My train last Friday was 6 hrs late, we got to LAX at 1.30pm. Im surpised there was no smoking room on your train, mine did both ways. I dont smoke so I didn't care. And our engine crew went dead when we were stuck at El Paso! STUPID UNION PACIFIC! If it wasn't for them, we'd have left sooner. But then, I'm a railfan and delays don't totally bother me.

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Originally posted by RRRICH:
At long last, my 2002 travelogue has now been posted at Train Web!!! Follow the link under "What's New" at the top of the Train Web home page to find it -- I got a very long and nice e-mail from Matt Melzer from Train Web, and he pointed out a few inaccuracies in my travelogue, but I don't have the energy to redo the whole thing now!! Just enjoy what you can! You'll probably catch the same things Matt did!!

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A couple of questions: Was there much talk among the passengers about Amtrak's fiscal problems? How well did the other passengers accept the delays & late arrivals?

Also, it's been a couple of years since you took your last long rail journey. Do you have any general observations about changes you noticed in quality of service, ridership, etc.?

Thanks in advance...

As far as changes over the last couple years -- no, I did not observe any radical changes, except the meals are much more standardized now and there is a very very limited selection of food now -- it seems like there were more meal choices a couple years ago, and some trains back then had "regional" specialties on them.. Also, I kind of miss not having Chiefs on the trains like they used to, and I missed the on-board entertainer on the Coast Starlight as well. Over the last 20-30 years, however, I have noticed radical changes in AMTRAK!! In general, I think the crews are much better nowadays, and much more helpful -- I had great crews on most of the trains I rode this summer. 20-30 years ago, there were still quite a few "surly" sleeping car attendants and conductors. Concerning service -- over the last 20-30 years, I have seen mostly positive changes, such as the inclusion of meals with 1st class (that was started only about 15 years ago), and the addition of newer equipment (Superliners, Viewliners, Surfliner equipment, etc.) I think, in general, service on AMTRAK is improving with time -- the NUMBER 1 problem, however, is on-time performance, and nowadays, I feel the on-time performance of most AMTRAK trains is the worst ever -- back in the "olden days," there was a lot better on-time performance for most of the trains, especially the western trains (Sunset, Coast Starlight, Cal. Zephyr, Empire Builder) -- that is the number one problem that AMTRAK must work on now.

You are also on the mark about Amtrak's on-time performance. It is the major complaint I hear about long distance train travel. I hope the Gunn group gives improving on-time performance a high priority.