Southwest Chief discussion Q4 2023 - 2024

[zephyr17]

Hmm, I was on a #3 the whole way earlier in July which had 3 sleepers but only 2 sleeping car attendants. I wonder how this one was staffed.

It probably was two standard sleepers and a transdorm (or a standard sleeper running in a transdorm's car line and being operated and staffed as a transdorm).

Transdorms typically do not have a dedicated attendant for the revenue roomettes sold in them. They are supposed to be covered by the attendant in the adjoining sleeper. In the case of 3, there is one attendant for 330, and one attendant for 331 and the revenue rooms sold in 340. Some attendants make sure they are properly handling both "their" car and the transdorm, some kind of forget about the transdorm. That's why I kind of avoid transdorms.

 

[Cal]

Hmm, I was on a #3 the whole way earlier in July which had 3 sleepers but only 2 sleeping car attendants. I wonder how this one was staffed.

If it was two full sleepers plus a transdorm, I think one of them handles the first sleeper and the transdorm.

Does anyone know if extra sleeping cars will be added to today’s (7/18) SWC No. 4 to accommodate those passengers who had sleeping car reservations on yesterday’s SWC No. 4 which was cancelled?

I plan to see tonight's #4, so I'll let you know if theres extra sleepers.

 

[PVD]

If the train is heavily sold, one of the coach attendants can help cover. On the trip I was just on, one of the coach attendants came up to handle the door in Denver, the sleeper attendant had a bunch of rooms where the passengers just got off, but were sold outbound and she was upstairs.

 

[Cal]

Regular two sleepers + transdorm on tonight’s #4

 

[railiner]

Unfortunately , reading of all these woes is enough to discourage all but the most diehard Amtrak riders from booking a long trip…

 

[Eric in East County]

Regular two sleepers + transdorm on tonight’s #4

This now raises the question of why there were two extra sleepers added to the consist of SWC No. 3 that left CHI on 7/16. We were hoping that it was to accommodate those sleeping car passengers who originally had reservations for No. 3 on 7/15 which was cancelled. (We never did learn if those passengers were, in fact, sent out on 7/16 in the two extra sleepers.) On a more practical level, it was probably done to get more sleepers back to LAX.

 

[TinCan782]

Regular two sleepers + transdorm on tonight’s #4

That has been the norm lately (since running with only one sleepr and a transdorm).

 

[Cal]

That has been the norm lately (since running with only one sleepr and a transdorm).

Yep, but I was hoping they were gonna run the two extra sleepers that came in on #3 to accommodate the cancellation.

 

[Cal]

This now raises the question of why there were two extra sleepers added to the consist of SWC No. 3 that left CHI on 7/16. We were hoping that it was to accommodate those sleeping car passengers who originally had reservations for No. 3 on 7/15 which was cancelled. (We never did learn if those passengers were, in fact, sent out on 7/16 in the two extra sleepers.) On a more practical level, it was probably done to get more sleepers back to LAX.

In La Plata, the #3 with the extra sleepers made a triple stop. One for the first few sleepers, one for the next few sleepers, and then one for coach passengers. Suggesting that all sleepers were in revenue service, there to accommodate the cancellation. Also, when equipment is deadheaded it's pretty much always at the back of the train, these sleepers were at the front of the train. So I think Amtrak did accomodate passengers in the extra sleepers, and then just took them off in LA. Wouldn't be the first time Amtrak was inconsistent.

 

[pippilongstocking]

Good evening! I'm seeking information on meals for coach passengers on the SWC. My family (2 adults, 3 medium-size kids) is considering Flagstaff-Kansas City on Thanksgiving week. The dining service webpages seem to be purposely confusing, but I think what I've gathered is that coach passengers get café service only. Is that correct? Is there any chance of openings in the dining car?

Are family bedrooms ever available on SWC? Would family room + 1 roomette be more or less expensive than 3 roomettes?

I know the ABQ stop is generally long enough to get some food--we've been through there before. Is there anywhere to buy a meal quickly at La Junta? It looks like that's a quick stop.

Finally, is the waiting area at Flagstaff station dependably open before the eastbound departure? Last time we got on the train there, we nearly froze on the platform (there was an unexpected March blizzard, there was no staff at the station, and the train was more than an hour late). My kids remember that event with horror, and I think a repeat performance might turn them off the train forever.

 

[Eric in East County]

In La Plata, the #3 with the extra sleepers made a triple stop. One for the first few sleepers, one for the next few sleepers, and then one for coach passengers. Suggesting that all sleepers were in revenue service, there to accommodate the cancellation. Also, when equipment is deadheaded it's pretty much always at the back of the train, these sleepers were at the front of the train. So I think Amtrak did accomodate passengers in the extra sleepers, and then just took them off in LA. Wouldn't be the first time Amtrak was inconsistent.

