I think I may have made a mistake planning a same day connection from the Northbound Starlight to the Empire Builder the same day. I noticed #14 arrived in Portland just past Midnight a few days ago.
Does anybody know where passengers are being taken off the Starlight Northbound to connect with the Empire builder? Is it before Klamath Falls and are you bussed beyong Portland? I really don t want to miss any of the Empire Builders journey with all those new amenities. I ll be traveling in early September.
Posted by UPNorth (Member # 3944) on :
Amtrak will take pax off the train in Klamath Falls and send them by bus to...
1. Portland 2. Pasco 3. Spokane
Where you are sent depends on how late the Starlight is running.
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
If you are REALLY late, I believe they put you up in a hotel room and catch the next days 28.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
Never try to connect the same day. Stay out at the Days Inn at 82nd Street right next to the MAX Light Rail Line. There is an Elmers that serves real goood food. Spend a day in Portland relaxed and ready for the Empire Builder.
Always avoid the bus!
Chris
Posted by mikesmith (Member # 447) on :
May 1, my wife and I were bussed from Eugene OR to Portland. We made the train with 10 minutes to spare... The bus driver said he did not want to drive to Pasco, so he "rushed" it a little. Posted by Tanner929 (Member # 3720) on :
I was watching "In the Heat of the Night" the other morning which reminds us you can always find something to do while waiting for that connecting train, lol.
Posted by Tepethom (Member # 3281) on :
I was in the same position in June 2004. We were 3 hours late at Klamath Falls and were bused to Pasco. The bus goes up Route 97, which is beautiful, and takes about 6-7 hours. The bus was less than half full and everyone had two seats to themselves. Everyone got to select a Subway brand sandwich out of a garbage bag full of sandwiches on the bus. Our EB sleeping car attendant had saved our dinners for us. BTW, those cold dinners are better than Amtrak diner food (poached salmon, pasta salad, grilled veggies and fresh fruit- very deluxe picnic food). Pasco is actually further than you need to go because route 97 intersects with the Columbia river at the Dalles, but Bingham/White Salmon (the station for the Dalles) is unstaffed. Pasco station in pretty new, about a mile out of town and a apinless place to be.
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