Hi all. I am working on a trip using the SW Chief from LA to Kansas City and then renting a car to go to the Twin Cities. Looks quite workable, early morning arrival in KC, 400+ miles to drive. The Amtrak schedule book indicates that the rental car status at this station is "AA". The legend describes the other codes used such as "OC" = On Call and the picture of a car means located at the station. "AA" is a mystery. The only station I know personally, LAX, is coded "OC" but I know they have two rental car company desks within the station. But, perhaps the cars are "on call" once you arrive. At any rate - what the heck is "AA"? Any info from those familiar with Kansas City? And why the heck can't this type of info be included in the Amtrak station website? Or at least defined in the legend in the schedule book. (Just letting off a little steam there).
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Hi Vicki,
I have no idea what the code AA means in the Amtrak timetable (and I tried to find that in a key before responding.)
However, the odds of getting a rental car are good. The Hertz website (which is not always accurate but is a good starting place) indicates that they have rental offices in both the Kansas City Amtrak station and the Westin Crown Point Hotel.
The Westin is an upscale hotel about 300 yards or so from the train station. There is a covered walkway from the train station to the hotel's lobby which takes you safely up and over the traffic too. I stayed at this hotel once at a special rate in 2002 and wanted to go back in 2005 BUT found that the Westin was priced well beyond my comfort level for a single night in a hotel by that time.
The Hertz website indicates office hours of 7a-7p Mon-Fri, 8a - 1p Sat, and 11a - 4p Sun for both offices.
Best advice would be to check the Hertz website and give these Kansas City offices a call to find out what's possible there.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Hertz now has a desk in the St. Paul Amtrak depot, and cars in marked stalls in the parking lot (new this year). St.Paul is also marked "AA" in the new timetable. Could it be AA means something like "Always Available", meaning cars on site and an agent at the desk? The Hertz website lists hours at Amtrak MSP as 7am-6pm weekdays and Saturday mornings.
I have done the KC-Minneapolis drive from the Chief many times myself. Navigating unfamiliar KC freeways in morning rush hour is no picnic, and the 440 mile trip to MSP gets you right into the evening rush hour in the Twin Cities. Otherwise it is an easy, if somewhat boring drive, unless it is winter with precipitation.
Another option might be to take a connecting Hiawatha train up from CHI to the Milwaukee Airport and rent a car, but then it would be evening and you would have a 300 mile overnight drive or stay in a motel.
Of course if this were the 1959, there would be a Twin Star Rocket passenger train from KC (9:30am) to St. Paul (6:35pm). -Please excuse the shameless self promotion.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
And a renewed Twin Star Rocket is in my mind one of the most obvious needed additions to the Amtrak system. It should be scheduled to give solid connections with the Southwest Chief both ways, best with through cars, both Chicago-Texas and Twin Cities-Los Angeles.
Unfortunately this requires use of tracks owned by none other than UP.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
I certainly agree, Miss Vicki, AA is a mystery symbol.
A "little car" means that at least one auto rental concern has both staffing and autos available at the station.
OC means "on call' suggesting that an auto rental concern will meet passengers at the station, although you may need to be transported to a distant facility to complete the formalities.
But AA is a mystery.
Now my experiences at Orlando would suggest that the symbol should be "little car' rather than OC. Last time I was through there ('04) Hertz had a desk staffed at train time with autos parked and ready to go at the station.
Stamford CT, I think is entitled to a "little car' as well. Both Hertz and Avis have offices and autos at an adjacent parking garage in whch the distance from the station can be measured in paces (50 paces to be precise when alighting an Eastbound Amtrak).
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Good info from all of you. I will pursue things with the car rental agencies. Mr. Norman, I assume you see this means I will be avoiding that "Chicago connection" on my way to the Twin Cities. I am not too worried about rush hour as I live in the epitome of rush hours, Los Angeles. And we will be traveling against traffic both cities. But, we could even stop for a night in beautiful Iowa if we felt tired. You people are such a great resource, thanks again. Bagpipes to you all.
Posted by CG96 (Member # 1408) on :
quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: Hertz now has a desk in the St. Paul Amtrak depot, and cars in marked stalls in the parking lot (new this year). St.Paul is also marked "AA" in the new timetable. Could it be AA means something like "Always Available", meaning cars on site and an agent at the desk? The Hertz website lists hours at Amtrak MSP as 7am-6pm weekdays and Saturday mornings.
