I will hopefully be taking either the TE/SL from CHI to TUS or the SWC from CHI to FLG at the end of August, and I was wondering how has those two particular trains been running. I'll be traveling in coach, it just depends on which destination I choose, but have they been arriving fairly on time or really really late?
The TE/SSL (be sure and be booked on #421 if you ride this train, it spends the night in SAS, if you book #21/#1 youll have to get off ,spend the night in the Station in SAS))arrives into TUS around 930-10PM (Pacific Time) if on time. The SWC arrives into Flagstaff about 9PM, if on time,it's easier to get to Phoenix from Tuscon, easier for the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff (or Williams Junction if staying on the Canyon Rim/riding the GCRR). Id venture that overall the SWC has a better OTP but the Sunset has been doing pretty well lately! (Of course today #1 was 4 hours late into SAS!
)Id go with the Chief for the scenery and the better Equipment! YMMV