Texas Eagle Discussion 2025

[AmtrakBlue]

Thank you for your response. I think we would rather see the mountains and along the coast rather than desert. Do we need to take two trains, firstly the Coast Starlight and then get off at San Luis Obispo and catch that train all the way down to San Diego? Are there train travel agents that take care of all your bookings and arrangements with train travel? I'd hate to stuff it up and miss our flight. Thanks again.

I'll let the west coast guys & gals answer the question about connection to get to San Diego. I'm on the east coast and have done the Coast Starlight, but have not yet gone to San Diego.

 

[zephyr17]

Thank you for your response. I think we would rather see the mountains and along the coast rather than desert. Do we need to take two trains, firstly the Coast Starlight and then get off at San Luis Obispo and catch that train all the way down to San Diego? Are there train travel agents that take care of all your bookings and arrangements with train travel? I'd hate to stuff it up and miss our flight. Thanks again.

1. You can connect to the Surfliner directly from the Starlight at Los Angeles. It was a guaranteed connection last time I looked (assuming it is on the same reservation number). There are a couple downsides to this. It is the last southbound Surfliner of the day and gets to San Diego a bit after 1 am. If the Starlight is too late to make it, the guarantee is protected using the night bus that leaves LA at 2:25 am and gets to San Diego at 5:25 am. A popular alternative is to take the Starlight to Santa Barbara, a beautiful coastal town wedged between the Coast Range mountains and the Pacific with lots of amenities, stay overnight there, then take a Surfliner through to San Diego the next day. There are 5 trains a day between Santa Barbara and San Diego.
2. Just so you know, the southbound Starlight makes a pretty clean miss of mountain viewing. Crossing the Cascades in Oregon is in the evening and most of it is after dark much of the year. You will get at least some of the coast running that is very roughly between a bit south of San Luis Obispo and a bit north of Oxnard unless the train is very late. Northbound both the coastal running and the Cascades are mid-morning.
3. When it comes to Amtrak, most travel agents are worse than useless unless they are rail travel specialists. Most here book direct with Amtrak, either by phone with an agent or the web. Amtrak agents are quite helpful. I understand you may be able book by chat with an Amtrak agent now, too. The only rail travel specialist travel agent I knew died, btw.

Also, avoid Amtrak Vacations, an independent third party travel agency that licenses the name and does joint marketing with Amtrak. They have a poor reputation for customer service, have worse cancellation and refund policies than Amtrak itself and seem to overcharge for mediocre hotels.

Finally, a major rule for successful North American rail travel is never book a same day connection to another carrier from any North American long distance train (Amtrak or VIA).

 

[Maglev]

I've ridden the Sunset Limited three times. There is a spectacular river crossing in the morning going west; my photo is from 1978 by an Instamatic camera (sorry for the poor quality).



These other two photos are from 2019 on the eastbound train:

 

[drcool]

1. You can connect to the Surfliner directly from the Starlight at Los Angeles. It was a guaranteed connection last time I looked (assuming it is on the same reservation number). There are a couple downsides to this. It is the last southbound Surfliner of the day and gets to San Diego a bit after 1 am. If the Starlight is too late to make it, the guarantee is protected using the night bus that leaves LA at 2:25 am and gets to San Diego at 5:25 am. A popular alternative is to take the Starlight to Santa Barbara, a beautiful coastal town wedged between the Coast Range mountains and the Pacific with lots of amenities, stay overnight there, then take a Surfliner through to San Diego the next day. There are 5 trains a day between Santa Barbara and San Diego.
2. Just so you know, the southbound Starlight makes a pretty clean miss of mountain viewing. Crossing the Cascades in Oregon is in the evening and most of it is after dark much of the year. You will get at least some of the coast running that is very roughly between a bit south of San Luis Obispo and a bit north of Oxnard unless the train is very late. Northbound both the coastal running and the Cascades are mid-morning.
3. When it comes to Amtrak, most travel agents are worse than useless unless they are rail travel specialists. Most here book direct with Amtrak, either by phone with an agent or the web. Amtrak agents are quite helpful. I understand you may be able book by chat with an Amtrak agent now, too. The only rail travel specialist travel agent I knew died, btw.

Also, avoid Amtrak Vacations, an independent third party travel agency that licenses the name and does joint marketing with Amtrak. They have a poor reputation for customer service, have worse cancellation and refund policies than Amtrak itself and seem to overcharge for mediocre hotels.

