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I am considering a trip from Shelby MT thru to Detroit on the Empire Builder this spring or summer and was wondering if anyone out there might like to comment on the service. I've priced it out on the Amtrak website at $691 return, thats a superliner standard bedroom to Chicago and coach seat to Detroit, return. I've travelled over the years on the Canadian back and forth and other trains in Europe but never really on Amtrak. It seems rather pricey and coach is out of the question otherwise I'd fly or drive like I always do.. Oh.. and also.. is it worth the upgrade to a business class seat on the portion between Chicago and Detroit, or is the regular coach about the same, for that short haul portion.
Posts: 13 | From: calgary | Registered: Mar 2001
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When making your connection to Detroit, get the Custom Class if it will be on a Fri-Sat-Sun. The train you connect to, # 354, carries heavy loads, and boarding at Chicago is a zoo. They preboard custom class, and for me it's worth the extra few bucks to avoid the stampede for regular boarding. No need for custom class westbound, though.
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Posts: 5 | From: St. Clair Shores MI USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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The service on the Empire Builder last October was fine. Not the level of service on the Coast Starlight but great nonetheless. If you do book your trip make sure you have a bedroom in the Seattle section of the train, otherwise you will be a long way from the dining car & not have the extra security of you car being separated from the coach cars by the dining car. Yours Reggie
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We made the trip from Seattle to Chicago on the EB last July and given the delays we experienced on the Sunset Limited and Coast Starlight, the EB leg was very nice. We had two rooms (2 adults, 2 kids) and the sightseer car was only really packed during the section through the Glacier National Park.
The food, as always, was great.
We did find the first class lounge in Chicago very crowded when we left for Boston. With so many trains leaving around the same time, there were no seats left. We arrived at the station around 5:45pm for a 7pm departure, but it was packed. I have no idea what the coach boarding area looked like since it was our first (except for arriving) time there.
Overall a nice trip and we are certainly sold on first class as the only way to go!
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