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    Advice on cross-country trip!

    It depends on what's more important for the OP. Rocky Mountains, or the Coast? Both trains spend at least a couple hours in their most scenic sections (9am to 2pm for the best of the Rockies westbound on the CZ, 12pm to 2pm for the Coast Starlight along undeveloped coastline). If the 11 to 6...
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    Can we check bags 24 hours ahead of depature?

    The bag storage fee at Portland is $10 as of July 7, although we decided to check them on the train instead (I was riding #11 southbound from there).
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    New (actually not) idea: The Desert Pioneer

    If only there was a way to speed up SLC-CHI... it is regrettable that Salt Lake City is served at such poor times, especially eastbound. Also, Milford is a bit far and small to actually be a viable option for visiting the area. There is no rental car agency in Milford, nor Caliente. Perhaps a...
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    New (actually not) idea: The Desert Pioneer

    I encountered an old thread (didn't bother to find it) that mentioned an overnight LAX-LVS, then daytime to Idaho, then overnight to Portland train. LAX 11:10pm 7:15am LVS 6:10a/6:30a 10:30p/11:15p SLC 4:00p/4:20p 2:40p/3:00p Boise 12:10am 6:30am Pendleton 6:25am...
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    What would you add?

    All I want is for it to be easy to run some train cars down some track! I don't want to worry about bad accounting or expensive dining service or siding lengths or train safety (already safer than the ever-popular car) or funding shortages or bad CEOs. Just drive it down and lay down some...
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    What would you add?

    Thing is, the railroads are backed up around CO Springs, too. Also, I'd think there'd be some passengers wanting to go from Denver to New Mexico without driving in traffic a third of the way. That can only happen if PTC is installed on NMRX tracks, though. Maybe send it up the slow & windy...
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    Article about trying to fund Gateway

    https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/06/gateway-tunnel-new-york-city-infrastructure-218839 An analysis of why it's still in gridlock.
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    Amtrak #14 out of Klamath Falls

    This might be another case of bad communication on Amtrak's part. For the past 3 days, train #14 has been held at Klamath Falls until 11am (regardless of arrival time). Usually, something like this would be on the alerts page or the train description page, but it's not. The new Amtrak Alerts...
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    Southwest Chief News & Future Operations

    So you're saying that transferring 3 or 4 times to get from LA to Southern Oregon is good mobility? I don't think so. The other option is having a bus run that, but Greyhound doesn't stop everywhere, either. I point to the Transsiberian Railway. There are the big, prestigious transcontinental...
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    Southwest Chief News & Future Operations

    The cynical part of me thinks that Amtrak is doomed to a big service cut every 20 years. First, 1979 with the Floridian, NC Hiawatha, Cardinal (before resuscitated), etc. Then 1997 with the Pioneer, Desert Wind, Broadway Limited, etc with the Three Rivers shortly after. I think we're due in for...
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    [Help] Boarding from Anaheim CA

    One option is take Metrolink to LA (cheaper than Amtrak) and ride the Coast Starlight to San Luis Obispo. It's a scenic coastal ride for a large part of it, and SLO is a nice small town to visit, with a nice train station. Going to the Grand Canyon would be a bit of a hassle, since the SW Chief...
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    Elimination of diners on western Amtrak long distance trains?

    I don't think many here have been to Japan, but there's a technology there in warming up boxed meals. I think it involves some exothermic reaction with Calcium Oxide (I forget exactly). Anyway, you pull a string, the two substances come together in a separate compartment under the food, they...
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    Amtrak Making Schedule Changes SW Chief and CA Zephyr

    Amtrak changed the 6:15pm departure out of LA to 6:10pm a few months ago, so they're not really set in stone.
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    Question about Smartfares

    Smartfares aren't saver fares... They are sold Tuesdays - Fridays for use on some travel dates between the 2nd saturday and 5th saturday after the purchase week. The page describing Smartfares is here: https://www.amtrak.com/weekly-deals There are 4 seats remaining at the lowest bucket...and I...
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    Question about Smartfares

    So as all the seasoned Amtrak riders should know, there are difference price buckets on coach fares (and rooms, but that doesn't apply here). Does Smartfares give you 30% off the base fare, regardless of the current selling bucket for coach, or does it do 30% off the currently selling coach...
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    Elimination of diners on western Amtrak long distance trains?

    Woooow. This is the end of Amtrak as we know it, if this happens. I hope this plan gets stopped somehow. I hope this is just an unfounded rumor.
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    NOL-MOB service

    She calls trains a 'luxury'. That's disappointing
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    Pittsburgh to Dillon, SC

    I'd also recommend the Capitol Limited to DC. After that, taking the Palmetto the next day might be better to avoid getting off the Meteor at 3am. Rental car places will definitely not be open at 3am. The Palmetto departs DC at 10am, also a bit more comfortable than the 7:32am departure from...
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    Coast Starlight diversion between Klamath Falls and Eugene?

    https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article213470849.html From this slightly old article, service will resume this weekend.
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    Minor BNSF Derailment in Madera Impacting San Joaquin Service

    In "affect" People still can't get it right. Oh well. Seems to be a lot of derailments on BNSF lately. I'm actually amazed that Amtrak can organize a bus bridge that fast.
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