely but not quite worth the risk, given the shorter layover and lack of amenities on the train. Even the Floridian / Capitol Limited has a little more wiggle room. LSL would get me into Philly later than I...

Also meant to mention, I took the post here about same-day connections in Chicago to heart. I've gone westbound PHL-LAX many times, but have done LAX-PHL eastbound twice, and missed my connection to the Cardinal both times—I had to get bussed to Indianapolis and board the Cardinal, and I'd like...

I’ll be on #2—heading from LAX to PHL via NOL! I’ve done the Texas Eagle long ago, but have never done this itinerary before. I’m looking forward to something new—should be fun!

Hey all, I’m planning on taking the Sunset Limited out of LA this March. With the 10 PM departure, my assumption is that the beds will be made up in the sleepers once we board. Is that correct?

The Indianapolis station is dreadful. I've been there twice—both times being bused from Galesburg to connect with #50 after it became apparent that the #4 Southwest Chief wouldn't make it to Chicago on time to catch the Cardinal. I don't plan on going there again—as mentioned previously, I...

I just got back from a trip, LAX-CHI-PHL, and I definitely didn't learn my lesson the first time. The Chief was delayed right out of the gate from LAX, since they needed to perform an engine swap. We ran consistently around 1.5 hours behind until Kansas, when we encountered further delays that...

Hi all, reports are that the LSL has a Viewliner II diner in the consist. Does anyone know if sleeper passengers are allowed to sit there between meals?

I had a similar experience back in 2021—the Southwest Chief was running very late and we got pulled off at Galesburg with about 10 minutes' notice, then bussed to Indianapolis. Once we got to Indianapolis—which didn't have any Amtrak personnel on duty—I found out (on my phone) that the Cardinal...

I've intentionally booked longer layovers in NY and DC to have more time to go around, visit museums, etc.

For the Viewliners, I usually sleep up top if I'm traveling solo. There's enough headroom and a window, and I can leave the bottom seats in the daytime configuration. I just go double-mattress on the top bunk—helps to add some extra padding.

I prefer to operate the bed myself. When the room is in nighttime configuration, there's very little room to maneuver, and any bags under the seat are inaccessible. If I put the bed up and down myself, I can choose exactly when I'm ready for a bed, and switch it back to daytime configuration as...

Thanks so much!

Amtrak’s site still lists the Sunset Limited as departing at 7 PM on March 17th, so I’m thinking that the “error” was purely that they notified me again, when they had already told me about the schedule change weeks ago. But the retraction of the notification says that it will depart as...