Steve's Wanderlust
Train Attendant
Fantastic! My oldest daughter & I will be in a roomette on 3/31.
Texas Eagle Discussion 2025
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sporksradiant
Train Attendant
Wonder if that also means traditional dining will return?
I could see both as a temporary for the final 4 in San Antonio the end of March.
I could see both as a temporary for the final 4 in San Antonio the end of March.
sporksradiant
Train Attendant
Just found more on the friends of TE Facebook. Trackwork starting March 20 intermittent days with no service between fort Worth and st Louis
That's gonna put a wrench in my plans going from SA to Chicago
That's gonna put a wrench in my plans going from SA to Chicago
Next: Traditional Dining and hopefully some affordable Rooms in the usually Sold Out/ High Bucket Sleeper.
UP does trackwork in the Spring on this route, but usually there are Detour Routes and / or bustitutions during the Trackwork!
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There's no reason to think it would come back just because of the addition of the SSL; they aren't a pair. SSL is coming back, I believe, because they finally got enough SSL's back into operation. Pretty sure traditional dining requires some extra funding, and probably hiring more OBS.
Someone who rides our poor humiliated trainlet please report back. It has been a sad excuse for a train for years.
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The return of the Sightseer Lounge to the Texas Eagle will certainly be welcome but I will hold off celebrating until I see confirmation that it has actually happened. I am still waiting for the promised return of traditional dining to the Lake Shore. It has been so long that I can't remember when that was promised - was it the Fall of 2023 or the Fall of 2022? Talk is cheap.
I will say with the addition of the transdorm and the 421/422 sleepers on the run-through days, sleeper prices are a bit better. I’lol be heading from Dallas to Denver with the bus from SPI to GBB on the 14th and will be in a roomette on both trains for $811 total.
I’ll also report back on the dining situation if we haven’t heard.
Traditional dining was never and has never been promised on the Lake Shore or announced by Amtrak in any way whatsoever. There were unconfirmed rumors and what ended up happening was the “flex plus” diner lite setup that they’ve done on the Lake Shore. Amtrak has followed through on dining and car restorations that they have officially announced.
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Amtrak never announced Traditional Dining for the LSL. They have confirmed the SSL for the Eagle
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You are correct that there has not, as far as I know, ever been any written announcement by Amtrak that traditional dining was going to be restored to the Lake Shore. However it is my understanding that Amtrak management has stated in discussions with RPA as far back as 2023 that the Lake Shore would be the next single level train to have traditional dining restored. I understand that some presentations by Amtrak officials in 2023 caused some to believe that traditional dining on the Lake Shore would be restored by the Fall of 2023 or the Spring of 2024. I suspect that it caused that belief because that is what the officials said. Of course those officials are probably now long gone or soon will be.
sporksradiant
Train Attendant
Per the Facebook post I've seen they don't seem to be offering bus substitution.
I can confirm it shows sold out for the dates on March at least between SAS and Chicago
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Can't wait to get Traditional Dining back. I got a good deal on a bedroom from STL to LA for 945.00 for Oct. on the Eagle.
If there will be 2 of you in that bedroom, make sure one of you can handle climbing the ladder into the top bunk. Otherwise, the two of you will be pretty uncomfortable trying to both sleep on the bottom bunk + chair. (The hubby & I found this out the hard way last fall!)
Steve's Wanderlust
Train Attendant
I opted to rebook via SWC & bus bridge to the Heartland Flyer as our trip falls on a track work week. Two new-to-me routes and I'd say one traditional dinner aboard train 3 is worth three flex meals aboard 21.
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It's just me and it will be the 4 th time I've done s bedroom from STL to LA. I really enjoy the extra space.
That track work is still going on intermittently in June, apparently. We are headed Austin-Chi on 6-8 but we could not return through trip on 6-13 because of No Service.
So we are going to the 2d City on Friday night and taking a coach to Springfield Saturday morning where we will visit Abe Lincoln sites Saturday and perhaps Sunday morning. Then we are taking a coach to StL and spending Sunday evening and all day Monday,
We have never been to either Springfield or StL. We will do the Arch in StL and its park, but would love suggestions for one full day in StL.
Also - is a biz class upgrade on the Lincoln train worth it? We have a choice of using companion free in coach or free upgrades to biz - the 2fer in coach is substanitally cheaper of course. But if the upgrade offers comfort/convenience/food and drink options we would like to know about them. It is not actually apparent on the website.
The Eaglet is through to Austin again on the 17th, and we have our reservation from StL.
So we are going to the 2d City on Friday night and taking a coach to Springfield Saturday morning where we will visit Abe Lincoln sites Saturday and perhaps Sunday morning. Then we are taking a coach to StL and spending Sunday evening and all day Monday,
We have never been to either Springfield or StL. We will do the Arch in StL and its park, but would love suggestions for one full day in StL.
Also - is a biz class upgrade on the Lincoln train worth it? We have a choice of using companion free in coach or free upgrades to biz - the 2fer in coach is substanitally cheaper of course. But if the upgrade offers comfort/convenience/food and drink options we would like to know about them. It is not actually apparent on the website.
The Eaglet is through to Austin again on the 17th, and we have our reservation from StL.
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I just ran the dates you are talking about and I show service between CHI and AUS available on all dates after the 3rd. Maybe they extended the dates in the computer by accident? Although time in Springfield is also a great way to go. I rode business class on this line in 2019, the seats were a little bit nicer, but located next to the cafe. I wouldn’t upgrade again based on that experience. But with the reviews of seats in the Venture cars, I might be persuaded.
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I agree that Coach is OK on that short a route, but if Venture Cars are on your train it might be worthwhile to upgrade to Biz Class( its not in a Horizon equipped Train).
As for St Louis, riding the Light Rail from End to end( Airport to Air Force Base in Illinois across the River ) is worthwhile, as is spending some time in Forest Park where the Zoo is located.
Also visiting the Union Station ( right up the Hill from the Amtrak/Bus Station) is a nice way to see a Classic Station that @ its Height was one of the busiest in the Nation.
Also a tour of the Busch Brewery ( Budweiser) is really a good expierience.
St. Louis has good Italian Food( "The Hill" is the Italian Sector) and there are Casinos along the River.
If the Cardinals are playing, a Game @ Busch Stadium,it's a nice way to spend the evening.!
Of course Springfield is Abe Lincoln Land, and the Old and New Capitols are definitely worth a Visit.
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