Having traveled on the SWC in the summer, I would actually be more concerned about the opposite: getting too cold at night in coach. They have to have the AC on pretty high during the day to keep things comfortable and then when the sun goes down, I got really cold. Now I bring a blanket with me when I travel coach. I don't have the same experience in a sleeper probably because I can close the door and it cuts down on airflow. Dress in layers or at least bring layers.
California Zephyr discussion
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Emeryville has greatly gentrified around the Waterfront and Amtrak Station in recent years.
You will still see homeless asking for "help" but its very safe in these areas!
Todays 6 left emy at 9:10 am. I thought it was supposed to leave at 12:10.
trimetbusfan
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Thank you. I’m on 6 departing 8/8. Was worried that this was a last minute change.
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Exactly.
I had considered driving to Reno from SW Michigan and did some math. A roomette is actually less money than driving. Casinos and Lake Tahoe sound good.
Looking forward to seeing some good landscape. It's slated to arrive in the morning so if it is a few hours late I am good. Worried about the return trip though. If it's too late I'll cancel and get a car to drive home. Or stay another night....
I've ridden the Cardinal and the CL in coach and it was not good. Broken AC and lousy food were the norm. I remember the graffiti in Richmond's Broad Street station dating back to WW2, and this was 1972. Filthy....
M
MARIA
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Hello!
Coming all the way from Greece to cross America on the California Zephyr, and we made a mistake at time of booking. We booked Chicago to Helper UT, but we should get off at Green River UT, where some friends will be coming to join us. I contacted the company to change the destination, just in case, since these are small stations and maybe no one else is getting off or getting on the train and they told me I need to pay 242$! For getting off BEFORE our scheduled stop! We will be in a roomette, we are not planning to check in any luggage...do you think we can arrange to get off early on the train? Also how is it possible to have to pay more in order to travel less...Incidentally I checked on the website and the price Chicago to Helper UT is actually lower than Chicago to Green River UT even though GIR is one station befor HER! Any assistance will be much appreciated
Coming all the way from Greece to cross America on the California Zephyr, and we made a mistake at time of booking. We booked Chicago to Helper UT, but we should get off at Green River UT, where some friends will be coming to join us. I contacted the company to change the destination, just in case, since these are small stations and maybe no one else is getting off or getting on the train and they told me I need to pay 242$! For getting off BEFORE our scheduled stop! We will be in a roomette, we are not planning to check in any luggage...do you think we can arrange to get off early on the train? Also how is it possible to have to pay more in order to travel less...Incidentally I checked on the website and the price Chicago to Helper UT is actually lower than Chicago to Green River UT even though GIR is one station befor HER! Any assistance will be much appreciated
Likely you will be able to detrain early, but you would have to check with your attendant and the conductor to make sure the doors will open. I often get off one stop early, but it is at a fairly large station where the attendant opens the doors. The fare being charged now is the current fare, which likely has increased from the time you made the reservations.
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Is the Amtrak train tracking function on website accurate? Without wifi or cell friends need to know when to meet us at station as train is. Often late
Yes, it's pretty accurate. Occasionally it is down with is frustrating but generally you can count on it.
I was in Green River last April and there were quite a number of passengers waiting for the Green River Stop, the closest Amtrak to Moab.
I made an inpromptu stop once on Amtrak. I was studying the timetable and decided it would be better to get off early about 45 mins before arrival. The conductor said they would simply mark me off but it was important to let them know I was getting off the train so I would be at the proper door when they stopped.
Another (potentially) important reason is if something (heaven forbid) should happen to the train. They need an accurate list of who is or isn't on the train. Would they even mark you off the train and update the manifest? In the recent Coast Starlight derailment the fire department's head count differed from the manifest.
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jis
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I have gotten off at an earlier stop many times. They just note it in their head. AFAICT they did not change anything in the official manifest. Getting off at Trenton or Metropark with a ticket to Newark was pretty common for me. Sometimes didn't even tell anyone since on corridor trains all doors open anyway.
On LD it is slightly different as you have to know which door will open. I have generally done it around Orlando, getting off one station short for various reasons when arriving by the Silvers. Never a problem, since the SCA just takes care of letting me off through whatever door.
Ultimately thought it depends on the train crew, unless you officially change your itinerary, which might cost you a pretty penny, or save you some, if it is your lucky day
jis
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Correct. Specially on long distance trains only the doors that are attended typically open. In small stations that might mean just one or two doors, maybe one in Coach and one in Sleeper, or something like that.
As others have said, no need to pay more and change your tickets.
Just tell your Sleeping Car attendant that you have decided to get Off early @ Green River.They may or may not tell the Conductor or Asst Conductor, but they can be told also to ensure they'll be @ a door that Opens when it's time to de-board!
if my train is late but before 9pm.. am i able to get dinner still?
![20230806_151711[1].jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/amtraktrains/data/attachments/30/30848-86640df4ed0fe37735ab7b6480308431.jpg)
![20230806_151713[1].jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/amtraktrains/data/attachments/30/30849-4f5f8865756f5990f63e40208bdc482d.jpg)
What people generally say is that if the dinner was expected to be served when the train is on schedule then dinner will be served when the train is late.
Depends how late it is. On a bad day of heat slowdowns and freight I was in Denver waiting, and they gave us money to buy food before the sandwich place closed because the train was going to be in well past 9.
I had Ann oh no moment today once I arrived San Francisco. I was checking my ticket which I thought was for 8/9. I had booked for 8/10 and therefore was a day early into San Francisco. I tried rebooking through the app and snagged a roomette for 602 dollars, thus getting an unexpected refund rather than paying a high sleeper fare or paying for a second night in a hotel.
I know the 531 car is the base sleeper on the CZ, The las few times I've watched the VRF Big 10 camera it appears there are 3 sleepers. We will be on it a month from today. Can anyone tell me where the 531 car is in the mix of the sleepers or does it get moved around?
The 531 car has always been next to the diner. The sleepers had usually been at the front. I’ve read reports that they were on the rear for a couple of weeks. Reports on other discussions forums noted that on some trains the sleepers were moved back to the front. I’ll be boarding 6 today. I plan to give a detailed trip report. I’ll report on the positioning of sleepers.
I have been trying to download the adjusted timetable to my iPhone. I’ve managed to get it in PDF form. But it was covered with black in many areas. And the times were jumbled up. Is there a pdf version of this schedule available?
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