I don’t know which part of the California Zephyr’s route I like better–Denver to Grand Junction in Colorado or from Truckee over the Sierras to Sacramento in California. It’s a...

GLENWOOD SPRINGS– This town must have something going for it because an Amtrak conductor once told me that the Zephyr leaves people behind all the time. It usually happens when...

Amtrak’s long-distance system is—let’s face it—bare bones. For quite some time—for years, in fact—organizations like the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) have been pressing Amtrak to increase frequencies on...

I arrived back in Los Angeles last night, coming from Davis, California, on the Coast Starlight and it was distressing to see little things–avoidable things–happening to first-time Amtrak travelers that...

The Zephyr was packed. Three coaches and three sleepers, with most of the rooms occupied and constant PA announcements from the conductors asking coach passengers to clear their belongings off...

I have had countless numbers of delightful encounters with fellow passengers in Amtrak dining cars, many of which I’ve chronicled here. Friday night was no exception as I found myself...

Many sleeping car passengers think they don’t need to tip in an Amtrak dining car because their meals are “free”. Of course that’s not true because the cost of their...

Well! The NARP scuttlebutt network has produced all kinds of good new with regard to Amtrak’s food service. At the top of that list is the fact that—and this has...

NOTE, PLEASE: This will be my last post for a few days. At 10:00 tonight I’m leaving Toronto on VIA Rail’s premier train, The Canadian. It’s a four-night trip and...

We’ve just left Grand Junction, Colorado, and Glenwood Springs is about two hours up ahead. The first part of this great ride was yesterday–crossing the Sierra Nevada range by way...