Heartland Flyer discussion

[MARC Rider]

The mentions of Lunch reminds me to say don't plan on eating Lunch @ Love Field.

The place is a Zoo, and there are always Lines @ the Fast Food type places that feature Airport/Stadium Prices ( ie $10.50 for a Chick Filet Sandwich/Coke $5 etc ) with few places to sit as so many are waiting for flights.( its Southwest Airlines Major Hub)

I have to second this. I once flew from BWI to LAX that involved a change of planes at Love Field, which is where I had to eat lunch. Not only were the prices high, but the sandwich wasn't that good, more doughy bread than filling.

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

I have to second this. I once flew from BWI to LAX that involved a change of planes at Love Field, which is where I had to eat lunch. Not only were the prices high, but the sandwich wasn't that good, more doughy bread than filling.

They should have used the Light Crust Flour pictured one post previous.

 

[Widfara]

Does anyone know why the Heartland Flyer is on the way to Dallas today?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Does anyone know why the Heartland Flyer is on the way to Dallas today?

It's the Big Game Sat @ the State Fair, Texas vs Oklahoma!

They normally add a Car or Two to the consist,run it Dallas and out to the Cotton Bowl on the Green Line, and have the P-42 that leads wrapped with "The Big Game " Slogan!

Hook 'em Horns!

 

[Jsandrews1]

It's the Big Game Sat @ the State Fair, Texas vs Oklahoma!

They normally add a Car or Two to the consist,run it Dallas and out to the Cotton Bowl on the Green Line, and have the P-42 that leads wrapped with "The Big Game " Slogan!

Hook 'em Horns!

Looks like they run the return today, DAL back to FTW, then OKC.

 

[jis]

https://www.ksn.com/news/local/bringing-amtrak-back-to-wichita-kdot-wants-input/

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Interesting schedule proposal...

 

[jis]

Interesting schedule proposal...

It requires no additional rolling stock. Only the addition of the 6 station facilities. Doesn't look like Newton will require only minimal additional trackwork, if any. The consist will need to be stored in one of the sidings west of the station clearing the platform tracks for the SW Chief(s) to pass by.

 

[jiml]

Interesting schedule proposal...

Especially when the focus of the article is service to Wichita. It sounds like service in the middle of the night is better than no service at all, while maintaining connections to the SWC in either direction.

 

[jis]

Especially when the focus of the article is service to Wichita. It sounds like service in the middle of the night is better than no service at all, while maintaining connections to the SWC in either direction.

Indeed, there is relatively little room to play around with if one wishes to connect to Texas Eagle at the Fort Worth end and the Southwest Chief at the Newton end.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Agree with both of you, it's a useful extension. Just wish there could be a second train... Really, there are so many route which would be jam packed if there were multiple trains a day (Chicago-Cleveland as an example or Chicago-Indy), but oh, well....

 

[moselman66]

Anybody know if the wee-hours extension would trigger a requirement for a sleeper? I feel like such a rule has been mentioned but don't know for certain nor if a specific time triggers it.

A counter-scheduled daylight KCY-FTW and FTW-KCY would be a fanstasitc addition -- roughly speaking it's about 12 hours end to end so it's workable to have decent arrival/departure times and a haflway-reasonable connection to/from Dallas. But...I suppose you could go into pretty much any thread on this board and make a solid case for a frequency increase.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Anybody know if the wee-hours extension would trigger a requirement for a sleeper? I feel like such a rule has been mentioned but don't know for certain nor if a specific time triggers it.

A counter-scheduled daylight KCY-FTW and FTW-KCY would be a fanstasitc addition -- roughly speaking it's about 12 hours end to end so it's workable to have decent arrival/departure times and a haflway-reasonable connection to/from Dallas. But...I suppose you could go into pretty much any thread on this board and make a solid case for a frequency increase.

Perhaps a second frequency that is extended to Kansas City and also serves Topeka and Lawrence, the latter being the location of the University of Kansas and a large potential traffic generator. We can dream.

 

[DailyBacon]

I was told by the conductor it is absolutely not possible to bring a bicycle on the Heartland Flyer, boxed or otherwise. The train lacks a baggage car. Any thoughts on when this situation might change? Why can Amtrak not accommodate at least 1-2 bicycles on this train?

