Capitol Limited vs. Cardinal

[AnneGermany]

Hello

I want to take the Train/AMtrak form Chicago to Washington Dc in the second half of September.

Which Train is nicer ? Capitol Limited or Cardinal? It will be a oneway Trip

Anne

 

[greatcats]

Most would agree that the Capitol is amuch better train. The scenery is good on that train east of Pittsburgh. But if you can put up with the Cardinal's 3 day a week schedule and slow running time and inferior equipment, the scenery going east is some of the best to be seen from any US train

 

[Shanghai]

I would say that the Capitol Limited is the most comfortable train, however, the Cardinal has the best scenery

and offers more train time. The dining car on the Capitol Limited is usually superior to the Cardinal's dining,

but I usually take the Cardinal if the day is right.

 

[Mr Pencil]

Cardinal:

Viewliner train

Nicer scenery

One sleeper car Sleepers tend to be far more expensive than on the CL

Non std diner but a "diner lite café" car.

Small train that carry's only one engine

No lounge or sightseer lounge

Capital Limited:

Superliner train

Faster schedule, better on-time record

Full Service diner

Sightseer lounge car

Two sleeping cars

Far more sleeper choices

Cardinal wins out for its far nicer scenery but that's about it. Still we chose the CDL , starting in PHL, for our Seattle trip in June.

 

[Notelvis]

If you are going in the sleeping car and want a better 'first class' US train experience, I would recommend the Capitol Limited.

If it's for the scenery and/or to experience more time on the train, the Cardinal is a better choice although it's meal service is done in half a café care and does not offer as much variety in terms of menu selection.

One other consideration, riding in September the leaves will still be on the trees and with the Cardinal being a single level train, you won't get as good of a view along the New River (West Virginia) as you would get in early spring.

 

[Ryan]

It depends on what you want to get out of the trip. Basic transportation, getting you out of CHI around dinnertime and getting you to DC around lunch? The Cap is your train, and the scenery in the morning between Pittsburgh and Washington is pretty excellent.

Or do you want an "adventure" on a train that leaves CHI around the same time but doesn't get you into DC until after dinner the next day? If the journey is more important than the destination, then the Cardinal may be the train for you.

 

[rrdude]

If you are going in the sleeping car and want a better 'first class' US train experience, I would recommend the Capitol Limited.

If it's for the scenery and/or to experience more time on the train, the Cardinal is a better choice although it's meal service is done in half a café care and does not offer as much variety in terms of menu selection.

One other consideration, riding in September the leaves will still be on the trees and with the Cardinal being a single level train, you won't get as good of a view along the New River (West Virginia) as you would get in early spring.

Except on the Cardinal, the windows are very small, the food generally is sub-par, at best, and there is no real lounge car to hang out in.

Can't argue with scenery, it's top-notch. (If u r lucky enuff to get a seat on the correct side, but it does cross the river several X, so that's NOT critical, but without a window seat, might as well take a bus

 

[Ryan]

It's significantly better in a sleeper. No worries about the lack of a lounge, and the windows in the Viewliners are really great.

 

[rrdude]

It's significantly better in a sleeper. No worries about the lack of a lounge, and the windows in the Viewliners are really great.

WORRY, WORRY, about the lack of a lounge. I couldn't WAIT TO GET off that tin-can of a train last time I rode it. And I was in a sleeper. Of course, if your idea of an acceptable louneg is McDonalds-like Formica tables, with bench seating, and ZERO atmosphere, u might enjoy it.

 

[Ryan]

I'm one of those rare hermits that doesn't leave my room (I paid good money for a private space, why would I leave that and have to deal with other people!?!?!), so the quality of the lounge isn't a factor for me.

I agree that all of the single level "lounge" cars are awful.

 

[dlagrua]

I'll go with Ryan on this one as we leave our room only to dine. All Amtrak sleeping accommodations are the same so 95% of our time will be spent there.. Yes the diner lite leaves something to be desired. The menu choices are more limited, the food is pre-prepared and heated in a convection oven. For one overnight, its acceptable, not awful, just not up to par with the other LD trains. Our next trip West will start on the Cardinal and the sleepers were sold out months ago.

While the Cardinal is badly in need of a diner and an additional sleeper, there seems to be no end for passengers looking to take in the great scenery and make the trip to CHI on this route.

 

[iggle_traveler]

If you are going in the sleeping car and want a better 'first class' US train experience, I would recommend the Capitol Limited.

Can't argue with scenery, it's top-notch. (If u r lucky enuff to get a seat on the correct side, but it does cross the river several X, so that's NOT critical, but without a window seat, might as well take a bus

What's the correct side? Do some of the sleepers not have windows in all the rooms? Never been on a Viewliner so I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[SarahZ]

If you are going in the sleeping car and want a better 'first class' US train experience, I would recommend the Capitol Limited.

Can't argue with scenery, it's top-notch. (If u r lucky enuff to get a seat on the correct side, but it does cross the river several X, so that's NOT critical, but without a window seat, might as well take a bus

What's the correct side? Do some of the sleepers not have windows in all the rooms? Never been on a Viewliner so I'm not sure what you mean.

Iggle - all of the Viewliner sleepers have windows; they just meant the side of the train that particular scenery is on. Since it crosses the river several times, though, it's no big deal if you have a sleeper (since every seat in a sleeper is a window seat). They were talking more for Coach passengers who might have not have a window seat and would, therefore, go to the Lounge for a better view.

 

[iggle_traveler]

Thanks, SarahZ - big relief! I'm taking that train this week (and back the following week), I chose it over the CL primarily because of the WV and VA scenery.

 

[SarahZ]

I've always wanted to travel in a Viewliner. I love that both bunks have windows instead of just the bottom bunk.

 

[rrdude]

See, I'm just spoiled, I took this train, the Cardinal, when it terminated in DC, back when I was in college, and although I won't swear by it, I am quite sure I slept in a Superliner roomette, and we had a Sightseer Lounge (SSL) car in the consist, along with a full diner.

Put THAT back in the Card's consist, and I am the Cardinal's biggest fan. Me, I want to SLEEP in the roomette, I want to CAMP OUT in the SSL. Meet people, enjoy adult beverages, see what's on BOTH sides of the train to see....

Rooms are almost, IMHO, thee worst place for viewing scenery. in fact, I'd rather sit in the spartan and totally uninspired AmCafe's, than in my room most of the time.......

 

[TRAINMAN4218]

They are both nice I like the capital limited