Texas Eagle Discussion 2025

[pennyk]

From January 3, 2025 forward, please post comments discussing the Texas Eagle here. For previous posts regarding the Texas Eagle, please refer to this thread, which is currently locked:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/texas-eagle-discussion-h2-2024.87608/page-11#post-1058334

 

[MarkInAustin]

We are traveling Austin to OKC and returning, Wednesday northbound and Satuday southbound. If anything unusual or interesting on either the Eaglette or the Heartland Flyer occurs I will dutifully report.

I assume the HF comments are welcome here, correct?

 

[Widfara]

Note that train 22 cancelled out of San Antonio this morning. Anticipation of terrible weather up north?

 

[alanh]

Yes, they're expecting an ice storm south of Chicago.

 

[MarkInAustin]

We are traveling Austin to OKC and returning, Wednesday northbound and Satuday southbound. If anything unusual or interesting on either the Eaglette or the Heartland Flyer occurs I will dutifully report.

I assume the HF comments are welcome here, correct?

We have canceled trip in an abundance of caution.

 

[F900ElCapitan]

It appears the 3rd 21/22 coach has been dropped post holiday rush. So the current trains are at 5 cars and 7 on 421/422 days south of STL and the extra coach is still running CHI-STL.

 

[frequentflyer]

21 was canceled last night in STL and today's 22 is canceled at SAT.

 

[Cal]

Is the Eagle running with a transdorm
normally now?

 

[frequentflyer]

Today's 22 out of SAT is apparently cancelled too.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Is the Eagle running with a transdorm
normally now?

No, 2 Sleepers on 421/422 Days , but still No Sightseer Lounge and Flex Meals in the CCC.

 

[Keith1951]

Damn. Sorry for the people in LA. I have a TE trip in a month going to LA to visit Hollywood Hills. Im wondering if I should cancel. Dont know how long this fire will continue. My friend lives next to LAX and he says there is smoke everywhere. I need to start making other plans and see what's up in a week. Just venting.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Damn. Sorry for the people in LA. I have a TE trip in a month going to LA to visit Hollywood Hills. Im wondering if I should cancel. Dont know how long this fire will continue. My friend lives next to LAX and he says there is smoke everywhere. I need to start making other plans and see what's up in a week. Just venting.

You might want to consider visiting San Diego or the Bay Area if you're going for sightseeing.

Lots of LA, including Hollywood and other Tourist attractions,, are like a War Zone right now, and it will take years to rebuild.

And the Fires aren't over yet, a New one started today.

 

[Cal]

No, 2 Sleepers on 421/422 Days , but still No Sightseer Lounge and Flex Meals in the CCC.

Seems like it is now.

 

[Keith1951]

Is the TE still going all the way to LA?

 

[zephyr17]

Is the TE still going all the way to LA?

The 421 coach and sleeper do.

 

[mvermeulen]

I have previously traveled on Amtrak with my bicycle. On those occasions, Amtrak web site gave me an option to reserve a bicycle space at the same time I booked my ticket and pay a $20 fee.

I don't see that anymore. For example, if I try to make a booking from Austin to El Paso on April 2nd, June 2nd, August 4th and none of them show a bicycle choice. I also don't see it with a random check for Albuquerque to Chicago.

What has changed here? Is it no longer possible to bring a bicycle on Texas Eagle trains? Am I just picking dates when none are available? Has something else changed in the interface and I need to reserve elsewhere?

I am most interested in roll-on/roll-off service from stations that support this but am not quite sure where/how to reserve this. This worked for me before in 2023 when I brought my bicycle on Texas Eagle, Capitol Limited, Empire Builder trains. I also brought my bike on board the Downeaster and Wolverine trains in 2023 as well, though that wasn't in a roll-on baggage car.

 

[PaulM]

I have previously traveled on Amtrak with my bicycle. On those occasions, Amtrak web site gave me an option to reserve a bicycle space at the same time I booked my ticket and pay a $20 fee.

I don't see that anymore. For example, if I try to make a booking from Austin to El Paso on April 2nd, June 2nd, August 4th and none of them show a bicycle choice. I also don't see it with a random check for Albuquerque to Chicago.

What has changed here? Is it no longer possible to bring a bicycle on Texas Eagle trains? Am I just picking dates when none are available? Has something else changed in the interface and I need to reserve elsewhere?

I am most interested in roll-on/roll-off service from stations that support this but am not quite sure where/how to reserve this. This worked for me before in 2023 when I brought my bicycle on Texas Eagle, Capitol Limited, Empire Builder trains. I also brought my bike on board the Downeaster and Wolverine trains in 2023 as well, though that wasn't in a roll-on baggage car.