I’m guessing that there were a significant number of people with guaranteed connections to sleeping car accommodations on the SWC No. 3 that was supposed to depart CHI on 7/15 and then was cancelled. This might help to explain the decision to add the two extra sleepers to the consist of the SWC No. 3 that left CHI on 7/16. As mentioned earlier, Pat and I and a significant number of other people with guaranteed connections to Capitol Limited No. 30, were once in a similar situation when SWC No. 4 arrived late in CHI. We were sent out on the next day’s No. 30 and to accommodate all of us, an extra coach was added to the consist.

 

[Eric in East County]

Unfortunately , reading of all these woes is enough to discourage all but the most diehard Amtrak riders from booking a long trip…

This is all too true. The inconveniences, disappointments, and stresses caused by cancelling a train, particularly during the busy summer travel season when bedrooms, roomettes and even coach seats are often sold out for days to come, has undoubtedly soured many a person on choosing to put their trust in Amtrak long distance trains. It also raises embarrassing questions as to why, with all the billions of dollars that are being pumped into Amtrak, more roadworthy rolling stock isn’t available that can be put into service on short notice to accommodate those who have been left stranded by a cancellation.

 

[zephyr17]

The dining service webpages seem to be purposely confusing, but I think what I've gathered is that coach passengers get café service only. Is that correct? Is there any chance of openings in the dining car?

No, that's not correct. Coach passengers can eat in the dining car on the SW Chief and other western long distance with "traditional" dining. Prices are fixed, with breakfast at $20, lunch at $25 and dinner at $45. $45 for dinner may seem steep, but includes dessert and one adult beverage. Lunch and dinner are by reservation and sleeper passengers get first crack at those. Coach passengers get remaining space at the meal sittings. Breakfast is first come, first served.

Are family bedrooms ever available on SWC? Would family room + 1 roomette be more or less expensive than 3 roomettes?

Yes, the SW Chief has Family rooms. However it appears the second sleeper it now has will be taken off in the Fall. Since there is only one Family Bedroom on each standard Superliner sleeper, that means there is only one Family Room on any given departure of the train. As to price, all things being equal, a Family Room and a roomette should be cheaper. However, that depends on where the different accommodations are in Amtrak's yield managed, dynamic pricing when you book it. It is easy enough to find the current price and availability by doing a dummy reservation on Amtrak.com for your date(s).

I know the ABQ stop is generally long enough to get some food--we've been through there before. Is there anywhere to buy a meal quickly at La Junta? It looks like that's a quick stop.

No. And the stop isn't long enough to safely do it if there were.

Finally, is the waiting area at Flagstaff station dependably open before the eastbound departure? Last time we got on the train there, we nearly froze on the platform (there was an unexpected March blizzard, there was no staff at the station, and the train was more than an hour late). My kids remember that event with horror, and I think a repeat performance might turn them off the train forever.

If I recall correctly, a couple years ago, Flagstaff lost an agent who couldn't be replaced immediately in the post-COVID mess, so all shifts couldn't be covered there. My understanding is that has been rectified and the station is reliably staffed now. Open hours are scheduled around train times, not business hours. You should be fine. Perhaps someone closer to Flagstaff can confirm that info.

 

[Cal]

It is easy enough to find the current price and availability by doing a dummy reservation on Amtrak.com for your date(s).

And through https://railforless.us/ (I think it's still working?)

 

[Cal]

I know the ABQ stop is generally long enough to get some food--we've been through there before. Is there anywhere to buy a meal quickly at La Junta? It looks like that's a quick stop.

You can *try* to order ahead and have a delivery driver (either from a restaurant or uber eats) waiting for you on the platform when you arrive. But trying to time it, depending on what it is, may be pretty hard. But it is an option, just one with risks.

 

[niemi24s]

Would family room + 1 roomette be more or less expensive than 3 roomettes?

For the whole route, check the possibilities (some [estimated]) on the last chart here: https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/long-distance-train-coach-sleeper-fares-buckets.77062/page-7

It indicates either could be the less expensive depending on the day of travel and a good bit of luck with the buckets (fares) offered:

• High bucket Family Room and low bucket Family Room + Roomette are $2404 and [$1869], respectively.
• Low bucket Family Room and high bucket Family Room + Roomette are [$1005] and $4503. respectively.

The "luck" is indicated by the square brackets meaning those estimated fares (buckets) nave not been seen offered by Amtrak, but they remain possibilities - maybe. FWIW, if you check enough travel dates you may a day when a Family Room is virtually the same as a Bedroom + Roomette. And depending on how big your children are, this has the dimensions of all the sleeper beds/bunks:

 

[Eric in East County]

SWC No. 3 won’t be arriving in LAX today (7/22) until 5:15 p.m. As of this morning, the Amtrak train status page still shows SWC No. 4 departing LAX today at its usual time. Apparently, there is another train set available in LA to be able to send out a No. 4 as planned. (Just recently, when a No. 3 was cancelled in CHI, an LAX No. 4 had to be cancelled a few days later for lack of an available train set.) We’re continuing to follow this situation to see if, in fact No. 4 departs LAX today as promised.

 

[Eric in East County]

SWC No. 4 departed LAX today (7/22) on schedule at 5:22 p.m. (At some point, it will pass SWC No. 3 which departed CHI late on 7/20 and which is running 10 hours and 33 minutes behind schedule.)

