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After reading about this rumored change, both here and elsewhere, I am definitely glad I rode the Capitol when I did.

Glad that people needing to go from CHI to MSP will have another option. If the Borealis keeps being an all Horizon consist, I may just use it instead of the Hiawatha to get to MKE in order to avoid the Venture cars. Would probably ride at least one way in Business Class just to check that out.

Tried many times to get a photo of the CL going around the curve here and I decided to settle on this one. Mural at 30th Street Christmas tree at 30th Street. Milwaukee City Hall

Thanks everybody for your replies! I'm glad you all enjoyed my trip report. I agree. I really wish there was some kind of cheaper slumbercoach style option too. Now that things have gotten (slightly) less busy for me in my life, I've had time to look through my photos and pick out the ones I...

We arrived in DC less than an hour late and on the VRE side, oddly enough. It was also raining a little, though the rain would get worse the closer I got to home. This was my first time seeing Washington Union Station in person and my first impression is that it is very airport like between...

So, now it’s time to talk about the return journey. My initial plan was to ride the Hiawatha back to Chicago and then take the Capitol Limited to WAS followed by an Acela to PHL and finally a Martz bus back to NEPA. I booked the CL in coach with the intention of using bidup to hopefully score...

Arrival at ALB was late, but not terribly so. What was late was 49. I think I waited 2 or maybe 3 hours for that train to pull in. Amtrak even called me and asked if I wanted to rebook or cancel! I didn’t take them up on it, though I was starting to think about Albany’s hotel options and...

So, I meant to post this before Xmas, but stuff happened and I never got around to it until now. Last year, I took my semi-annual trip to Milwaukee for a convention in November, but this time I wanted to do it completely by train, no planes this time. My westbound itinerary was “supposed” to...

Roomette opened up last minute. Decided to take it.

Welp, my BidUp got rejected for the CL tomorrow. Wish me luck for my overnight coach trip on a sold out train.

Fine,but I still think the seats are terrible.

Just came off the Hiawatha today. These Siemens Venture seats are awful! They’re hard as a rock and don’t recline at all (unless the recline function is broken on mine). I really wish Amtrak would have kept on using the Horizon coaches. Also hope these Venture seats don’t spread to the...

Amtrak texted me saying my train tomorrow is cancelled. I clicked the link in the text and was given the option of either picking a different day or a full refund back to my card. I chose the refund. However, 49 is still running from ALB onwards tomorrow, so I booked a ticket from ALB to CHI...

I'm hoping for 291, that way I don't have too much dwell time in ALB. Wonder why Amtrak doesn't show 291 on their advisory announcement? It's still running today according to the app. I'm trying to look on the bright side and I guess by starting from NYG using Metro North, this spices up the...

I wonder if Empire Service passengers will still be allowed to store their bags at the baggage counter at Moynihan? No luggage storage in Grand Central.

Saw this on the Amtrak app: Guess this really will affect my trip. No email from Amtrak yet though. Wonder if my ticket would be cross honored on the CRT to ALB Empire trains that are still running since 49 is originating at ALB? I keep seeing various articles talking about cross honoring...

I hope so. Otherwise, I'll have to take the NER/Silver Star to DC to catch the CL (assuming there's still seats left on Wednesday).

Only picture I took during this trip.

I started my day the next morning with breakfast at the Tick-Tock diner. I had some really good pancakes, but me and the server had some difficulty understanding each other and he came off as rude about it. Unsure if I would go back or not, but at least the food was good. I checked out of my...

"Many years since I was here" That's the opening line to the song "New York Groove", and a line that felt extremely relevant to me as I arrived in NYC for the first time since 2019. In this trip report, you will see bus, Subway, Metro North, and the shortest Amtrak ride I have ever been on...