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Hello Amtrak Gang, Just returned from a wonderful trip on LSL-SWC-Surfliner-Coast Starlight-Cascades-Empire Builder-Capitol Limited and lots of mass transits lines. A trip report will follow as soon as I get my notes together. Question is: Next summer planning to do a two zone sleeper to California via Capitol and Texas Eagle. The Guest Rewards setup would not give me a trip to LAX unless I took the SWC or CZ route. Have played with their system previously and so have the following plot brewing. Will book the two zone from Toledo to Pomona, CA so it will send me on the Texas Eagle route and then buy two coach tickets into LAX. But then noticed that Pomona and Ontario are stations that only provide debarkations and that tickets from those two depots are not available into LAX on Amtrak?? That would mean booking only to Palm Springs and then getting a coach ride into LAX. Am I correct about this? We were forced into a similar game playing on our upcoming fall trip from NOL to CLE and ended up with a short coach ride from Erie, PA to CLE so that we could ride the LSL out of NYP instead of the Capitol home. Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated. Thanks Railroad Bill
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Bill -- I believe you could catch a Metrolink train from Pomona or Ontario into L.A., but I don't believe Metrolink goes to Palm Springs.
MDRR Member # 2992
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Bill, regarding the trip to Ca., what I would do is book a ticket to Pomona and then after you board let attendant know your plans changed an you want to go to LA instead. More than likely they will tell you not to worry about it and carry you to LA instead, no problem.
When you board the LSL check with Cond. on platform if you have time or when your tickets are lifted, tell them you have sleeper out of CLE. If not occupied they will probably either move you right away or at least before arrival in CLE.
These are my suggestions based on my years of OBS experience.
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