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Chucky (or anyone with recent ABQ experience.)
I'm going to be cashing in some guest reward points this summer departing from Albuquerque.
What is the current Amtrak Station situation in Albuquerque? Is it still that cramped little gray building about 50 yards from the tracks?.....the one that has been in use since the original station burned. Also, I hear that a new Greyhound Station is being built kind of where the old train station was. Is this displacing the vendors? Finally, are there plans in place for a new Amtrak facility as part of either the Greyhound station on one side or the new transportation center (ie: City Bus Terminal) on the other?
Thanks,
Chucky Member # 2263
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Amtrak is still using "that cramped little gray building." I was told that the building used to be the gift shop of the old Alvarado Hotel, demolished in 1970. It is truly a dismal place.
Amtrak's parking lot now has a huge hole in it. I think it is being converted into some sort of station for the commuter rail road that will begin operation this fall. It will run on existing line between Belen and Bernalillo (but *not* to Santa Fe, yet).
As of now, there is no parking available for Amtrak passengers or even employees. Most people park illegally at the Greyhound station across the street, under ominous signs that threaten us with towing.
And yes, our Greyhound bus station is scheduled to be demolished and replaced with something by the tracks. I don't know when this will occur but my guess would be sometime soon.
So then, Notelvis, you say you are departing from Albuquerque. Where do you live and why are you leaving from here?
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I was thinking of going to ABQ in the next 3 weeks and this is interesting news to me. Does the big hole force the food and souvenir vendors to set up business somewhere else?
Also, one of my favorite things at ABQ was being able to park my Hertz rental return at the station and leave the keys with the station agent. I wonder if this can still be done?
Chucky Member # 2263
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From what I understand, the agents are parking their cars quite a few blocks away from the station. And it's not a particularly good part of town (yet).
The vendors seem to be doing their business directly on the platform. Things are quite awkward now.
As far as your rental car is concerned, you may want to leave it at the airport and take either a bus (#50), cab or hotel van (if possible) to downtown. Good luck.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Chucky:
So then, Notelvis, you say you are departing from Albuquerque. Where do you live and why are you leaving from here?
I picked ABQ for a number of reasons......in no particular order but numbered for clarity;
1) I can travel from Albuquerque to Portland within one guest rewards travel zone. Wish I had time to come in a day earlier and take the train up to Trinidad and start westward from there the next morning but I'm squeezed between my wife's birthday (who cannot travel with me - I have scads of free time in the summer but that is her busiest time.) and the beginning of an Amtrak travel blackout.
2) I'd like to see the vendors setting up in anticipation of the train's arrival.
3) Southwest Airlines makes flying to Albuquerque from North Carolina (my starting point) a relatively cheap option. Besides, the Albuquerque airport is clean, modern, 'the right size' (ie: Not too big), and a convienent bus ride downtown stopping right next door to the Amtrak 'station'.
4) After touting Albuquerque to Iowamomofsix as offering relatively inexpensive air to rail connectivity, I thought I'd put my money where my mouth is.
5) I've had enjoyable but brief visits to Albuquerque in 1997 and 2001. Both involved going between the airport and the Amtrak station and both were pleasant experiences.
Those are pretty much the reasons. Earlier I had wanted to perhaps start westward from Kansas City (now THAT'S a railroad station!) but that threw me into the travel blackout and options for getting downtown from the KC airport were not nearly as good. You know, a 30 mile cab ride at $1.60 per mile, a city bus ride of nearly two hours with transfers, and no downtown hotel within close distance of the train station priced under $150.00 a night when I would have been there.
Thanks for your help!!!!
David Pressley
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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David, would you be able to continue from Portland to Glacier for no more $ (same zone)? Now that would be a deal!
Too bad you can't easily fly back from Montana.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: David, would you be able to continue from Portland to Glacier for no more $ (same zone)? Now that would be a deal!
Too bad you can't easily fly back from Montana.
Precisely.
Getting home from Portland is much, much easier than getting home from Montana....the lightrail goes right to the airport.
Another big issue though would be what happened if the Coast Starlight missed the connection to the Empire Builder in Portland? I wouldn't want a long-distance bustitution. Taking that chance at LAX wasn't a difficult call though. If I miss the connection I can at least get a bus up to the San Joaquin train and catch up to the Starlight at Martinez or Sacramento. That's palatable.
Now if Southwest flew to Montana.........
As for my Guest Reward Points, I'm banking another 12,000 or so just in case I have to make a farewell trip on one of my favorite trains later this year.
goldcupmom Member # 3761
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I was down to the ABQ station a couple of weeks ago to pick up tickets for my June trip and asked about the hole in the ground and parking. I forget what he said about the new building going up, but he didn't mention the commuter train. He did say there would continue to be no parking for Amtrak. There is a parking garage by the new Movie theater across the street and down 1/2 block. It's not too expensive for temp parking. I even left my van there during a week long trip and it was fine, and they only charged me for 1 full day. I've also left my car long term at a downtown hotel parking garage - don't recall which one. The vendors are still there out on the platform, and the 'food bus' was cramped in behind the building along with another vehicle when I was there.
I'm pretty certain the Wyndham airport will give you a free shuttle ride to the Amtrak station.
Chucky - just found this site and visited yours. AWESOME old SF train. I still have to fly as most of my travels are for gymnastics with my son and are quick weekends. I grew up in Iowa and had numerous family members who worked for the old CB & Q and later BN. Rode the rails a lot as a kid and am trying to instill a love for them into mine.
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