Just for kicks, I checked Dallas to San Antonio and San Antonio to Houston. Each result showed bike space available for $20 each train. I then checked Dallas to Houston and it showed bikes for $40. It it apparently charges $20 for each segment. I suspect you have to detrain at SAS, unload you bike, sit with it until the Sunset Limited arrives, and reload it.

I also checked SAS to El Paso and it showed bikes for $20. However, there was nothing for Austin to El Paso. A bug or a feature? Who knows.

To be complete, I then checked Austin to San Antonio and got the infamous unknown error. So I gave up.

 

[mvermeulen]

@PaulM thank you for checking.

I now see what appears to be a difference from 2023 to 2025.

In 2023, I could book the Texas Eagle train all the way from Austin to LAX, and then attach a bicycle for $20.

The Texas Eagle train joins with the Sunset Limited in SAS. If you have a passenger ticket going through you have the option of staying on the train (and staying on) or getting off. It looks like in 2025, you can't do that with a bike. You need to get off, pick up your bike and then reboard the other part of the train. Along the way, you also need to pay twice for the bike. Once to go from Austin to San Antonio and once from San Antonio to El Paso.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I have previously traveled on Amtrak with my bicycle. On those occasions, Amtrak web site gave me an option to reserve a bicycle space at the same time I booked my ticket and pay a $20 fee.

I don't see that anymore. For example, if I try to make a booking from Austin to El Paso on April 2nd, June 2nd, August 4th and none of them show a bicycle choice. I also don't see it with a random check for Albuquerque to Chicago.

What has changed here? Is it no longer possible to bring a bicycle on Texas Eagle trains? Am I just picking dates when none are available? Has something else changed in the interface and I need to reserve elsewhere?

I am most interested in roll-on/roll-off service from stations that support this but am not quite sure where/how to reserve this. This worked for me before in 2023 when I brought my bicycle on Texas Eagle, Capitol Limited, Empire Builder trains. I also brought my bike on board the Downeaster and Wolverine trains in 2023 as well, though that wasn't in a roll-on baggage car.

The Texas Eaglete no longer has a Bag Car in the consist, a Coach Bag is used between Chicago and San Antonio.( the Sunset Ltd does have a Bag Car between NOL and LAX)

The Eaglete , with its shorter consist( No Sightseer Lounge or Transdorm)is usually pretty full and Buckets tend to be High on 421/422.

I used to see lots of Bikes being loaded/unloaded in Austin when there was a real Bag Car, ( its a Big College and Tourist town)but think that due to limited luggage space,Bikes are not being accepted there.

I suggest you call Guest Services ( or AGR if a Member) for the current status of checking Bikes here.( or if close to the Austin Amtrak Station visit and talk with the friendly and helpful agents)

 

[Shanson]

The 421 coach and sleeper do.

Three days a week in each direction. Choose the wrong date and the system tells you "we're sorry."

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Redacted

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Three days a week in each direction. Choose the wrong date and the system tells you "we're sorry."

The person who asked may be concerned about the fires affecting 1/421

 

[zephyr17]

The person who asked may be concerned about the fires affecting 1/421

Current fires are all well to the west near the ocean or north near Pasadena. Nowhere near the Sunset's ex-SP route.

But new fires are always a possibility in this kind of weather, drought, Santa Anas, and low humidity and Beaumont Pass and San Timoteo Canyon are prime fire areas.

 

[drcool]

Hi all, I am a newbie from Australia trying to plan our holiday travel for later this year. Most of what people are saying on here is a different language to me!! We would like to do some train travel if possible but have little clue as to the best way to go about it, so I'm looking for any help I can get from the experts please. We will be in San Antonio and will be flying home to Australia out of San Diego. Would it be a good idea (and indeed possible) to catch a train from San Antonio thru to San Diego. If so, could you tell me how long it would take please and is the scenery worth it on that trip. I have considered flying up to Seattle and catching the coast train(s) down to San Diego. Does that sound like a doable proposition also. Thank you and huge sympathy to the LA people whose lives have been devastated by the fires.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

The train between San Antonio and Los Angeles only runs 3 days a week. It is the Sunset Limited (#1). The Texas Eagle has 2 cars, a coach & a sleeper, that come off train #21 in San Antonio and is attached to the back of the Sunset Limited (#1) on those days the Sunset Limited runs. Those 2 cars show as train #421 on the booking page.
It is mostly, if not entirely, desert scenery between San Antonio & Los Angeles.

The Seattle to Los Angeles train, the Coast Starlight (#11) runs through mountains and along the coast.

It depends on what you want to see.