I will be taking the Sunset Limited from Houston to New Orleans on Sunday, October 22nd. The train is due in New Orleans at 9:40 p.m. Will there likely be cabs at the station?
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
Shouldn't be a problem. My wife and I arrived at 4:00AM on a substitute bus due to a derailment in Texas and cabs were available.
I have never had a problem getting a taxi at the railroad/bus station in New Orleans. Of course, there are not as many trains or buses arriving at the station as there were years ago, but there has usually been a long line of taxis waiting for fares when I arrived by train.
Johnny
Thanks all for the information re: taxi service at Amtrak's New Orleans station. You have made me feel better about arriving in the Crescent City after dark.
In my younger days I would have walked to my hotel, which is a mile or so from the station, at any time of the day or night. But now that I am a senior citizen, I don't want to chance it.
I made it to New Orleans. But not by Amtrak.
Number 2 was estimated to arrive in Houston more than 8 hours late. That would have put me in New Orleans around 4:00 a.m. Not part of my plan! So I booked a flight on Southwest, and I am settled in my hotel.
Amtrak could not tell me why the train was 8 hours late, but "late" is an every day problem with the long distance trains, although not usually this badly.
My sympathies, JPS1; it's more than awful to see one's travel-by-train plans blow up because the darned train is so late. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if these kinds of delays didn't happen to some LD trains nearly every day.
As I've said before, Amtrak service "lately" seems to be getting worse in a number of ways.
What's happened to you, JPS1, has happened to me several times. No wonder I fly sometimes; I can't depend on Amtrak LD trains to get me where I want to go on time.
That being said, I hope you have a very good time in Nawlins.
For those who DO make it to N. O. by train, note that there is streetcar service during most hours from Union Station to Canal Street and then on to the North side of the French Quarter. Just might make a cab unnecessary.
Number 2 arrived in New Orleans at 8:35 Monday morning. It was 10 hours and 55 minutes late. Number 1 departed New Orleans at 3:28 p.m. or 6 hours and 28 minutes late. It is now estimated to arrive in El Paso at 4:18 p.m., 2 hours and 56 minutes late. Given Amtrak's schedule padding, Number 1 probably will arrive in LAX on time tomorrow morning.
I have asked Amtrak for an explanation of why Number 2 was so late. They have not responded.
JPS1 I have asked Amtrak for an explanation of why Number 2 was so late. They have not responded.
Amtrak sent me an email explaning why the Sunset Limited was running more than 6 to 8 hours late on October 22nd. A truck hit the train west of Yuma, AZ, which caused a major delay.
It pays to speak-up. In addition to refunding my fare, Amtrak gave me a voucher for my next trip. While it won't cover all of the additional expense incurred in organizaing a last minute flight from Houston to New Orleans, it helps.
Most importantly the response shows that Amtrak will act positively when warrented. I did not ask for any additional compensation.
JPS1, one thing that I applaud you for is your willingness to abandon Amtrak when things go terribly wrong. i have noticed through these posts that more and more people are doing this. i did myself a couple of years ago when a 6 hour late Texas Eagle at St. louis was going to jeopardize my connection to the Capitol Limited in Chicago. Without hesitation I booked a last minute flight to Chicago from St. Louis and arrived in time to have lunch and do a little relaxing in the Metropolitan Lounge before the departure of the Capitol. Dinner companions in the diner that evening were somewhat aghast that I had done that but, what was i supposed to do? Miss my connection, spend the night in Chicago and then travel to Washington, most likely overnight in coach (yuk!), and lose a day of my vacation in the deal. (Not to mention a prepaid hotel room.) The added expense of the air ticket, plus the only 45 minute flight versus several hours on the train, was well worth it.
runnerdude48 JPS1, one thing that I applaud you for is your willingness to abandon Amtrak when things go terribly wrong.
JPS1, one thing that I applaud you for is your willingness to abandon Amtrak when things go terribly wrong.
I was looking forward to the ride. I have never been over the Houston to New Orleans segment of Amtrak's system.
Had the train just been a couple of hours late, I probably would have toughed it out. But as it stood I figured the Sunset would not get to NO until 4 or 5 a.m. That was not in my plans. Hopefully, I will be able to schedule the trip again and enjoy the ride.
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