Search results

I had been a loyal Hertz customer (always at least 5-star, sometimes Presidents Circle), for about a decade prior to the pandemic. It even shaped, to some extent, "how" I travel, as I'd tend to rent cars, and pay for parking, even in cities where that perhaps wasn't the most logical choice...

@AmtrakBlue and @Maglev My mistake. Almost all my LD travel has been in 2-level cars, so I assumed the baggage rack situation was universal. Perhaps multiple small bags, rather than fewer large ones, to make better use of the space and reduce the risks of having to lug/lift/transport a heavy bag.

I think this has the potential to be a great trip, and I think you're making a good choice. One thought I don't see mentioned upthread is that space for baggage in the roomette is quite tight. There will be plenty of available luggage storage, though, elsewhere in the car. So, when you pack...

I have only my two small observations to add, but both times I've been on the CS in the past few months, just from listening out the sleeper door, it seems like about 50% are opting to eat in the room. This would align with the pretty small diner crowds I've seen, offers on the PA of the diner...

As a very minor aside, I had dinner in the CS dining car yesterday. Very small crowds, and service much the same as in October. Mixed drinks and wine in glass, other drinks in plastic. Plating was plastic, but good quality and branded. Metal flatware and cloth napkins. Food was good, though the...

As previously pointed out, a large and growing number of PASPs (Public Safety Answering Points) support text to 911. If you can help it, though, calling is *vastly* preferred. Getting accurate dispatch via text is *very* difficult under even the best of circumstances. Also, as you travel...

I have an Iridium handset I'll sometimes travel with. I tried in on the Southwest Chief in a cell dead area a few months ago, and it worked fine inside the train, provided I was next to the window (tried from the bedroom - don't know if the glazing or composition of other cars would make...

I'll take shorter trips on the Coast Starlight once in a while, if the schedule happens to work better for me than the Surfliner. Business class will have it's own car, which in terms of hard product is very similar to Coach. You do get some type of snack/snack box, most of the time. And, as of...

I do both directions on a pretty regular basis (North 3-4x/month, South 1x/month). The Southbound does have some pretty scenery as you get to the last hour or so of the journey, around say Oceanside (sorry, I can't recall more specifically). I'm a bigger fan of the Northbound, though. Once...

Happened in Pacoima, near Los Angeles. Cessna crashed onto Metrolink tracks. Pilot injured, but removed from acft moments before train strike. News Article: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/1-hospitalized-after-single-engine-plane-crashes-near-whiteman-airport-in-sylmar-lafd/ Bodycam:

Forgive the brief diversion from the OPs question, but what is the day use option? Though I've never done it for a group of three, I've booked sleeper rooms for just a day trip several times online, with no special modifers. What's unique about a "day use" booking?

Not Amtrak specific, but I got a copy of Food on the Rails, which I've started thumbing though, and has been pretty interesting so far. Some anecdotes about "dining" on early Western US trains that makes Amtrak, with all it's faults, seem worthy of a Michelin Star.

Given that our theoretical train is outside of Gallup, NM.. I'd start with green chile stew and sopapillas (indian fry bread). Both are very very easy to prepare and serve in bulk (they're common to serve around potlucks and holidays). They take very little to prepare in terms of kitchen...

It is indeed the steak. Medium rare, wasn't bad all all. Wine was in glass, dessert was on a real plate. Appetizer and main were still on plastic. Service was great.

Not a bad Christmas dinner..

Yeah... I figured I had a Surfliner about an hour later as a fallback plan if 14 ran too late. And if push really came to shove, I had a change of clothes, too.

Lacking anything particular interesting to do today, I decided to do a little round trip Coast Starlight Christmas trip. Left from the LA area on 14, got into SLO right on time. Enjoyed a few minutes of fresh air before boarding 11 to head home, and will be heading to the diner in just a few...

If there's a train lost in the snow on the coast between San Diego and LA, we've got bigger things to worry about. Love the list, though.

If this is a known glitch, and I've just never noticed it before, my apologies. Any idea what's happening in the screencapture attached? Played around with a couple trains on that route today and tomorrow, and they're showing negative full percentages.

I love travel in general, and that tends to manifest itself in a love of flying. Even last year, amid the pandemic, I cleared a bit over 120 flight segments (work essential, before anyone gets too excited). I'm not as much of an "avgeek" as some - I have done a couple of inaugural flights for...