Rail Pass Ideas

dax · Mar 14, 2017

Hey all. I have a rail pass trip booked in June and was looking for suggestions. My current itinerary is:

1. NYP to NOL on the Crescent

2. NOL to EMY on the CONO & CZ

3. EMY to DEN on the CZ

4. DEN to NYP on the CZ & LSL

When I first started planning, my ideal trip was to try not to take the same train twice. Obviously that didn't work out, as I'm booked on the CZ thrice.

As long as I'm in NOL from June 21st to the 23rd and EMY from June 26th to the 29th, I'm open to switching around my reservations. I was thinking maybe on the second leg, doing the City of New Orleans to the Southwest Chief to the Coast Starlight. I'd arrive in EMY a lot later but I heard a ride on the Coast Starlight is worth it. Thoughts?

Also I was planning on being in DEN from June 30th to July 2nd but that plan is flexible and I'm willing to check out a different city instead. Any suggestions? TIA

Philly Amtrak Fan · Mar 14, 2017

You'd have to plan for an appropriate day but you can go from NOL to LAX on the SL and then the CS to SJC (Caltrain to SF) or EMY or Oakland Jack London Square (Thruway Bus to SF). If you wish, you can also spend time in Los Angeles.

KmH · Mar 15, 2017

Or.

If you can cope with 2 overnight stays (EMY and NOL) go the other direction and ride 6 trains:

LSL to CHI. Arrives 9:45 am

SWC to LA. Departs 3 pm the same day. Arrives LA 8:15 am

1 3/4 hours to connect to CS (guaranteed connection if SWC/CS on same reservation) - if the SWC is on time and you don't want to stay the night in LA.

If the SWC is not too late into LA they hold the CS for connecting passengers.

CS to EMY. Departs 10 AM. Overnight. Arrives 10 pm. Hyatt across pedestrian walkway from station.

CZ to CHI. Departs 9:10 AM. Arrives CHI 2:50 pm.

CONO to NOL Departs 8:05 pm. Overnight in New Orleans

Cresent to NYP departs 7 am.

dax · Mar 16, 2017

Philly Amtrak Fan said:
You'd have to plan for an appropriate day but you can go from NOL to LAX on the SL and then the CS to SJC (Caltrain to SF) or EMY or Oakland Jack London Square (Thruway Bus to SF). If you wish, you can also spend time in Los Angeles.

I really wanted to take the Sunset Limited -> Coast Starlight combo from NOL to EMY, but unfortunately it doesn't fit with the dates I need to be in Louisiana & California. It's a shame that the SL doesn't run more than 3 times a week. Thank you for the suggestion

tomfuller · Mar 16, 2017

Was Denver a choice just because it was near the middle of the CZ route? My choice for a break from the CZ for 24 hours has been Glenwood Springs.

How about the SWC out of Chicago to Los Angeles and connecting the same morning to the Coast Starlight to EMY?

How about taking the CS all the way to Portland and taking the Empire Builder all the way to Chicago?

If the CS is running late Amtrak has been known to take passengers on a bus from Klamath Falls up US 97 and over to Pasco WA to connect with the Empire Builder.

brianpmcdonnell17 · Mar 21, 2017

I just checked your dates and if you stayed in NOL an extra day and left on the 24th on the SL, you would arrive on the same CS on the 26th as if you left a day earlier and went via the CONO and SWC. Based on what I have seen, the SWC has better scenery than the SL, however it comes down to personal preference. The CONO/SWC route also allows for a few hours in Chicago, my favorite city. You could also see Chicago when transferring from the CZ to the LSL. Ultimately it comes down to whether you would rather have the extra day in NOL or on the train and in Chicago.