Very nice going out, though we about four hours late to Los Angeles and were bused from Ontario to Santa Barbara to catch the CS.

Got to Portland station about 2 hours late, not too bad.

Coming home, I boarded the CS on June 29, only to be told there would be no connection with the Sunset due to the horrific freight collision near San Antonio June 28. So I called my daughter and stayed a few more days in beautiful Oregon -- no problem.

Finally boarded the CS Sat. July 3 and got to LA July 4 about 3 hours late. It didn't matter, since the Sunset wasn't ready to roll eastbound until nearly 2 a.m. Monday instead of the correct 10:15 p.m. Sunday, July 4.

Union Station in LA was absolutely jammed and I had to simply stand for hours until we boarded.

So the Sunset left LA about 3 hours late and it only got worse from there. I'm used to UP delays along the Sunset route, but have never experience so many as on this trip.

We kept running so late, two crew changes were made enroute, meaning an hour or more wait until the relief crews came aboard. They do NOT work beyond the 12 hour limit for any reason.

By the time we approached New Orleans, we were running more than 11 hours late and Amtrak VIPs decided to "terminate" our train in NO. They opted for buses to continue our trip.

With dozens of stopped up bathrooms, food supplies running out and very few off-train breaks, I had finally "had it."

By cell phone, I booked a Southwest flight in NO and arrived in Tampa 1 1/2 hours later -- far better than the estimated (by Amtrak) 18 hours bus ride.

Other than that, a great trip, with the Pacific Parlour Car all the way on the CS and excellent car attendants round trip.

After getting bumped, so to speak, on the June 29 CS, Amtrak upgraded my standard sleeper to a deluxe compartment (no extra charge) on the homeward Sunset -- so that was a plus!

You might have met an Australian couple from Brisbane who got off the Starlight in SBA on the 4th. I met them the next day on the southbound Surfliner. They broke the trip in SBA rather than continue to LA. and were able to get a room at the State Street Hotel across the tracks from the station and enjoy the fireworks here.

The northbound Starlight left SBA about the same time as our Surfliner on the 5th. That was 1:59PM.

They were in coach, I believe. They said they had traveled quite a bit on AMTRAK but the trip down on the Starlight was very rough and their car was dirty. Luckily our Surfliner trip was flawless.

Union Station was very quiet when I arrived at 4:55PM. Traxx Restaurant and Bar, where I planned to met friends, was closed for the holiday. Was it open on the 4th?

Best,

You have always impressed me as one of Amtrak's most loyal and enthusiastic passengers.

You don't "cut corners" as youalways travel Sleeper.

And yet they presented you with a travel experience so deplorable that you were compelled to "abandon ship'.

I doubt if this will be your last trip but how many others confronted with conditions like those you encountered, would have simply said "enough is enough".

I am on a mission to ride every route mile currently served by an Amtrak long-distance train. I'm missing a few small segments (such as Miami-Hollywood, FL) and one significantly large segment.....the Sunset between El Paso and San Antonio.

I nearly got it in July 2002 BUT my #2 was annulled (also due to a UP freight derailment) upon arriving in El Paso a mere 90 minutes late. Charter buses had been summonsed but were not expected to appear for hours. We were invited to use the train as a 'hotel' until the buses came for us.

I was ultimately changing to the Texas Eagle in San Antonio and then catching the Heartland Flyer in Ft. Worth. Since a 600 mile overnight ride on a cramped bus was no comparison for my snug standard bedroom I too 'bailed out' by getting a cab to the airport and flying Southwest to Dallas, getting a cheap hotel room, and catching Greyhound (because the Southbound Texas Eagle was 6 hours late and not going to make the connection) to Ft. Worth the next morning.

That afternoon I was on the platform clean and rested in Ft. Worth to catch the Heartland Flyer when the bus substitution passengers arrived with absolute horror stories........I'm afraid that soon only the certifiable rail fanatics (such as myself) will be the only ones left willing to take a chance on the Sunset.

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David Pressley

[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 07-08-2004).]

Yes, I probably will ride again, but not for a while. I don't mind the trimming of amenities so much (even in first class), but the seemingly total inconsideration of passengers is beginning to grate on my good nature.

The CS is a rough ride in some places, but the scenery is a nice trade-off.

I seriously doubt that the Sunset ever reached legal maximum speed limits on my recent trip, the freight hold-ups were so frequent. Some rough track there, too, but bearable.

Met a lot of really nice folks along the way during the looong journey, two of whom helped me secure the emergency flight home from New Orleans. Terrible cab from NO station, however -- he stood in a driving rain with an umbrella over his head, while we got drenched loading our own luggage! Of course, this episode was no fault of Amtrak :^)

FYI, the food was mostly decent, better on the CS than the Sunset. Rack of lamb was good, but the same mixed vegetables were served round trip. I asked for and got a slice of Cheddar cheese melted on a piece of very good apple pie -- a small victory.

Amtrak chefs are given so little to work with these days, budget wise, they seem to have little incentive to be imaginative in the galley. But over all, dining was pretty good.

Only one of my sleeper car attendants bothered to ask occasionally if I needed anything -- he got a large tip. The others were very nice, but pretty much uninterested in deluxe service. The rooms were clean and the Deluxe room was super nice. All were the newer blue decor.

Interestingly, passengers from abroad were much less disturbed by all the problems on Train 2, including the delays and lateness, than were American riders.

