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The concern from Congress is food and beverage losses. One way to eliminate the loss is to increase sales. I do believe that the practice of pricing beer and other alcohol as high as Amtrak does drives some patrons to forego the alcohol purchase entirely or to carry their own (both in sleepers...

I absolutely agree with you on the coffee refills. I fear the worries about food and beverage losses will make any idea about reducing prices a non-starter. Of course, lower prices often drive people to buy enough to increase overall sales. As a beer guy, I agree that the beer selection of...

The fare is lighter in a Skyline car, but I believe you'd pay out of pocket for the food there. I took all meals in the dining car on The Canadian last year and would suggest you do the same. It is a special experience. The food quality is better than on Amtrak dining cars and the portions...

The wife and I took the Adirondack from Montreal to Schenectady last year as part of a larger trip. The border crossing is fairly painless, but probably takes longer than it needs to. About a dozen CBP officers got on the train. A few commandeered the cafe car. Officers worked their way...

Very similar to the old days you reference. Once we got off the westbound Empire Builder in Winona, MN (WIN) and one of our bags was still on the train. The Assistant Conductor went to the baggage car, found the bag; it had been mislaid in the pile for Williston, ND (WTN). He radioed back to...

Thank you. I'd actually seen both the tripadvisor.com reviews and the stuff on the VIA website. I was hoping someone would have first-hand experience, but it looks like no luck.

Probably taking the Winnipeg-Churchill train this summer with my wife. We rode The Canadian last summer and the a crew member mentioned that he more often works the Winnipeg-Churchill train saying it lets you see another side of Canada - my wife was intrigued and wants to go. I rode the train...

Just as I suspected, Swadian Hardcore. I think I have my wife convinced to go in June rather than December.

I took a trip on the Churchill train (the Hudson Bay) back in April 1997. At that time the train ran with a baggage care, two coaches, a diner, and a Chateau-series sleeper. Over the years I have heard and read of this train occasionally running with a Park-series car, but haven't found...

Yes, I am sure. See the link. http://www.julien.ca/railsolutions/en/ This firm did the design work for Prestige class, Amtrak's new inspection car American View, and a number of other projects.

My understanding is that the Prestige class remodel will only be applied to four Park cars and eight Chateau sleepers.

Spent about 3 hours in Schenectady this summer transferring from the Adirondack to the Lake Shore Limited. There is an Irish Pub across the parking lot called Katie O'Byrne's that has tasty appetizers and a decent beer list. Across the street is another place called the Grog Shoppe that I...

No option for sleeping car service akin to what Amtrak does today on the long distance routes? I took The Canadian and loved it earlier this summer, but I don't want to drop that kind of coin every time I choose rail to visit a coast from Minnesota and have no desire to sleep in a chair.

I think the OP is overly concerned about the impact of the announcement. My wife and I often recall an announcement made by the lounge attendant on the Empire Builder a few years ago. He went through a list of the foods he offered and was on to beverages when he paused and said, "And beer...

To each his own, my friend. The part I never include on a burger, fries, or anything is ketchup. Mustard and mayo are fine by me. On a trip earlier this month on both the Empire Builder (ridden at the beginning and end of the trip) and the Lake Shore Limited offered the Angus burger AND the...

Earlier this month, my wife and I crossed into Canada on the Cascades - Customs was conducted in Vancouver at Pacific Central Station. As business class passengers, we went before coach and the process was quick and easy - a few questions and we were on our way. We re-entered the U.S. on the...

Just got back from a circle trip from Minnesota to the west coast, across Canada, then back from Montreal on the U.S. side. Our night on the Lake Shore Limited coming home was punctuated with comments like, "I miss the thick mattress, and the plush bedding, and the chocolate with turn down...

I just returned from a trip that included both the Empire Builder and The Canadian. It is tough to compare them. The Empire Builder and Amtrak are providing a service. They go daily and a number of people ride it regularly. You meet people in the dining car who say things like "I take this...

I think GML hit it on the head with the water. Yesterday before departing Chicago, several members of an America By Rail tour group were hoarding the water bottles set out on the Empire Builder's 0730 car as if they were filled with money. From Roomette 2 we saw one guy grab and dart off with...

Yeah, we talked about staying a night in Seattle, but decided to do the same day connection since we've been to Seattle twice in the last four years. We have three days scheduled in Vancouver before heading east on The Canadian. If we miss the connection to 516, we'll just chalk it up to the...