Seats and El Paso stop question

[mfleeting]

We go on our first Amtrak trip next Saturday; I've asked a few questions a couple months back but have a few more. We are getting on in Austin, Tx and getting off in Los Angeles, Ca. My husband has been worried all week about how our seats will end up being since they are not reserved and we are getting on at one of the last stops for the Texas Eagle. There is 5 of us riding in coach which includes our 2 children (9 & 11). Will we all be able to get seats near each other - more importantly will each of our children be able to sit next to one of us adults - or will we all be scattered?

The other question is about the stop in El Paso. I see that it is a 25 minute stop and we recently have had family move there. We were thinking of seeing if they could bring us some food and if we would be able to get off the train to get the food from them. I don't know if people are really allowed to get off the train or if our family would even be able to get to an area close enough so we can see them real fast. Is this doable?

Thanks for the help!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Most likely they will have 5 seats "reserved" for you before you get on (the conductor or coach attendant put signs up to block out seats for families and groups).

Unless the train is running very late, you should have no trouble meeting your family on the platform. El Paso was/is known for the Burrito Lady who sells Burritos during the stop. Just stay near the train so that you can hop back on board when they give the All Aboard call.

 

[amtkstn]

Keep in mind it will be a 25 minute stop if the train is running on time or early. If it is late into El Paso, the station time may be cut short to make up time on the schedule.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I live in Austin and ride the Eagle frequently. You will be in the #421 Coach which, along with the Sleeping Car, will be cut out and switched in San Antonio to the back of Train #1, the Sunset Ltd., when it arrives in San Antonio from New Orleans around midnight. As was said, the front part of the Coaches usually have signs reserving seats for Couples and Groups. When you board @ the Austin Station ( line up under the Canopy) the Conductor will scan your tickets and the Coach attendant will either assign you seats ( you'll get a paper seat check to place over your seat to " reserve" it)

or tell you which car to find a seat in.( the #421 Coach is usually the last one on the Train and will be away from the Station towards MoPac)

The crew changes in San Antonio, so you will have a new attendant from SAS to LAX.

You can either stay on the train or get off during the roughly 3 hour layover@ the San Antonio Station. The SA Station is small and uncomfortable, but there is a 24/7 Denny's a couple of Blocks away towards Downtown and the River Walk.

The train leaves @_2:45@m, the sun will rise and Breakfast will start after the Del Rio Stop. There will be a stop in Alpine ( conductor and engineer change)where you can get off for fresh air, lunch will be served after leaving heading West to El Paso.

Once you are in El Paso ( its usually a 15-30 min stop depending on the time, ask your attendant)you can get off and go into the Station or at least to the gate where they board passengers. The Burrito lady sells her delicious food by the entrance to the Station.

Once you leave El Paso you'll be right on the border and can look into Mexico as you travel along the river ( mostly dry!) and the Fence. You'll see lots of Border Patrol! ( they check the Train often while @ the Station)

Its mostly desert until you get to Tucson ( there are no fresh air stops until then) where you will have a fairly long stop. Dinner is served in the Diner by Reservation before Tuscon, it is Pricey! You may want to take dood, snacks and drinks along..Check out the old SP Station and across the Street is the historic and interesting Congress Hotel. This will be your last chance to get off the Train until you arrive in LAX @ O-dark- thirty in the morning. You will stop in Maricopa ( suburban Phoenix) Yuma and Palm Springs in the dark.

Please ask if you have any more questions and also share your trip with us! Have fun!!

 

[the_traveler]

As said, the stop in El Paso is scheduled for 25 minutes, but it could be shorter (if the train is late) or longer (if the train is early). Either way, stay within earshot so you can reboard when the Conductor yellls "All Aboaaaard!" - the train will depart with or without you on it!

 

[SanAntonioClyde]

While they may reserve some seats near the front when your board I would suggest you work with car attendant and see if you can move towards the center of the car. Noise of doors opening at front can be bothersome. Bring fruit and snacks to munch on.

 

[mfleeting]

Most likely they will have 5 seats "reserved" for you before you get on (the conductor or coach attendant put signs up to block out seats for families and groups).

Unless the train is running very late, you should have no trouble meeting your family on the platform. El Paso was/is known for the Burrito Lady who sells Burritos during the stop. Just stay near the train so that you can hop back on board when they give the All Aboard call.

This is good to hear! Even though my son would probably love not sitting near us we definitely don't want to be apart from them. We haven't seen our family that lives there since May and being 7 hours away wont be able to see them for awhile. So a quick visit to let the kids see each other would probably make everyone's vacation a little better! Plus maybe they can bring us some snacks!

Thanks for the help!

 

[mfleeting]

While they may reserve some seats near the front when your board I would suggest you work with car attendant and see if you can move towards the center of the car. Noise of doors opening at front can be bothersome. Bring fruit and snacks to munch on.

Thanks I will look into doing that! We are definitely planning on bringing some snacks!

 

[mfleeting]

As said, the stop in El Paso is scheduled for 25 minutes, but it could be shorter (if the train is late) or longer (if the train is early). Either way, stay within earshot so you can reboard when the Conductor yellls "All Aboaaaard!" - the train will depart with or without you on it!

I think we will keep track of the train schedule on the app and make sure we get back on the train a few minutes before scheduled leave. Since it is scheduled till 147pm do you know if they leave earlier than that or do they not leave until that time?

 

[Bob Dylan]

LD Trains cannot leave until the Scheduled Time unless they are marked with a D on the Schedule.( Discharge Passengers only)

Double check with your attendant when you detrain and you can also ask the New Conductor @ the Gate where people have their tickets scanned before boarding!

El Paso is a busy station and with the train being serviced and the crew change you should have @ least 15-20 minutes! If you arrive early it can be up to an Hour!!

