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I'll be taking The Canadian next spring in Sleeper Plus class and was wondering if anyone here had information as to which beers are available onboard. The VIA Rail website only says "a selection of local beers" on this page: https://www.viarail.ca/en/plan/onboard-train/meals#the-canadian...

No solid data, but my guess would be to put seat identifiers into "airline language" A's and F's are window seats, C's and D's are aisle seats. Since there are no middle seats, B's and E's are missing.

Kind of can't believe they would ditch the Canadian Pacific Railway name and all of the history connected with it in the company's role in the creation of Canada itself for CPKC...

I have friends who transferred to Las Vegas for work, then a couple of years later when the company went through some consolidation they were moved back to Minnesota. They've been pulled over, but not cited for the same "offense" in the car they purchased while living there. They tell me every...

Not truly no-cost items, but a decade ago a sleeping car space came with a lot more amenities - many of them relatively low cost such as toiletries, some sort of welcome "gift," a daily newspaper (although they are becoming harder to find), coffee and juice all day. Not everyone will utilize all...

I was on a California Zephyr in early July 2018 that arrived to pick us up in Glenwood Springs, CO nearly 11 hours late due to heat-related speed restrictions in Utah and engine issues. Rather than 2 P42s, it had one and a freight engine. We dropped the freight engine in Denver and got 10-15...

I couldn't agree more with many of the points in the article. With the long lead times needed to build passenger equipment, it is time to get serious about expansion, not contraction. Meanwhile, through a series of leadership teams, Amtrak thinks it will cut its way to prosperity...

I was onboard a California Zephyr that picked us up 11 hours late in Glenwood Springs and arrived in Chicago 24 hours down last summer. Every meal was covered, but the choices dwindled quickly. Breakfast on the morning we arrived in Chicago was augmented by fresh bagels brought onboard at Omaha...

Hey everyone, I will be traveling to Boston on 448 in the next couple of weeks. Amtrak.com used to have a separate menu for the leg east of Albany, now I cannot find it. Does anyone have recent experience on this segment? Is there still the separate menu (and if so, what is it?), or is it more...

While I like to be as comfortable as I can get away with, dressing up certainly can make things run smoother. The only times I've been upgraded on an airplane were times that I was traveling while dressed up. Dressing to impress can't hurt...

I was on that train. I do not know what coach passengers were served, but I can tell you everyone was provided meals for each of the three meals that occurred after the scheduled arrival on Saturday 7/7. For sleeping car passengers the meals were as follows: Dinner in Fort Morgan while awaiting...

I wouldn't characterize as inexpensive, but the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is just above Montreal Central Station. It is certainly convenient and has some historic significance if you're a music fan; it was the site of one of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Love ins" during the Vietnam War era.

When there was still unlimited bottled water (usually set out near the coffee station) in sleeping cars, I once witnessed a tour guide telling his charges to each grab as many bottles as they could carry "since sometimes they run out." Sure enough, once each of the tour-goers grabbed 6-8 of...

I've gotten some decent rates over the years at the Warwick in Belltown - it is the other side of downtown from King Street Station, but only an $8-10 cab fare away.

I don't believe the selection of Richard Anderson is the end of the world as some poster have said. Yes railroads and airlines are different, but they have some similarities as well. I think Anderson's experience will enhance the customer experience on Amtrak, which if we're honest, is...

I'll echo the suggestions to ride the Adirondack instead of the Maple Leaf. I will also say that while slow and not particularly scenic, the Winnipeg-Churchill train highlights the basic transportation function of trains in the same way The Canadian highlights the pleasurable journey as a...

The state-by-state information from Amtrak that Ryan posted is very interesting, but Amtrak needs to do some updating. Minnesota authorized sales between 8am and 10am on Sundays about 18 months ago.

On my July 2015 round trip, half of the seating was considered "the diner" and the remaining tables were treated as lounge space. My wife and I enjoyed after dinner drinks with the guys from the neighboring section at one of those tables while others were still enjoying dinner service. There...

Year-round consist is usually 2 F40PHs, baggage car, two coaches, a dining car, and a Chateau-series sleeper. As others have said, a Park-series observation car is added (as well as an occasional extra Chateau or two) during summer, Churchill's autumn polar bear season, and into the winter for...

My wife and I did a similar trip in July 2014. WIN-SEA on the Empire Builder, then SEA-VAC on the Cascades. We stayed three nights at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. VAC-TWO on The Canadian, then spent one night in Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York (just across the street from Toronto Union...