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We took 777 from SAN to SBA yesterday. We had switched to the Noon departure from 9:30AM because our cruise ship was not going to allow us to disembark before 9:00AM due to "heightened security" at the port and an outbreak of the dread Norovirus during our 15 days onboard. (We did not get sick.)
I was very happy to be able to change the reservation at no additional charge and to be able to do it quickly online.
When we boarded the train we were told that it would be 100% full. I also noticed a sign on the door leading into Car #2 (the Cafe/Coach) saying it was Business Class. It never filled up.
Have they converted this car into Business? I would have gladly ridden there because the car were were in (#1) was full and the person behind me was quoting FOX News for the entire trip.
Why can't we have "Quiet Cars" in the West?
Our cruise through the Panama Canal was great. The work on the expansion is progressing nicely although our onboard lecturer had some concerns about the quality of the construction and the operation of the lock movements.
Frank in dark but still warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Does anyone know why there is no business class on the San Joaquin trains. As mentioned in our trip report our recent ride in the crowded Horizon car didn't seem to be up to the usual CalTrain service. While the food was a notch above usual Amtrak cafe food, the train needed business class.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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What ever happened to the B/C seats they were trying out that didn't recline into the lap of the person behind? The ones with the red "grab knobs" on the seatback frame?
Frank in sunny and warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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quote:Originally posted by sbalax: Our cruise through the Panama Canal was great. The work on the expansion is progressing nicely although our onboard lecturer had some concerns about the quality of the construction and the operation of the lock movements.
Frank in dark but still warm SBA
Some concerns? That is like saying there are some concerns about Lincoln's head injury.
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The lecturers had some quite graphic pictures of core samples from the new pours and the now more than 100 year old pour. No comparison in quality of durability.
Another big concern is abandoning the electric locomotives used to guide ships through by maintaining tension on lines. In the new system tugs will be in the lock with the ship and ships will use their own propulsion systems.
Test exercises that have been done have not gone well.
And, lest we forget, there are now ships that are too large to fit in the new locks...
Frank in sunny but cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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The seats in the Business Class with those stupid red handle seats that don't recline are in a few but not all of the Pacific Surfliner Cars. The state put those in and we tried to stop them but at least we saved a few of the cars,
Chris
Posts: 711 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: May 2003
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I kind of liked those seats. They were more like Business Class on airplanes and you didn't need to worry about someone in front of you reclining into your lap or your computer or meal if it was on the tray table. The seat bottom and back slid forward giving the same amount of recline but contained within a pod.
It's possible that the signs were reversed. The one we saw was in the window of the door to the Cafe Car.
Between LAUPD and SBA fully half of the station announcements were incorrect and then hastily corrected. Not very professional.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
You're on a gummint train, you should expect gummint service.
That is all.
-------------------- The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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