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

League of American Bicyclists has a task force and is collecting a survey. (Guess the name League of American Wheelmen went out.)

You can take a fold-up bike only on the Flyer. It runs all Superliners now, says Wikipedia. Some Amfleet I's, and I don't know what else, have bike racks, which take some work. I saw simpler racks on, I think, Metro North in NY. The MARC commuter train sometimes has an entire bicycle car painted with bicycles.

Amtrak:

Folding bicycles under the dimensions of 34" x 15" x 48" (860 x 380 x 1120 mm) will be allowed onboard all trains in lieu of a piece of baggage.
...
You must fold up your folding bicycle before boarding the train. You may store the bike only in luggage storage areas at the end of the car (or, in Superliners, on the lower level). You may not store bikes in overhead racks.

Some outfit sells bike luggage that intentionally doesn't look like bike luggage, for regular sized bikes, partially disassembled. It's to save fees on air travel, if I recall.

 

[cirdan]

You can take a fold-up bike only on the Flyer. It runs all Superliners now, says Wikipedia.

So the cabbage car is no more?

 

[railiner]

It’s too bad the train doesn’t have a 31000 series coach-baggage car…those could easily accommodate a bike.

 

[DailyBacon]

Cabbage car is no more. They are using two locomotives.
Train normally seems lightly loaded but conductor adamant that a (non-folding) bicycle could not be taken inside.

 

[railiner]

IIRC, all Superliner cars have a “Utility Locker” at one end above the wheels that was empty, and accessed by a door on each side of the car. When I worked in Denver, the CZ sometimes would have a ski group in a car, and utilised that locker to stack the group’s skis.
I believe a bike in a carton could be slid into that space but probably Amtrak would not want to use it for that purpose, as it would take some effort to load and unload.

 

[Northwestern]

Recent information on the Heartland Flyer. Note the proposed timetables.

https://is.gd/l8qm3Y

 

[MarkInAustin]

Asking before our Heartland Flyer RT in January.

The cafe car supposedly has comfortable couch seating for watching the scenery glide by [paraphrasing AMTRAK publication].

What is the snack fare? Is the coffee potable? Are the couches comfortable? Actually, do they exist?

We will probably not want to stay in our seats the entire trip - an advantage of AMTRAK over air or car travel is that one can actually get up and move around. So if those of you who ride the Flyer have any tips, please share.

Also, Merry Christmas, or Happy Chanukah, or Happy Holiday of your choice!

 

[TaseMeBro]

Asking before our Heartland Flyer RT in January.

The cafe car supposedly has comfortable couch seating for watching the scenery glide by [paraphrasing AMTRAK publication].

What is the snack fare? Is the coffee potable? Are the couches comfortable? Actually, do they exist?

We will probably not want to stay in our seats the entire trip - an advantage of AMTRAK over air or car travel is that one can actually get up and move around. So if those of you who ride the Flyer have any tips, please share.

Also, Merry Christmas, or Happy Chanukah, or Happy Holiday of your choice!

Here's the menu for the Heartland Flyer cafe:

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...nus/routes/Heartland-Flyer-Cafe-Menu-0723.pdf

It's all prepack stuff, similar to what you'd find in a convenience store. You could assemble a simple lunch out of it, but not what most would call a proper meal. The hot items like the sandwiches and wraps are also simlar convenience store fare.

The coffee comes in a paper cup with a lid - you can definitely take it back to your seat. There's also a small counter by the cafe which is likely where you'll find coffee "accessories" and stir sticks.

I don't recall any "couch seating", but could be mistaken. There are a small number of four place tables - each with a padded bench seat on each side. I wouldn't call them any more comfortable than the regular seats (which are pretty spacious and comfortable, at least IMHO).

This video shows most of the train interior, but unfortunately not much of the cafe. You could certainly orbit between the cafe/seats/general leg stretching, to break things up a bit.

 

[Cal]

The cafe car supposedly has comfortable couch seating for watching the scenery glide by [paraphrasing AMTRAK publication].

They might have been describing the SSL which is not on the Heartland Flyer. But I do believe downstairs there are some couches on the sides, but they’re kind of awkwardly placed because I think the back is to the side, so you’re looking at the line of people. I’ve never seen them used. I would honestly just go back to the seat. Superliners are very comfortable, especially for a short journey, and there are tray tables.