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I went up to Dallas on #22 Friday and back to Austin on #21 Saturday. #22 Arrival into Austin was half an hour late but we arrived in Dallas on time. There was no lounge car: 2 sleepers, cross country diner, 3 coaches. Slim patronage. The train was clean but well worn on the inside, dirty on the outside.
#21 arrived 40 minutes early into Dallas so idled for an hour, then there was the 80 minute layover in FTW for an on time departure. We were on time or early for all stops and arrived Austin 15 minutes ahead of schedule. This set was similar to the other one but it could not possibly have been the same set. Slim patronage again. This train was very dirty on the outside too. Maybe it's the weather in Chicago.
I got this trip for $38 R/T on the first day of the Winter Sale. Greyhound one way is $40+. Airfare would have been close to $200 I expect. I was comfortable, not stressed out, and got to read an entire book and listen to plenty of music. Such a deal!!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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There's the problem with the LD's Mr City, even if "well worn and dirty", they have to discount the fare below "pooch" in order to get "slim patronage' to show up.
That the Eagle likely represents the most comfortable means, even minus the Lounge, to travel between the State's Capitol and its second largest city (largest "Metroplex") and operates at convenient hours, the average "local" is going to get behind the wheel of his "Texas Caddy", i.e. any GM SUV, and wheel it up I-35 being there in three hours - that considering the "great' adherence to posted speed limits I've observed when down there in the past.
So far as he is concerned the trip "cost' whatever are the "fill-ups'.
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