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HI, Has anyone out there ridden the Coast Starlight within the last few months? What was the quality of service, food, etc. ? What with the budget cuts, I'm concerned. Thanks, Scott
Posts: 171 | Registered: May 2002
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My wife & I rode the CS from Seattle to Oakland-Jack London last month. The service & food were both excellent. The train left Seattle on time & was only one hour late when it reached Oakland (about the half-way point to LA). If your in a sleeper, the parlor car was very nice & the service was also excellent. Relax & enjoy your trip ! Posts: 218 | Registered: Mar 2001
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I have a reservation for the Starlight in about three weeks. I'll be sure to report my findings.
I was originally just going to ride coach, but the sleeper price for the return trip was about 25% off normal, so I grabbed it. Then Amtrak called me yesterday and offered the northbound trip at 25% off as well, so I took that, too. So I'm getting the 30% off deal on my railfare AND 25% off the sleeper charge.
This will be a first for me. I've never ridden the Starlight by myself in a sleeper. In fact, we only had a sleeper on this train once before, on our honeymoon in 1983.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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Recently traveled to LA (early this month) on the Coast Starlight and back. Took coach from PDX to LA, and then sleeper back to PDX.
The southward trip, dining crew and food wasn't great. I blame the on-board services manager for that.
The northward trip, I was happy to have a crew that I've had before, and consider good. Table waiting was great, as well as the food! Didn't spend too much time in the Parlour car since I did a lot of good resting in my sleeper (After all I've done in LA, I needed it!).
But the key to the trip, is to sit back, relax, and enjoy.
~Chris
Posts: 82 | From: Irvine, CA | Registered: Feb 2002
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I'll be riding the Starlight on my trip next month, from LAX to SEA. After I return, I'll have another travelogue posted on Train Web.
I will be in a sleeper -- that is worth the money, because with sleeper, you have access to the Pacific Parlour Car, which coach passengers do not have access to, plus sleeper passengers get to take part in the wine tasting in the Parlour car, which coach passengers cannot go to. (leave alone the meals which are included with sleeper passengers!)
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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I took it from Sacramento to Seattle on May 3. Of my 7 sleeper segments on that trip, it had the best and most fun crew. I particularly liked the Parlour Car although the wine tasting was nothing special (wine was good, though).
Only problem (which I experienced on half the trains) was that the PA system was messed up and we could not hear the commentary in the Parlour Car.
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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I rode the Coast Starlight departing Seattle on May 22. The Pacific Parlor car was not in the consist, I was told there were mechanical problems that required it being taken out of service. That was a very big disappointment & instead of continuing to LAX, I detrained at OKJ & rode the San Joaquin train back to Bakersfield. The crew on the Starlight had the wine tasting in the dining car after lunch, south of Portland. They were very generous with the wine & I got quite a buzz. Sort of took a little of the edge off of my disgust in not having the Parlor car. The sleeper attendant also had some cheese & crackers & a few bottles of wine in the sleeping car. After boarding the San Joaquin in Oakland the conductor offered me a free meal in the dining car, which I graciously accepted. I had the salmon & it was, quite surprisingly, very good. Reggie
Posts: 462 | From: Bakersfield Ca., 93312 | Registered: Jul 2000
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BTW, the meal service on the Coast Starlight is still a notch above the meal service elsewhere on Amtrak. On my trip I also enjoyed the meal service on the City of New Orleans & Crescent. It seemed to be a little nicer than the other trains I was on. Reggie
Posts: 462 | From: Bakersfield Ca., 93312 | Registered: Jul 2000
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Hate to throw some cold water on the party, but my train was 15 hours late! See post titled "Completely Disgusted."
Posts: 37 | From: Seattle, WA, USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by DisbandAmtrak: Hate to throw some cold water on the party, but my train was 15 hours late! See post titled "Completely Disgusted."
I went back and re-read your March post. That occured ata time when there was some significant storm damage in the Northwest, and at the same time UP had more sections of slow orders than not. Trains that were 3 to 8 hours late were routine. The situation has improved dramatically since then. The "Starlate" is back to more normal timekeeping ("normal" being between 30 minutes and 2 hours late),
And I'll be boarding Thursday evening.... I can't wait!
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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