Left West Palm Beach, Aug. 24. on #98, train was on time. Soon as we get on the conductor states that the Sunset will meet us in Jacksonville, FL instead of Orlando. (There went a visit with family at the ORL station). So on we go to JAX-now told that train came in late and they were cleaning it-as the reason for the JAX transfer.
#98 was clean comfortable and a good lunch.
Around 4 pm, we get into JAX - and in the parking lot was a charter bus (guess what happens next !). NOW, we are told that the train broke down in New Orleans AND they were going to bus us overnight to meet the train in NO.
The bad information all day was out of line, we were very tired and lookinf forward to a dinner and sleeper NOT a overnight bus ride.
So, we got our luggage - got a refund - took a taxi to a hotel - rented a car and we were racing across the country to catch up to our schedule.
The very reason we took Amtrak was to avoid the drive from FL to AZ - and -we were back driving again.
We were very disappointed, had we knew the arrangements earlier, we could have gotten off in Orlando, stayed with family -then rented the D*** car.
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
That sucks! Does the Sunset only use one loco? I can't imagine it does. (probably 2)
I remember years ago when I was on the Desert Wind. Near Vegas the lone F40 broke down and couldn't maintain HEP. A UP loco had been helping us but without HEP we were sunk. Amtrak arranged for bus service, but we rented a car to get back to Orange County, California.
It's a shame Amtrak is still up to the same old problems.
[This message has been edited by Southwest Chief (edited 09-01-2003).]
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Yah, I have to agree with you, he whole reason why MOST people to take long distance trains and be in a sleeper with a nice scenic route, being trasfered to a bus when you pay big bucks for a sleeper is really a shame. Obviosly Amtrak is doing it's best and all, But if you wanted to go on a bus you could have taken Greyhound or Coach USA..
Anton L. pillsbury09@excite.com
Posted by BNSF 1088 (Member # 2400) on :
That was the day that UP derailed a train near Tuscon AZ and held the train in NOLA so they could run a train because they turned the other set back to LA the easbound was well over 16hrs late the Sunset LTD runs with 2 engines on it.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
It's a shame Amtrak is still up to the same old problems
What do you mean "up to"? If you can show me how Amtrak could do better on their approximately $1 billion per year starvation diet, then show me the figures.