Search results

Hoping that's the case -- we are planning to go Sept 30 and Oct 1. It's quite irritating we are 45 days out and Amtrak hasn't announced anything. Typical though from past experience. Atleast we are coming out and going back on Southwest Airlines, so that we can change our flight around with no...

Does anyone have information about whether #10031 "Ocean View" dome car is going to be on the Adirondack this year? I have never rode it on that route before and thought it would be fun... and got tickets for a weekend trip up to Rouses Point and back to New York City... along with my wife...

I was at Chicago Union Station on Sunday doing narration a private rail trip and saw the old Met Lounge was open and was being used as a waiting area for America by Rail passengers. I walked in and couldnt believe it... it was pretty much intact and little changed in the year it closed. I...

It has... I was a Trails & Rails guide in 2008 on the Empire Builder when #7 did a last minute detour between Chicago and Tunnel City, WI due to flooding at Reeseville Marsh MP 137. Out of Chicago on normal route for the first five miles. At Tower A5 it went on the old Milwaukee Road west line...

Thanks! Egh, its okay if it holds... We are riding on Saturday/Sunday when the consist heads back south as #11. I know the PPC "could" be bad ordered, but happy to hear it's on... so we will keep our reservation to ride. Thanks!

Hi, Can anyone up the line provide the consist for #14(June 29)? Or atleast report whether it has a PPC or not? #14(29) turns as #11(01) --- and we have tickets for that train --- flying to PDX and riding only for the PPC experience. If it's not on #14(29) we'd like to make alternative plans...

Railfans in MN and west: the westbound Empire Builder that left Chicago today #7(10) has two new engines painted in State of Washington DOT colors and logos behind the two regular engines. Didn't expect it, so I didn't get any photos or video. Maybe someone can and post them here.

We were wondering this too the last time we were down there. Why did Amtrak kick out the restaurant-bar that was there? Ticket counters didnt go in there as they were supposed to. Spot has been sitting vacant for I believe 2 years now with nothing going on except tickets for Polar Express. Major...

Back when I had more free time on my hands (and services were a little nicer on Amtrak and AGR points were flowing more freely)... I would do many daytrips out of Chicago. My favorites were #381 to Galesburg in Business Class -- and then #4 home. There are several antique shops to browse around...

A contact of mine at Amtrak HQ in DC says that Amtrak reached a deal with INDOT that all Hoosier passengers (coach and biz class) will have free access to the Legacy Club (not Met Lounge) in Chicago through March 31st. Haven't seen this in the press release or really published or advertised...

I am curious -- maybe someone more in the know than I can answer -- Is INDOT paying Amtrak for the dome car to be on the train? Or is Amtrak doing it for free in an attempt to kiss up to INDOT and maybe get the permanent contract back beyond June 30?

Are the contracts between Amtrak and the State of Illinois so specific that a heritage dome car can't be operated in place of a Horizon or Amfleet coach car? And that a dome car being part of the consist for a couple of weeks would end up being cause for renegotiation of the contract? I don't...

There is nothing called "Rails and Trails". You are probably thinking of "Trails & Rails"... which is a partnership between Amtrak and the National Park Service that places volunteer guides aboard the train on select routes. They usually wear green shirts and are in the lounge car doing...

Does anyone know why Amtrak is doing this? As in, running their one and only Great Dome Car as an empty axle-count car back and forth from Chicago to Carbondale for the past couple of weeks now? (610+ miles round-trip per day) I find this aggravating to a degree because I have tried to ride...

Is 10031 still running as an axle count car to Carbondale... closed to the public? That is horrible! There has to be other cars available besides one of the oldest cars in your fleet and the best observation car. Who makes these decisions?? Then when they really need it and advertise it on a...

No... there is not a per person flat rate subsidy... but you can figure out the average per person subsidy. Its really easy... Total subsidy in a year divided by total passengers in a year. It comes out to around $100 per person depending on what ridership figures you can find. I dont know...

See the other side of it too... Just because one does not want to drive from Chicago to Dyer... the State of Indiana should have to be out $130? I am not against subsidies for rail service by any means. I am just saying states with budget woes should focus on those rail routes that makes the...

If INDOT doesn't cut this train ---- then ---- at the very least ---- they should put heavy pressure on Amtrak (when the next round of contract negotiations happen later this summer for the new contract that would go into effect July 1st) -- to provide service for a heck of a lot less than...

As much as I love passenger rail... maybe the Indiana Department of Transportation should seriously just kill off the Hoosier State on March 1st instead of let Amtrak take the service back. Let's do a little math... There are 4 round-trips per week of the Hoosier State per week... or 8 one-way...

I'm wondering if the increases pay for some of the new Metropolitan Lounge costs in Chicago now that you can wait in there if you have Business Class tickets? I mean if Business Class is only $15-20 more... who would pay $20 for the Legacy Club to get priority boarding? You could just pay the...