 

[mfleeting]

I live in Austin and ride the Eagle frequently. You will be in the #421 Coach which, along with the Sleeping Car, will be cut out and switched in San Antonio to the back of Train #1, the Sunset Ltd., when it arrives in San Antonio from New Orleans around midnight. As was said, the front part of the Coaches usually have signs reserving seats for Couples and Groups. When you board @ the Austin Station ( line up under the Canopy) the Conductor will scan your tickets and the Coach attendant will either assign you seats ( you'll get a paper seat check to place over your seat to " reserve" it)

or tell you which car to find a seat in.( the #421 Coach is usually the last one on the Train and will be away from the Station towards MoPac)

The crew changes in San Antonio, so you will have a new attendant from SAS to LAX.

You can either stay on the train or get off during the roughly 3 hour layover@ the San Antonio Station. The SA Station is small and uncomfortable, but there is a 24/7 Denny's a couple of Blocks away towards Downtown and the River Walk.

The train leaves @_2:45@m, the sun will rise and Breakfast will start after the Del Rio Stop. There will be a stop in Alpine ( conductor and engineer change)where you can get off for fresh air, lunch will be served after leaving heading West to El Paso.

Once you are in El Paso ( its usually a 15-30 min stop depending on the time, ask your attendant)you can get off and go into the Station or at least to the gate where they board passengers. The Burrito lady sells her delicious food by the entrance to the Station.

Once you leave El Paso you'll be right on the border and can look into Mexico as you travel along the river ( mostly dry!) and the Fence. You'll see lots of Border Patrol! ( they check the Train often while @ the Station)

Its mostly desert until you get to Tucson ( there are no fresh air stops until then) where you will have a fairly long stop. Dinner is served in the Diner by Reservation before Tuscon, it is Pricey! You may want to take dood, snacks and drinks along..Check out the old SP Station and across the Street is the historic and interesting Congress Hotel. This will be your last chance to get off the Train until you arrive in LAX @ O-dark- thirty in the morning. You will stop in Maricopa ( suburban Phoenix) Yuma and Palm Springs in the dark.

Please ask if you have any more questions and also share your trip with us! Have fun!!

Awesome! We rode the Austin Steam Train back in March out to Burnet. My husband and son loved it and what sparked our idea of taking a longer train trip. Hopefully they'll enjoy the Amtrak as much as they enjoyed the other one. We thought of getting off in SA (actually thought of starting our trip there but didn't want to find a ride down there for 5 of us) during the layover but I have heard its not really a good neighborhood - thoughts on this? I have seen the dining menu and agree it is very expensive and have read that we wouldn't all be able to sit together anyways as there tables for 4. I thought I read that the Sunset has like a snack car or something with pizza and sandwiches - is this correct? This is what we had planned to do most of the time and us bringing plenty of snacks. Just saw the Tucson stop is scheduled for 50 minutes. If its on time (or early) do they leave at the scheduled departure or will they leave earlier? Is there any food places near by? Might be an idea for a quick dinner - but we also may look at the hotel and station!

Thanks for all the info! Hopefully we all enjoy it even though we couldn't get a sleeper. My youngest child is already planning on making plenty of videos on the train to put on you-tube!

 

[mfleeting]

LD Trains cannot leave until the Scheduled Time unless they are marked with a D on the Schedule.( Discharge Passengers only)

Double check with your attendant when you detrain and you can also ask the New Conductor @ the Gate where people have their tickets scanned before boarding!

El Paso is a busy station and with the train being serviced and the crew change you should have @ least 15-20 minutes! If you arrive early it can be up to an Hour!!

That's good! My daughter would be thrilled if we arrived early.

 

[Bob Dylan]

There is a cafe car downstairs in the Sightseer Lounge that sells snacks, drinks, light foodstuffs @ Airport prices! I can't link the menu but if you check Amtrak.com the Menus are there. Breakfast is the best meal in the Diner for the price since you get a complete sit down meal for what a LA carte in the cafe would cost you!( $8-$10)

As was said, LD Trains can't leave before the scheduled time unless marked D ( Discharge passengers only) so how long the atop is depenss on when you get there ! Tucson is like El Paso, a major stop.

There is a convienence/gift store and nice (expensive) cafe in the Station in Tuscon. The Congress Hotel is just across the Street in front of the Station, worth a quick look!

Be sure and take travel pillows and light fleece blankets, it can get Cold on the Train even in the desert! ( the heat does work but its luck of the draw if you get a Cold, Comfortable or Hot Car!)You won't have Cell Service or Internet except in Major Cities ( Austin to SA/ El Paso/ Tucson/ Maricopa). Movies and games on are a good idea, there are plugs @ every seat and in the Sightseer Lounge to charge electronic devices! Please read the thread on First Time riders and Trip Reports on this Route, lots of good info on AU!!

As for San Antonio, Commerce Street is well lighted and the Police keep the streets safe, it's a Major Tourist Area with the Convention Center, River Walk, River City Mall,Alamodome, Alamo, Hotels etc. all in the area!

The Denny's is a ,24/7 place that after Midnight attracts Night People but it's perfectly safe/ you'll probably be asked for spare change around the Station and on the Street but that's it if you stick to Commerce Street! ( you cross under I37 Expressway to the West to get to Denyys, RiverwLk etc. Its well lighted with New Sidewalks)

I'm a Member of the Austin Steam Train Assoc Hopefully well have the SP Steamer back in Service by next year!!

 

[the_traveler]

A good suggestion if you (or anyone else) has a cell phone is that when the train is near El Paso (which is right on the Mexican border) is to set your phone to "do not roam"! Otherwise your signal could be picked up by the nearest cell tower - which may be in Mexico. If so, you will be charged for international roaming rates - maybe $2-3 per minute! (It has happened to me.)