There was plenty of law enforcement at the two places mentioned above and you needed to show your ticket to get back on the train during a NO stop.

I can't begin to count the number of passengers who actually believed they would make their connections -- and were so terribly dismayed at missing parts of their vacations, losing money, etc.

Some were onboard because it was the best way to travel with oxygen. Others ran out of medicine during the delays. Babies and toddlers were driving everyone crazy as the Sunset slowed, stopped and generally screwed up from LA to NO.

The Sunset crew voiced their angst, too, but almost to a person, they kept telling passengers everything "is the fault of Republicans." That includes conductors on that particular train.

Stupid comments from lockstep minds.

I certainly rode the Sunset during Democrat administrations and delays were frequent then, as well.

Announcements were made continuously, telling passengers to call/write their congressmen/women. Frankly, no one was in the mood for preaching -- we just wanted to get to our destination.

quote:

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Originally posted by dixiebreeze:
Dilly, that's probably what I will do. I'm thinking of the Sunset to New Orleans, then City of New Orleans to Chicago and west to Portland on the Empire Builder. If I could figure out short way to connect with the CZ, I'd do that. I'm not anxious to go through Chicago's Union Station -- did that once and it was sooo hectic and difficult.

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Hi Dixie.....and all

Just another thought.....and not to promote Southwest Airlines (which is often like a flying Greyhound) BUT Southwest does serve Baltimore/Washington International and St. Louis......both airports which have fairly easy ground transit connections to rail stations. Both would save a night enroute and bypass any need to use the Sunset or the Silver Service train(s). From St. Louis you could even access the Southwest Chief at Kansas City. Admittedly there is a two-three block walk from the light rail to the St. Louis 'amshack' and it's a bit strange to find the first time. Just head away from the nicely restored station and you'll find Amtrak lurking under an interstate overpass.

Another possibility would be flying into Newark and using the Three Rivers or Lake Shore to get to Chicago. And the first class lounge in Chicago.......a neccessary respite from the hordes of coach passengers and commuters.

Just some ideas......I have enjoyed your posts and observations on this forum. I hope that you will keep riding and keep posting!

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David Pressley

[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 07-09-2004).]

Actually, my Southwest flight wasn't bad at all. Inexpensive fare, laid back and friendly crew and free drinks 'cause we were delayed an hour by storms in NO.

I'm thinking of taking Southwest to San Fran in August. No frills, but I like their attitude.

"To Our Sunset Limited Passengers:

Owing to exceptionally heavy freight traffic being handled by our host railroads, CSX Transportation and the Union Pacific Railroad, we are obliged to advise that long delays and possible short notice annulments for portions of the route likely will occur.

In the event of an annulment necessitated after a passenger has commenced a journey, Amtrak is obliged to provide alternate transportation to a passenger's destination.

Passengers using the Sunset Limited or persons meeting arriving passengers are strongly advised to make use of either the automated telephone Train Status system, Julie, or the Check Train Status feature available at the website. Every effort will be made to ensure these resources are provided with updated information.

We regret any inconvenience caused our passengers owing to prevalent conditions experienced by our host railroads. "

If anyone at 60 Mass is logged in; guess what, I just saved you some work - and I don't want a penny for it!

But would you believe the very first time I learned the term annulled was reading a New Haven Railroad timetable circa 1955. There were severe floods in New England and on various branch lines the timetable stated "service temporarily annulled".

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr. Toy:
GBN, that was excellent. If you haven't already, you should consider sending that to Amtrak brass as well.

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I agree with Mr. Toy. Excellent Mr. Norman.

When I called to inquire what Amtrak's contingency plans were, I was told that the assessment would be made when the CL reached Pittsburgh (4:30 in the morning), as to whether or not the Silver passengers would likely make the connection. If the answer was negative (which is what ultimately happened), then Silver passengers would be bused from Pittsburgh to Washington.

I still need to ride two short segments:

1) Coast Starlight via "East Valley" line, Binney Jct. to Tehama.

2) Royal Oak to Pontiac, MI

quote:

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Originally posted by rresor:
I rode virtually the entire Amtrak system in the early 1980s.... Only problem was the minimal dining service;....

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We were on the choo-choo from WPB to Orlando to change to the CS - we'll we got on and were told that we would get the CS in Jacksonville as the train was 'dirty'-so we stopped for pax, not a change-then we get to Jax and our old friend - the 'tour bus' was ready to haul us to NO to meet up with the 'dirty' train. We bailed - with a refund - and then had to drive to Vancouver, BC, Canada from Jax, FL !

We could stand lateness - breakdowns - and - Act of God things - but not lying all the way - they even knew when we checked in at WPB-cause they checked our bags to Jax - not Orlando (at 7:30am)

quote:

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As of the last report at 7:46 PM, at Houston, TX, it was running 24 hours and 57 minutes late.

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quote:

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Originally posted by snake:
Just checked on the status of the Sunset limited that's supposed to arrive at Tucson tonight:
[QUOTE]As of the last report at 7:46 PM, at Houston, TX, it was running 24 hours and 57 minutes late.

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Good heavens! Looks like looong bus rides for a lot of folks, or other arrangements. Horrible!

quote:

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As of the last report at 12:22 PM, at El Paso, TX, it was running 36 hours and 5 minutes late.

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Train #1 arriving LAX July 14, 2004. (Well, it was supposed to.) It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it?