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The Niagara Rainbow ONLY operated with a slumbercoach when re-launched in the 1990s? I say re-launched as if memory serves me correct, the Niagara Rainbow was a daily train and on a variation of overnight/day train operating through upstate NY and through to Detroit, Ohio, and Michigan.

The Niagara Rainbow and Montrealer are two overnight trains I wish were still around. With a little tweaking in their schedule, they really could have been a nice "hotel on wheels" type of train, and perhaps more tolerable with the "new and contemporary" meal program. Leaving NYC to arrive in...

Is there any regular "refresh" or "renovation" program that the Superliners or Viewliners are being cycled through? I would guess not, as the sleepers are really start to show wear and tear, but just curious.

The train could use a second VIewliner Sleeper, but Amtrak holds that back!

The last "inland NE Regional" that Amtrak clung to before discontinuing it had the train leaving Boston mid-morning so that it connected with the northbound Vermonter at Springfield. There was like an hour layover - wasn't too long, but long enough. Some variations of the Lake Shore Limited's...

Again, amazing how Rocky Mountaineer and VIA have taken 50 to 60 year old cars, stripped them down to bare bones and then rebuilt them into the “Silver Leaf” cars or “Prestige Cars” that now bring in premium money for both these railroads. Could frames be salvaged and the cars rebuilt into all...

As far as expansion of corridor service in the southeast - particularly in Roanoke and the Norfolk Southern heartland per say - not sure if I can blame NS, as they are going to be battling capacity constraint. It’s no longer a two track main from DC to Atlanta. The “corridor plans” of Amtrak...

I've been noticing that if there is to be a change in the planned itinerary, especially mid-way through trip, or part of a multi-city trip, the Amtrak agent at the window, now often has to "call" some magic person at a far away work station to get an "approval" and then process some sort of...

The more I think about this whole contemporary dining the more I am thinking Amtrak should just divorce the meals from the sleeper fare, and offer contemporary dining for coach and sleeper passengers.....The main reason I say this is that because of the limited options, passengers are being...

Loved the Montrealer back in the day - when an overnight train that is. Allowed a whole day to get work done in NYC, then board in late evening to Vermont, ready for skiing or winter activities for the weekend, then return for full day work on Monday. Train got in to NYC at 7:30 am, even in...

Boston, Hartford, and a Dorm are headed to Chicago for a Long Distance test train... What does this mean exactly? What long distance test train? To cycle in with the Cardinal? Two diners and a dorm car? For training? I can't imagine that it is for a "new" LD train of any sort. I'd be concerned...

There's some oddities going on with Amtrak's reservation system and no one has had a good answer for it. I actually wanted to book Chicago to Albuquerque in a roomette (as bedrooms were booked up) recently, and then as we stopped at Albuquerque, switch rooms and move to a bedroom booking from...

The “frequency” of this meal service kinda works - breakfast and lunch/dinner - as long as the westbound Capitol Limited and Lake Shore arrive before 1 pm into Chicago - and for the most part they have been late, but not THAT late where the westbound meal service is majorly affected...

When it is said that travel over 600 miles is down from FY13, and by 30% etc., it would be interesting to see this in terms of dollars and coach verse sleeper. I’d even venture to say that sleeper sales and occupancy is up. Anderson is not defining what this 30% drop really is....... - I am not...

I don’t think that the Coast Starlight got a fourth sleeper this year for the summer. So the second Portland sleeper (first time a second Portland Superliner Sleeper that I ever noted on a regular basis has been operated!!!) may be a result of what would be four sleepers allocated to the Coast...

How many were left on the train north of DC? Some passengers may have bailed.......

I should qualify, or clarify..... Sleeping car passengers always got preference in reservations and meals in the diner. That's something I think most passengers understand and I've always heard in announcements. Reservations will be made from the sleepers first, then coaches, then Sightseer...

No, it's not a normal bad order rate. Amtrak can't figure out what to do with these cars.

They just added an extra Portland sleeper to the Empire Builder too - glad that the inventory is selling in the sleepers. How the diner is handling all this - I'd be curious. My trip in April/May on LD trains was the first time I encountered the diner being limited to sleeping car passengers...

East Glacier - in summer - is a big turnover point too, just saying. I'd book it if options are limited. I've had to change at least three times when trying to book the CA Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville - even two to three months out for a trip. Typically it would be a roomette from...