Right. I am passing through the US on my way to New Zealand (as you do) early next year (feb). A preliminary check on the t/t shows that it would be better for me to fly from London to Chicago then catch the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles before disappearing toward Auckland and the land of the Long White Cloud.
Now I know the timetables will change so some questions:
1. What dates do the timetables change and what is their currency?
2. Recommendations on what sort of accommodation should be booked?
3. Any decent dosshouses close to departing/arriving stations.
If I were to travel; lets say tomorrow, with nexty years flight schedules and this summers Amtrak timetable I would be looking at a night in Chicago and one in Los Angeles therefore negating any late running.........
If you think this is complex then try organising a flight from New Zealand to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the latter being an entity which nobody recognises........
Cheers
James (aka Cogloadreturns...)
Normally systemwide adjustments to the timetable occur in the spring and fall, so you can expect the next one about October. Occasionally conditions warrant an adjustment at other times, such as the one that just occured for the California Zephyr. However, I think it is safe to assume no substantial change will be made to the Chief's current schedule, and it sounds like you have built some "flex" time into your schedule anyway.
Based upon my personal taste (and I'm sure you can find others who disagree), if I were making the trip, I would strongly consider taking the California Zephyr to the San Francisco Bay area instead. I think this is a much more scenic trip than the route of the Chief. You could then either fly or take the Coast Starlight to LA if the airline connections are not suitable from San Francisco to NZ.
Considering the length of the plane trip you will be undertaking shortly after the train trip, I would certainly book the best accomodations I could afford. As a minimum, I would book a roomette. The cost difference is not as great as it appears as meals are included with the price of the accomodation.
Finally, it appears you have chosen to take this trip from London to NZ the long way around. Welcome to the US and to Amtrak, and I hope your trip is enjoyable.
Dakguy201 wrote: Based upon my personal taste (and I'm sure you can find others who disagree), if I were making the trip, I would strongly consider taking the California Zephyr to the San Francisco Bay area instead. I think this is a much more scenic trip than the route of the Chief. You could then either fly or take the Coast Starlight to LA if the airline connections are not suitable from San Francisco to NZ.
I'd agree with the suggestion of taking the California Zephyr instead of the Chief - the ride west from Denver through the Rockies to Salt Lake City and then over Donner Pass to Oakland is not to be missed (especially as it should be covered in deep snow at that time of year). As well as the Coast Starlight, there are Amtrak California trains from Sacramento, Martinez, Emeryville and Oakland to Bakersfield (with Amtrak bus connections to LA from there) - not as scenic as the Starlight but more frequent and reliable.....
Tony
James,
As far as the accomdation is concerned, if money is tight keep in mind that (in comparison to European trains) Amtrak Superliner coach class has huge reclining seats with legrests, footrests and acres of legroom. I've done Chicago - Oakland and LA - Chicago in coach class and survived....
Greetings to you all again! Happy Christmas to you all which I spent in Baltasound, in the far far north of the British Isles. I have clocked up more air miles than Santa.
Rights I have booked my trains - the CZ to Emeryville and then a trip from Oakland to Bakersfield then change onto the bus to LA (following day after arr in Emeryville) I have a plane to catch from LAX at 21:35 to Auckland. Which I must catch. So advice on the following would be grand -
1. How reliable is the service from Oakland - Bakersfield then the bus to LA? I have roughly 4hrs to play with in (this) schedule - just watching that flight time!
2. Any recommendations for overnight stays in Chicago/ Oakland - preferably close to the departure points? I have of course trawled the various websites but if you discerning lot can point out anywhere then I would be grateful.
3. Should I book a flight as backup.....?????? Cost isn't a problem here - I would prefer the train that is all. After reading some entertaining stories regarding the ontime or lack of it performance of the CZ then booking overnight accom. in Oakland won't be too much of a problem.....
yeghes da.
The current Amtrak Timetables can be found at http://www.amtrak.com/.
Amtrak management announced recently that it will update the timetables quarterly beginning in 2008. Given the volatility of railway operations in the U.S., this makes more sense than updating it in the spring and fall in conjunction with the change of the seasons.
The California Zephyr is arguably the best train in the U.S. for scenery, as several observers have noted. However, it had the worst on-time record of any of Amtrak's long distance trains during the fiscal year that ended 30 September 2007. It was on-time at its end points a little more than ten per cent of the time. The Southwest Chief was on-time at its end points more than 60 per cent of the time.
I stay a La Quinta Inn in the U.S. whenever I can. I have been staying with them for more than 25 years, and I have never had a bad experience. La Quinta is a moderately priced motel and hotel chain. They can be found at LQ.com.
Cogload me ol' lad...
Right opposite Emeryville Station there's a big Holiday Inn - or at least there was in 1999.
Easy taxi from there to Oakland, but your train will stop at Emeryville anyway.
You've been pointed correctly to CZ which is the better train scenery-wise although February might be a bit weather-stricken.
Chicago - I usually stay in either the Essex or the Congress Plaza. Book via:-
http://www.chicago.com/
Always cheaper rates than the usual internet discount sites.
As Tony Owlsroost says, going "coach" on Amtrak is'nt uncomfortable and you probably win a better all round view than in a sleeper.
Enjoy.
Hi Cogload,
As Simon mentions, you need to make allowances for possible weather-related delays with the CZ in winter - Donner Pass averages 30+ feet of snowfall each winter, so train operations can be seriously disrupted if there are bad snowstorms. The night in Emeryville should be enough of a buffer (without knowing your exact schedules), but if you wanted to give yourself a few more hours, flying from the Bay Area/SF to LAX could be a thought - the train ride down the valley to Bakersfield isn't in the same league as the CZ for scenery.
If you haven't experienced US freight railroading before, you ought to try and spend an hour or two en-route watching the trains go by - the CZ also stops at Naperville (28 miles west of downtown Chicago) so you could take a Metra train to there and watch the action on the BNSF triple-track 'racetrack' before boarding the CZ - but take something warm to wear, this is the Midwest in winter....If you want somewhere closer to downtown, LaGrange (on the same line) is very pleasant and has a Borders bookstore with a coffee shop overlooking the tracks, but you'll then have to carry on to Naperville or backtrack to downtown to catch the CZ.
Grand Ave...many thanks for your email and kind offer. I will try my hand at the CZ this time but in future, if that offer still stands, I will gladly take you up on it.
Thanks for the info all. My trip to NZ will undoubtedly have some travelling by train on it so I will endeavour to post whilst I am there (inbetween getting tanked up at cricket matches, attempting to surf and watching rugby union).
James.
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