posted
It is a really nice piece. The downside is that it may create artifical expectations for the traveler. The author writes that he rode in a roomette, yet doens't provide any description of the small size of the room. He also leaves out that on the empire builder, most of the traffic takes place on the middle stops, with only 10 % of the passengers going from end to end.
The upside: he describes the magic of train travel. and that is a big plus. The author communicates that quite well, and gives the article a cheerful tone, instead of dwelling on the negatives like tardiness (which is more often than not out of the control of Amtrak). Despite what I've posted above, I think the author does a good job communicating why train travel appeals to some folks: The chance to look out of the window, the chance to socialize with others without the suspicion or hostility that one encounters at airports, the chance to see what there is to see.
-------------------- "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's life." Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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This is a nice publicity piece but I like your trip reports better Anton!
I think it would be cool next year if you guys could go somewhere on the 'Southwest Chief' like Trinidad, CO or even up to Sacramento and over to Reno on the 'California Zephyr'.
Happy tRails,
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I am heading out to Lordsburg, NM in November so will have a trip report complete by around mid-late November.
CG96, I have to agree about that... obviously just about every trip report I have read the author explains how the train was late or a bit of poor service onboard.
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
On my trip across the country on amtrak, I did the empire builder from seattle to chicago. After reading the announcement on amtrak website about the refurbished E.B, I was looking forward to see the NEW E.B. I was disapointed on what I saw. I had a roomette and it was just the same as on the Coaststarlight & Texas eagle. The only thing I did noticed was that the shower unit & bathrooms was nicer and redone. I did get a nice gift box with some snacks & a bottle sparkling wine. Well thats my opinion, I just was not impressed. Please reply to me if you think different. Thanks
Posts: 12 | From: Phoenix Arizona | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
what about the coaches? are they upgraded? ive also heard coach passengers can order meals from their seats like the airlines.
Posts: 416 | From: St. Albans, Vermont | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Superliner coaches got new seat covers that are a nice blue, and you can ask a coach attendant to bring you a meal as a sleeping car attendant does I believe.
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Superliner coaches got new seat covers that are a nice blue, and you can ask a coach attendant to bring you a meal as a sleeping car attendant or as on a commercial airline.
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
The lounge car has tables in one section, I think that is new (I'd never seen them before in a lounge car, though I was never on the Empire Builder before either). The snack bar rents out games that kids seem to enjoy, and I saw several families playing them at the tables while still enjoying the views.
There was also wine tasting for sleeper passengers one afternoon!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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