Been Doing Some Train Riding

[Kevin C. Smith]

 

 

 

Well, just got back a few days ago from a few Amtrak trips. Specifically, Hiawatha service from Milwaukee to Chicago; the California Zephyr from Chicago to Richmond, CA; the Coast Starlight from San Jose to Portland; and finally the Empire Builder from Portland to Saint Paul. Some highlights.

 

Almost all my trains were on time! Even the baggage agent commented on that when she told me that the Starlight was not only on time the day I was leaving but had been the day before, too, “I guess miracles happen”. The one delay-on the way out on the Zephyr, we got stuck behind a WB freight train that was, in tun, waiting for an EB freight to clear the single track section of UP's Sierra route. Thanks UP... Also, new baggage cars on all my long distance trains.

 

I usually take a thruway bus from Emeryville but noticed a shiny new station in Richmond that is adjacent to the bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station. So, a slightly longer trip to downtown San Francisco but a more interesting journey and a more convenient arrival.

 

Of course, San Francisco is a buffet line of transportation. PCC streetcars, light rail (surface and subway), bart, and-of course!-the cable cars. I spent four days pigging out. Suggestion: ride the California Street line cable car-fewer tourists. Buy a 1, 3, or 5 day pass for unlimited riding on any Muni bus or streetcar and the cable cars (which are otherwise $7.00/trip).

I decided to catch the Starlight in San Jose because there looked to be a more interesting station to hang out around if I had to wait for a late train and also, I could ride the Caltrain (ex-SP) commuter line to get there. San Jose is a nice station, well developed into an “intermodal center” (I'd just say “union station”) with local buses and San Jose's own light rail system. Besides Amtrak and Caltrain, there are (a few) trains of the Altamont Commuter Express that also use SJD. Looks like it can be a busy place.

 

The Starlight appears to have had two diners on my trip north. Is that normal?

 

Sadly, most of the trip was at night so I didn't see as much of the mountains as I would have liked but there were still plenty, up until about Eugene, OR. I had pretty much planned to miss my connection in Portland with the EB Empire Builder but we made it in good time. I had time to check out the station. Trains ran an article on it some years back and I have never been able to find any layout of the building. It was good to get a chance to see what it looks like.

Got to see the Columbia River on the way to Spokane. Wow. That's a big river! Half the time I would have believed it if you had told me we were skirting a lake. The big dams and the occasional barge tow gave it away.

 

We got into Spokane OT and, just before we left, so did the WB Builder so it was rush hour in Spokane. But it was around Midnight so there wasn't anyone around to rush. There was a little Chinese restaurant in the station that opens up for the last night arrivals (with the splitting/combining of the Portland and Seattle sections, there is about an hour).

 

Got into Saint Paul early, which gave me plenty of time to checkout Saint Paul Union Depot (just opened within the last year). The concourse is back in business as the station. Amtrak and bus tickets are almost hidden two levels down. The original ticket lobby/waiting area is a restaurant/event center, similar to the way Chicago Union Station old waiting room is used. At least they don't call it an “intermodal center” but “union station”-which is still wrong. The original name was Saint Paul Union Depot. How can you just throw away an acronym like “SPUD”? Be careful when making connections there, though. Only Amtrak seems to announce their departures. All the bus lines just expect you to keep an eye on the clock.

 

I decided to stretch my legs and rode the new rode the streetcar to the Capitol and walked back.

Then, six hours on a bus...and home.

 

[schlimm]

Perhaps the rather dramatic decline in freight carloadings permits the Amtrak trains to run on time?

[Deggesty]

Kevin, you certainly had quite a trip.

As to two diners on the Coast Starlight, the Pacific Parlour Car does offer lunch and dinner for first class travelers, though it is not a diner technically.

Crossing the Cascades in Oregon is not as spectacular now as it was in March of 1972; you could see where you would be going as you came down on the west side, but the trees now get in the way of that.

Yes, the trip up the Columbia out of Portland is quite spectacular--and it is just as amazing if you go on up to Seattle, for you follow the river for some distance after leaving Portland. It is sad that we can no longer up on the south bank of the Columbia. Yes, my wife and I went both ways on both banks.

I envy you for your trip by rail.

[Kevin C. Smith]

schlimm

Perhaps the rather dramatic decline in freight carloadings permits the Amtrak trains to run on time?

I suspect as much. The last time that happened was 2009 or 2010, when the recession had dropped freight traffic then, too. I noticed that 3 or 4 trains we saw on the UP's line on the south bank of the Columbia River were pretty short.

[PJS1]

The on-time performance of the long distance trains as of the end of April 2016 had improved significantly compared to the same month and year-to-date periods for 2015.

The long distance trains were on-time at their end points an average of 68.8 per cent in April 2016 vs. 57.8 per cent in April 2015.  Year-to-date average on-time performance through April 2016 was 67.5 per cent vs. 58.5 per cent in 2015.

The average on-time performance for the long distance trains at all stations was 63.6 per cent for April 2016 vs. 47.5 per cent for April 2015.  The year-to-date average was 60.6 per cent for 2016 vs. 46.0 per cent for 2015.

[blhanel]

My wife and I just returned from an Inside Passage cruise via the Empire Builder (Seattle section) today- we got off in Winona, MN where our car was waiting for us.  I can also attest to the pleasantly-surprising timeliness of the train for our trip.  The latest the train got was around 50 minutes for the first couple of stops out of Seattle (slow orders) and maybe 30 minutes at a couple of Montana stops, but otherwise they made up for it.  I expected problems in North Dakota, but the reduced oil traffic and the capacity improvements there (new two-track main across much of the state now) pretty much eliminated them.

[dakotafred]

(formerly dakotafred)

Kevin, Amtrak's dining and lounge services have been a lively topic lately. I'd be interested in learning how you found them on your extended western swing. Any important changes from your last time?

Also, did you go sleeper or coach? Any changes there?

NOTE ALL: I'm not son of dakotafred, but the same old, following some IT adventures. Resolution called for a new screen same.