We are thinking of flying to Seattle, spending a night, and then taking the train to Vancouver, BC, for a cruise we have booked in September. What is the status of the equipment. The Amtrak website implies that the Talgo equipment is back but the Amtrak/Cascades website says no.
If it's Superliner equipment would there be any reason for paying extra for Business Class?
Frank in Sunny SBA
HopefulRailUser Member # 4513
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Frank - I have booked our trip in BC for October using AGR points. It is true that they still do not actually have a BC car. I am expecting to have to call and ask for the points to be refunded after the trip. But maybe they will get the equipment going by then.
I have lots of thoughts on where to stay in the two cities. Will share with you as needed.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Yup, still Superliners on the Vancouver train. If they are offering Biz Class, I'm surprised. When they first made the temporary switch to Superliners, they were calling the lower level Coach seats "Business Class". But that did not go over well, and only lasted a week or two.
Maybe they are selling Biz Class because they are anticipating the Talgo to be back in service on that route by then?
sbalax Member # 2801
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Both the Amtrak website and the AGR site are offering BC in late September. Perhaps it will be so.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
RRRICH Member # 1418
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As of last summer, the SEA-VAC train was a Superliner; all other Cascade trains were Talgos.
royaltrain Member # 622
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Amtrak keeps promising Business Class sometime in the future, but it never arrives. When I took it last December from Vancouver to Seattle it was supposed to have Business, but it was just a superliner coach and the diner/lounge the so-called diner lite.
graynt Member # 17
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We will be taking the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver a week from Saturday. Aaah..the anticipation! After spending two days in Vancouver,including Canada Day July 1, we will be taking a thruway bus to Seattle,spemd a few days there and fly back to Buffalo and transfer over to Depew station where my car will be. We are starting from Buffalo and taking the Maple Leaf to Toronto a day before we depart on the Canadian.
I really wanted to take the train from Vancouver to Seattle,but the only train south leaves too late, arriving in Seattle at 10PM. I really wish there was an earlier train, but we don t want to get to Seattle that late, and then get over to the airport where our hotel is.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Graynt, Too bad about not taking the train, it is such a VERY nice ride! And this time of year it's light almost all the way. Assuming they have an observation car with the superliner, it doesn't matter where you sit. If they do not, be sure to make them give you a seat right side facing forward.
If the cost of the taxi to the airport hotel is the reason you are going earlier, might you be able to switch to that Best Western Pioneer hotel where we all stay? Then, when you get in to Seattle 10 or 10:30 (train is sometimes a little late), take a cheap little taxi ride over to it--it's pretty close. Then, book the airport shuttle--cheaper than a taxi--to take you from the Best Western Pioneer to the airport to catch your flight next day.
But if you cannot change . . . you will just have to go out again! Maybe on Amtrak instead of VIA . . .
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Best Western Pioneer Square may require a 2-night minimum stay.
sbalax Member # 2801
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We checked the prices for the Best Western Pioneer Square and it has become pretty pricey for what it is. At least that was the case on the night we needed. There was no two night minimum but it was for a Sunday in late September.
We were able to get a "crew" rate at the Red Lion on 5th. I'm not sure how we'll get into town since we will have more luggage than is comfortable on the old reliable city bus.
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