South West Chief & Kansas City station questions

[user 6862]

More questions...

When does breakfast start on the SWC as I read on the Amtrak site the general rule is that breakfast starts at 06:30 but then each train has it's own schedule. Can find the current menu but not meal times for the SWC.

I think we would have to rush breakfast even if it starts at 06:30 as we get off at Kansas City at about 07:25, so we're thinking to breakfast at the Town Topic in Union Street on recommendation from this forum.

There appears to be a footbridge directly behind the Union Station which will give us a short cut to the dinner. Is it a footbridge and is it open?

Thanks again, only 2 days until we leave London and really looking forward to this trip

 

[SarahZ]

Breakfast generally starts at 6:30, but there have been times the diner staff has told us they need a bit more time to prep. Sometimes the door doesn't open until 6:45 or 6:50.

Are you talking about the pedestrian bridge over the tracks? If so, yes, you can use that. It's designed to allow people to cross from Union Station over to the parking lots along 22nd St.

Here are some pictures:

http://www.archdaily.com/116262/freight-house-pedestrian-bridge-bnim/

 

[KmH]

Whoa! :hi:

A really cool way to re-purpose an old railroad bridge.

 

[user 6862]

Thank you SarahZ, and yes it is the footbridge that crosses the tracks so that works well for us.

 

[SarahZ]

You're welcome.

We travel on the SWC from Chicago to Albuquerque (and back) every year, so let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[user 6862]

I don't have any further questions at the moment thank you, we were just planning our day in KC and wondered where we'll breakfast as arrival at KC was always going to be near to the start of breakfast. We really wanted to try the Town Topic anyway and your answer decided us.

We'll leave our baggage at the station, walk to the dinner and then back to the station where I believe most buses originate or run at least close by. We will visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum and the out of town National Pioneer Trails Museum before looking for an evening meal close to the Union Station. After eating we'll get a cab to the Greyhound bus terminal to catch the 10:25 pm bus for Washington DC where we'll take the Silver Meteor to Charleston.

 

[amtkstn]

When going though KC on the way to Chicago, I like to head for the dinner right after the train leaves the station. The Chief is in KC for about twenty minutes if on time. It is a crew change point and also a smoke stop.