I have done the KC-Minneapolis drive from the Chief many times myself. Navigating unfamiliar KC freeways in morning rush hour is no picnic, and the 440 mile trip to MSP gets you right into the evening rush hour in the Twin Cities. Otherwise it is an easy, if somewhat boring drive, unless it is winter with precipitation.
Another option might be to take a connecting Hiawatha train up from CHI to the Milwaukee Airport and rent a car, but then it would be evening and you would have a 300 mile overnight drive or stay in a motel.
Of course if this were the 1959, there would be a Twin Star Rocket passenger train from KC (9:30am) to St. Paul (6:35pm). -Please excuse the shameless self promotion.
Twin Star: if this were 1959, there would also be the option of the Chicago Great Western's Mill Cities Limited. One wonders who had the better schedule.
Posted by CHATTER (Member # 1185) on :
What is wrong with everyone here, that they are missing something so obvious?
AA clearly means that the rental car company will only rent cars to card-carrying members of Alcoholics Anonymous. This obviously is their way to help keep drunk drivers off the road. Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
CG96, I had totally forgotten the Chicago Great Western and was hardly aware it existed in my youth. Thank you for mentioning it. I googled it and it brought me right back to Trainweb, where I found a nice 1959 system map.
Lo and behold, two of my favorite long rail-to-bike trails appear to be an ex-C&GW route: -Cannon Falls to Red Wing, and the Sakatah Singing Hills trail from Faribault to Mankato. So I have traveled the C&GW, just without a train. What beautiful scenery on this route!
Vicki, I actually liked LA freeways. I could drive really fast and just blend in with the crowd. And the LA drivers did not feel compelled to change lanes every few seconds without signaling, or slow down when their cell phone conversation got really serious.
One of my favorite restaurants on I-35 is the Family Table in Osceola, IA just a few blocks east of the freeway on US34, overlooking the route of the California Zephyr. Good old fashioned home cooked midwestern food in portions fit for a farm crew. Mostly locals inside. My daughter and I once got off the early Chief and made it to this place for breakfast, just in time to see the eastbound Zephyr speed by (probably making up lost UP time on BNSF). The waitress warned me it was not wise to order their Cinnamon Roll WITH breakfast. She was right. Each was a full meal.
Posted by gregbkc (Member # 3726) on :
Vicki,
I might add that I have used the Hertz at the Weston Crown Center for many years and have had excellent service. Don't forget that Hertz is an AGR partner, sometimes you can get some really good discounts. If nothing else, you can add some points.
As others have mentioned, you can easily reach the Hertz office through "The Link", which is the enclosed walkway that runs from Union Station through the Weston Hotel and Crown Center, then up to the Hyatt Hotel.
To get to "The Link" can be quite confusing. Once you detrain, you will walk up a staircase (or take the elevator) to a walkway. You will take this long walkway and finally enter the ticketing and waiting area. Once inside, to your right is baggage pickup and to the left is the exit. Once you leave the Amtrak ticketing and waiting area you will enter the Main Hall. Turn left and walk directly into the Harvey House Diner. Walk though the diner and in the back you will see a glass elevator and two sets of stairs. Go up and then enter the enclosed walkway that will take you to the Westin. (probly too much info, but hey, I'm a guy and don't like asking for directions!)
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Greg, thanks for lots of info. I am however finding that incredible drop off fees are applied to this one way car rental unless I pick up and leave at the airports. Greg, Twin Star and David, help me understand how far the airports are from the Amtrak stations in both KC and MSP.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Hi Vicki,
The Kansas City airport, sadly, is about 25-30 miles from downtown. I don't know if there is reliable mass transit available.
Posted by gregbkc (Member # 3726) on :
Unfortunately, KC Union Station is nowhere near the airport. Taxi to MCI (with tip) will easily cost at least $35 to $40.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
MSP airport is about 10-12 miles from Amtrak. Light rail runs between the airport and downtown Minneapolis, which is about 4 miles from the Amtrak midway station. You can get to downtown MPL by frequent city bus 2 blocks from Amtrak, but that is less than delightful.
One reason I mentioned taking the Chief into CHI, and a connecting Hiawatha to Milwaukee, is that Hiawatha trains stop at the Milwaukee airport.
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