Conventional wisdom says you should not pay the extra charge for space in an Amtrak sleeping car unless you’re going to be traveling overnight. Well, sure … but, as with all general rules, there are exceptions. For instance, back in November, I booked Amtrak’s train #11, the Coast Starlight for travel last week from Davis,…
That’s a tough one, all right. I had the chance to experience both trains a few days ago, one after the other, coming home from my recent trip to the National Association of Railroad Passengers board meeting in Buffalo, NewYork. For scenery, I guess I’d give the nod to the California Zephyr (runs daily between…
Eating in a rolling restaurant is what passengers remember most about their long-distance train trips. During the Golden Age of train travel from the mid-1930s to mid-1950s, competing railroads would vigorously promote the quality of the food served on board. Today, Amtrak’s dining experience is less than gourmet, but still quite good. Amtrak passengers enjoying…
One of the reasons I enjoy traveling on Amtrak is the opportunity to meet and briefly get to know some very interesting and entertaining people. You have time for that on the train. I boarded the Coast Starlight Wednesday morning in Davis, California, and spent quite a few of the next 14 hours relaxing in…