KC Union Station is very neat. I would have liked to work it in on the trip I am about to take (and would have if the KC-Omaha shuttle still ran). I've not been there since Amtrak moved back in and the KC Rail Experience added.
-------------------- 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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It might be fun to go from CHI-KC on the Southwest Chief (for the Superliner experience) and then come back on the Ann Rutledge (so you can see Springfield and St. Louis) even if it takes a little longer. Sometimes you can get a good rate for the later trip on the "Hot Deals" page.
Posts: 100 | From: Milwaukee, WI | Registered: Feb 2006
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KC's Union Station is a magnificant structure. Although I'm not necessarily thrilled with the way it was renovated, I sure was happy when they opened the doors back up. I live practically next door and often when I drive by I can see the Southwest Chief waiting to continue heading west. I always feel a little bit jealous when that happens.
Also, with KC's new Max bus route, getting from Union Station to the Country Club Plaza or Downtown hotels is a breeze.
rtabern, It most certainly will take longer as there is trackwork being done on the line between St. Louis and Kansas City. Amtrak's Itiniary puts it a 6.5 hour ride from one side of Missouri to the other. And thats without delays! A few days ago it took 9 hours to go the route. Yikes! (Going by car is slightly under 4) They are also planning on using busses on certain days. I wonder how the average rider will take this. I fear that this summer's ridership will drop significantly.
Posts: 34 | From: Kansas City, MO | Registered: Feb 2005
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These trips seem quite interesting, Vicki; I've always wanted to do both. I'd LOVE to go to Kansas City ("Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come") and have ribs and all! Did you ever read Calvin Trillin's book American Fried? I recommend it before you go. And the Port Huron line seems interesting, though I'd wanna cross over into Canada and head east from Sarnia and do a lot of things I cannot afford . . . I've always wanted to go to Ann Arbor, too, which I hear is nice. Not to mention Minneapolis and Hannibal MO (train to Quincy and taxi to Hannibal) and St Louis and Indianapolis . . . a long list of places in the Midwest to which I've never been. If Amtrak keeps running, I do hope to get to them all!
I did enjoy my trip to Cleveland; have you been there? I am of an age when the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is very interesting, and I liked the boat ride, the baseball game, the art museum, the botanical garden, the waterfront . . . lotsa neat stuff. I also really enjoyed Pittsburgh (but I went through Pennsylvania).
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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We've travelled a bit in Canada, tho not by rail. We're actually in the planning stagesof a marathon rail adventure throughout the US (inspired by johnhedge and others) but this won't happer for a few years.
In the meantime we're going to try to do a number of short jaunts as we are able. We were in Minneapolis a couple of years ago while on vacation and passed through on the EB last June.
My cousin lives in St. Louis and at one time we were going down there for baseball games several times a year (when my boys were younger).
Have not been to Ann Arbor or Hannibal-have been to Cleveland.
Posts: 149 | From: Joliet, IL USA | Registered: Aug 2004
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quote:Originally posted by rtabern: It might be fun to go from CHI-KC on the Southwest Chief (for the Superliner experience) and then come back on the Ann Rutledge (so you can see Springfield and St. Louis) even if it takes a little longer. Sometimes you can get a good rate for the later trip on the "Hot Deals" page.
That was the plan originally. Then I heard about the track work/bus and I don't think I want to do that. Of course, we could wait and go after the track work is completed. . .
Posts: 149 | From: Joliet, IL USA | Registered: Aug 2004
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