Search results

The Acela runs through grade crossings on parts of the NEC in Connecticut.

If Paul Thereoux had that attitude back in 1973 when he rode the Orient Express (Paris to Istanbul, NO food service), he would never have written the Great Railway Bazaar and would probably not become the well-known writer he is today. :)

I don't think we need 5-star gourmet dining, but Amtrak really needs to do something about consistency of on-board service. Mostly, it's pretty good, but surly and inattentive sleeping, dining and cafe car staff who camp out in the Cafe car and take up tables can be a problem. Conductors can...

The Tuesday fare listed on the app had a big notice above each departure that said "Sale." It might not have said "40% flash sale " but it definitely was a sale price. I'm going from Baltimore to Boston. It's very rare to get Acela First for less than $350. The Sunday fares, which were NOT...

We're all going up to Boston in the middle of December, and I was able to snag sale tickets for our Tuesday return. Saved about $200 apiece on Acela First. But no bargains on our Sunday trip up. Even the Northeast Regional coach fares are wicked expensive.

Does this mean they will be running trains between New Haven and Boston? If you're taking a through train, will you be able to get off at NY Penn, get over to Grand Central, take Metro-North to New Haven, and then get on Amtrak to Boston? Will you need to check in with somebody at New York...

The reason the taxpayers support funding for this service is to provide reliable transportation between LA and San Diego that gets people out of their cars, not give travelers ocean views. Better a tunnel than having the service unpredictably cancelled because of landslides.

Unless they've changed their policy, it's only one free alcoholic beverage for the entire trip.

The Gathering was over. Time for me to head back across the border and home. The Maple Leaf mleave Toronto at 8:20 AM, so I had to be up early and out of the hotel. I stopped at a Tim Horton's at the entrance to the subway station and College and Yonge to pick up a breakfast sandwich for...

If Amtrak expects Americans to take rail travel as a serious transportation alternative, they need to get serious about ensuring that passengers aboard trains affected by these sort of service disruptions get to their final destinations -- on Amtrak's dime. OK, they might arrive later than...

The third day of the Gathering was Sunday. I decided not to take the 4 hour round trip on GO to Barrie and spend some time in Toronto. First, a full Candian breakfast. Note the baked beans, an homage to Canada's British roots. I didn't realize you were supposed to eat them on the toast...

I would agree on these two. You get a lot of variety of different types of trains and great scenery. Switzerland even has trains with panorama windows to get those good views of the Alps. Japan has the original Shinkansen, ekiben, and the added bonus of a truly foreign culture to see, also...

"High speed rail?" They're not even planning that for the Front Range service, where High Speed rail might actually serve a lot more people and make more sense. Heck, they can't even get true high-speed rail going in the Northeast Corridor which serves a population of 50 million and connects...

You know, if you're going to go to all the trouble of an electrified ski train that serves DIA as well as Denver Union Station, why not go the whole way and get fully ADA compliant single level equipment with open gangway between the cars and Swiss style panorama windows to let in the views...

I don't think the Amfleet 1s were ever long distance. I believe the current business class cars used to be Metroliner coaches. Not that it makes much difference, the business class cars could be used for long distance coach with minimal changes. The leg rests aren't really necessary. I've...

Of course, they're being kicked out of downtown, but at least the new terminal is near a DART station on the line that serves DFW airport and Amtrak.

1. What was the full story about the demise of congestion pricing in NYC? I recall that it was quite unpopular in the NY suburbs, and perhpas the state legislature also has something to say about it. It would seem that if there's a budge hole, a small increase in the motor fuel tax would...

I thought the reason the Heritage cars went sway was the cost of installing retention toilets.

Are you referring to the Venture/Airos that will replace the Horizons and Amfleets? The Horizons and Amfleet 1s are set up for corridor service, not long-distance service. limited seat pitch and recline. While one could certainly survive a 30 hour trip in one, it wouldn't be ideal. Of...

I would suspect that LIRR probably has a higher priority for those running the state for a number of reasons. More LIRR riders than Empire service riders; if LIRR capacity is restricted, more cars on the roads and more traffic congestion, which is pretty bad already; The current state...