Finally, a major rule for successful North American rail travel is never book a same day connection to another carrier from any North American long distance train (Amtrak or VIA).

Thank you Zephyr17 for all of that great information for me. It is good to know that most people do their bookings online. We have a bit of time so I think would plan on arriving in San Diego at least a day earlier than needed to avoid any hassles. I have been told that the Denver to San Diego ride would also be good. Have you done that before of have any clues on that? Thanks again so much.

I've ridden the Sunset Limited three times. There is a spectacular river crossing in the morning going west; my photo is from 1978 by an Instamatic camera (sorry for the poor quality).

View attachment 38882

These other two photos are from 2019 on the eastbound train:


View attachment 38880


View attachment 38881

Thank you Maglev.

 

[Rasputin]

I've ridden the Sunset Limited three times. There is a spectacular river crossing in the morning going west; my photo is from 1978 by an Instamatic camera (sorry for the poor quality).

View attachment 38882

This looks like High Bridge over the Pecos River.

 

[Cal]

I have been told that the Denver to San Diego ride would also be good. Have you done that before of have any clues on that?

I'm sure Zephyr17 will have excellent info, but I can weigh in on this as well in the meantime. The Denver to San Diego ride is amazing. The views between Denver and the west coast are truly stunning, with multiple mountain ranges and really dramatic canyons. And then you would still get the same beautiful coastal views as the Seattle option, as you would be connecting onto the train that originated in Seattle. The downside to the Denver option is that you would need another hotel in the Bay Area, as the California Zephyr arrives in the evening and the southbound Coast Starlight departs in the morning.

You would board the California Zephyr, train #5 that leaves in the morning from Denver, and you would arrive in Emeryville (which is across the bay from San Francisco) the following evening. There you would have to stay in a hotel (there is a pretty nice Hyatt House very close to the station), and board southbound Coast Starlight #11 to SoCal. From there, it's the same as before, where you could transfer in Los Angeles to a Pacific Surfliner and get to San Diego at 1 AM, or spend the night in LA or in Santa Barbara.

If the hotel wouldn't be a problem, I highly recommend taking the Zephyr from Denver, it's the best scenery Amtrak has to offer.

 

[F900ElCapitan]

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

Actually yes, 21/22 are running with a daily transdorm.

Also, according to crew rumor on a very recent trip (22(12)), the SSL and traditional dining return on March 3rd. This does coincide with other rumors and Amtrak statements for the SSL, but the traditional dining part was a nice addition if true.

Bob may actually get to ride the Eagle again!!

 

[Steve's Wanderlust]

I'll be riding the Eagle on 4/1. I always tend to barely miss service restorations in my bookings!

 

[Keith1951]

The 421 coach and sleeper do.

I ask because I'm concerned about the fires and if they are letting TE go all the way to LA?

 

[Bob Dylan]

I ask because I'm concerned about the fires and if they are letting TE go all the way to LA?

So far the Fires haven't stopped the Sunset,/Eagle between SAS and LA !

Actually yes, 21/22 are running with a daily transdorm.

Also, according to crew rumor on a very recent trip (22(12)), the SSL and traditional dining return on March 3rd. This does coincide with other rumors and Amtrak statements for the SSL, but the traditional dining part was a nice addition if true.

Bob may actually get to ride the Eagle again!!

This is truly good News! I've missed riding the Eagle and for sure will book a trip after this happens!

 

[Keith1951]

So far the Fires haven't stopped the Sunset,/Eagle between SAS and LA !


This is truly good News! I've missed riding the Eagle and for sure will book a trip after this happens!

Does the rumor you're referring to include Chicago to San Antonio traditional dining? Going from Chicago to LA in April and that would be wonderful news for us.

 

[Rasputin]

Also, according to crew rumor on a very recent trip (22(12)), the SSL and traditional dining return on March 3rd. This does coincide with other rumors and Amtrak statements for the SSL, but the traditional dining part was a nice addition if true.

I will certainly celebrate when those things happen but since it is based on a crew rumor, I will defer the celebration until the time when it actually does happen (if it does). Don't forget, traditional dining on the Lake Shore was supposed to return in the fall of 2023 or spring of 2024. Still waiting.