It is encouraging that, despite the tardy arrival of today’s No. 3, No. 4 was able to depart on schedule. (Those two extra sleepers which were shipped west a few days ago might have played an important role in allowing this to happening.) Then, tomorrow morning, the No. 3 which departed CHI on 7/21 should be arriving in LAX, adding a second train set to the available inventory. (Assuming that one of those train sets isn’t broken up and its cars assigned to some other LD train, SWC No. 4 will have two train sets available to help ensure that its departures from LAX can take place as scheduled.

 

[Cal]

#4 departed on time, and #3 and #4 actually met at Fullerton station.

 

[moosejunky99]

Freight train derailment cancels 3 and 4. https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/freight-train-derailment-west-of-dodge-city-cancels-amtrak/ at least it does not look like too many cars have tipped over.

 

[Keith1951]

Freight train derailment cancels 3 and 4. https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/freight-train-derailment-west-of-dodge-city-cancels-amtrak/ at least it does not look like too many cars have tipped over.

What happens to the folks on the 2 trains? Are they on there own or will Amtrak put them up until the next trains come thru?

 

[zephyr17]

What happens to the folks on the 2 trains? Are they on there own or will Amtrak put them up until the next trains come thru?

They're returning them to their originating station and washing their hands of them.

07/24/24 6:21pm EDT
Service Adjustment: As of 5:12 PM CT Due to a freight train derailment west of Dodge City (DDG) blocking the tracks Southwest Chief Train 3 which departed Chicago (CHI) 7/24 is canceled between Kansas City (KCY) and La Junta (LAJ). No alternate transportation will be provided. Customers currently en route will be returned to originating stations. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

07/24/24 6:10pm EDT
_ Service Adjustment: As of 4:05 PM MT Due to a freight train derailment west of Dodge City (DDG) blocking the tracks Southwest Chief Train 4 which departed Los Angeles (LAX) on 07/23 is canceled between La Junta (LAJ) and Kansas City (KCY). No alternate transportation will be provided. Customers currently en route will be returned to originating stations. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Same thing they did with the Arizona derailment a few months. Unfortunately, this response looks like it may be a new normal.

 

[Eric in East County]

A freight train derailment in the Dodge City area also occurred last May playing similar havoc with No. 3 and 4.

If we understand the Amtrak website correctly, the passengers on Nos. 3 and 4 who departed from CHI or LAX will be returned to CHI or LAX.

Two questions: if we’d departed from LAX in a bedroom on No. 4 and we opted to be returned to LAX, would we stay in the same bedroom we’d departed in? What sort of a refund could we expect to receive?

 

[zephyr17]

Two questions: if we’d departed from LAX in a bedroom on No. 4 and we opted to be returned to LAX, would we stay in the same bedroom we’d departed in? What sort of a refund could we expect to receive?

You'd almost certainly keep the room. It wouldn't be returning as 3, 3 was annulled. So anyone booked on 3 that might have "your" room wouldn't be boarded.

My guess is since they didn't offer alternate transportation and your trip was effectively cancelled, you would be fully refunded.

As far as Amtrak goes, refunding all passengers, as they would have to do, would probably be more expensive than providing a bus bridge. For a bus bridge, coach passengers would be owed nothing. Sleeper passengers would be owed a partial refund of their accommodation charge for the missed segment, and they'd throw in a voucher and some AGR points for inconvenience if you pushed it. Cancelling and returning passengers to their point of origin feels penny wise and pound foolish to me.

 

[Eric in East County]

You'd almost certainly keep the room. It wouldn't be returning as 3, 3 was annulled. So anyone booked on 3 that might have "your" room wouldn't be boarded.

My guess is since they didn't offer alternate transportation and your trip was effectively cancelled, you would be fully refunded.

As far as Amtrak goes, refunding all passengers, as they would have to do, would probably be more expensive than providing a bus bridge. For a bus bridge, coach passengers would be owed nothing. Sleeper passengers would be owed a partial refund of their accommodation charge for the missed segment, and they'd throw in a voucher and some AGR points for inconvenience if you pushed it. Cancelling and returning passengers to their point of origin feels penny wise and pound foolish to me.

Had we been on board the No. 4 which departed from LAX and then was terminated in La Junta, we would undoubtedly have opted to return to LAX and then, rather than asking for a refund, had Customer Relations reschedule our trip to some future date.

While we would have been disappointed at not being able to reach our destination and enjoy our vacation as planned, we would have been compensated by the free train ride from LAX to La Junta and back in a bedroom and with meals provided. If we’d also receive a voucher and perhaps some AGR points, that would be an additional and much appreciated bonus gift. Most important, we’d have the satisfaction of knowing that our next trip was already paid for. (By the time we did travel, the cost of a SWC round trip bedroom would undoubtedly have gone up, too.)

While we don’t choose to travel with Amtrak in hopes of finding ourselves is a situation like this, it is reassuring to know that we’d most likely be able to turn it around to our advantage.

A bus bridge would undoubtedly have been the more cost-effective way to handle a situation like this.