posted
I noticed in the past couple of weeks Amtrak really cut fares on the western trains for the first couple of weeks in December -- to the lowest price bracket there is actually on 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8.
I ended up getting a roomette ROUNDTRIP from Chicago to San Francisco for $700.00 even(that's with a NARP discount). It's going to be great! I never took a trip on the Zephyr in the winter. A roundtrip in the summer could go for double that (well over $1,200 at least)
Just a "heads up" for any of you bargain travelers out there.
Enjoy!
Posts: 100 | From: Milwaukee, WI | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Just allow enough time on your trip for unexpected delays. This train can run into weather problems (i.e. snow) in the winter months, which of course would apply to December.
Posts: 337 | Registered: Jun 2003
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And be sure to wear or bring layers, inc warm socks and a knit hat you can put on if things get chilly someplace, and lighter stuff in case the train heating is stuffy.
Still, this sounds like it would be a particularly scenic ride in winter. And this is a VERY good price for 2 nights each way.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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And don't ever, ever, plan a same day connection going west to east in Chicago! Chances are you'll wind up spending a night in Chicago anyway so why not plan for that in advance and enjoy the ride.....even if number 6 is 7 hours late.
-------------------- 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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posted
Thanks for all the tips! I have done a lot of train trips in the past, but never done the Zephyr in the winter. I am going to go out of Chicago and stay a night in San Francisco and then leave the next morning to catch #6 back to the Windy City. So even if it's real late, it shouldn't be a problem.
I was talking to the station care-taker in Princeton, IL and he says the latest he's seen it in the winter is 23 hours late a couple of years ago. He said #6 from the previous day and #6 from the current date were just 2 hours apart! Ok, hope that doesn't happen.
And very true about the Chicago connections. I live in Milwaukee and visit Chicago Union Station often (at least twice a month) and I see how late some of the LDs are coming in. You can tell the corresponding trains are going to be late when you see the "crisis" people getting on the train going west. They'll often board in Chicago and ride #5 to like Galesburg and then get on the late #6 to help people with their missed connections.
I will put pictures and a blog up come December.
Posts: 100 | From: Milwaukee, WI | Registered: Feb 2006
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Sounds like a great trip! I'm going to try to plan a "winter" trip this year, too. The idea of being on a warm train watching snow fall is too good to pass up for this California born boy.
Frank in cloudy, we had rain this morning, SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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I could watch snow fall all day......from inside my warm house.....or from a snug roomette.
Maybe that's why I like the weather channel!
-------------------- 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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quote:Originally posted by notelvis: And don't ever, ever, plan a same day connection going west to east in Chicago! Chances are you'll wind up spending a night in Chicago anyway so why not plan for that in advance and enjoy the ride.....even if number 6 is 7 hours late.
Eh, you'll be fine. The eastbound equipment will be 7 hours late departing Chicago account frozen cars (and toilets). If this didn't happen EVERY winter I'd be less jaded Posts: 286 | From: Knee deep in the retention tank | Registered: Jan 2006
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