amtrakwolverine
Engineer
Im taking the texas eagle from chicago to LA and wanted some reviews about this train.
The TE from SAS to LAX is combined with the Sunset Limited - so expect delays!Im taking the texas eagle from chicago to LA and wanted some reviews about this train.
Just to clarify a little off of what Ed says above, the stop in San Antonio isn't a "delay." That gives the connotation that the train is put behind schedule while they transfer the cars. In actuality, the Eagle simply has a scheduled layover in San Antonio in the wee hours of the morning. Most folks sleep through the layover and don't even realize how long they stopped.There is a six+ hour delay at San Antonio. This delay may be more, or less, depending on the timekeeping of either train.You probably are aware that there is a more direct route from Chicago to L.A. aboard Southwest Chief?
While I know the sleeping cars are connected onto the new train to L.A, I am not 100% sure about the coach cars.. It may be that coach passengers have to leave the Texas Eagle train at San Antonio, and find new coach seats aboard the Sunset Limited the following morning?
A coach is only added enroute to the northbound Eagle at St. Louis and it doesn't happen all year round, only during peak periods. Southbound the coach is taken off in St. Louis.Some things people are saying are inaccurate or misleading. The Texas Eagle currently IIRC, runs with one or two P42s, Transleeper, Sleeper, Diner (or CCC featuring diner menu, depending on trainset), Lounge, Coach-bag, Coach. I believe there is another coach added somewhere along the route. In a short time, this consist will change to the following:
im somewhat a seasoned rider. the train is texas eagle 421. first time taking the eagle. im going to la via the te then taking the swc back to chicagoA coach is only added enroute to the northbound Eagle at St. Louis and it doesn't happen all year round, only during peak periods. Southbound the coach is taken off in St. Louis.Some things people are saying are inaccurate or misleading. The Texas Eagle currently IIRC, runs with one or two P42s, Transleeper, Sleeper, Diner (or CCC featuring diner menu, depending on trainset), Lounge, Coach-bag, Coach. I believe there is another coach added somewhere along the route. In a short time, this consist will change to the following:
Actually, AMTRAK uses the Intermodal Center, just a short walk north (maybe 3 minutes) of the old AMTRAK stop at the Santa Fe depot. The Santa Fe depot has been restored by private concerns and serves as a party renal hall.Fort Worth station is the original Texas & Pacific Railway HQ and has been redone in all its original splendor. I'm going next month just to see it and take some pix.
What specifically. I think everyone has it spot on.Some things people are saying are inaccurate or misleading.
Hey thanks for the clarification. I had received an e-mail from a T&P buff who made it sound like the Eagle landed at the T&P station. Just as long as we can get to it whether it be TRE, cab, hoof or motor car will be just fine. Thanks again.Actually, AMTRAK uses the Intermodal Center, just a short walk north (maybe 3 minutes) of the old AMTRAK stop at the Santa Fe depot. The Santa Fe depot has been restored by private concerns and serves as a party renal hall.Fort Worth station is the original Texas & Pacific Railway HQ and has been redone in all its original splendor. I'm going next month just to see it and take some pix.
The T&P building is only served by the Trinity Rail Express, which also serves the IMC. You can take the TRE back and forth (see TRE schedules) or walk, but the walk will be about 15 minutes. I believe you can still wander the main lobby area, but sometimes the facility is rented out.
From my newest favorite website maps.live.com
T&P [looking west] with TRE in station. The outer two platforms are AMTRAK.
Santa Fe depot [looking north] with the south end of the IMC - and the northbound #22 (engine north) and southbound #21 (engine south) instation.
T&P [looking north] TRE rail platform under white awning
Aerial of entire stations complex
Pan around these pictures to get more views of more AMTRAK trains, including the Heartland Flyer, in station.
I just hope they keep the sightseer online. Without, it is cramped in that diner/lounge thing they built
Just for the record, NARP mentioned at the Region 4 (MD/VA/WVA/DC) meeting today that Amtrak has announced that when it starts running the CCC full-time later this spring on the Texas Eagle, the Sightseer Lounge WILL BE RUNNING alongside (unstaffed), thanks in no small part to heavy lobbying from TEMPO and NARP as I understand.1 P42, Transleeper, Sleeper, Diner-Lounge, Coach-bag, Coach.
Meaning the train will NOT run with a sightseer lounge!
It would set a precedent but for the fact that Amtrak plans to convert 40 Sightseer Lounge cars to Lounge-Diners, so I'm not sure that they'll have enough Sightseer Lounge cars left to cover all the routes.I just hope they keep the sightseer online. Without, it is cramped in that diner/lounge thing they builtJust for the record, NARP mentioned at the Region 4 (MD/VA/WVA/DC) meeting today that Amtrak has announced that when it starts running the CCC full-time later this spring on the Texas Eagle, the Sightseer Lounge WILL BE RUNNING alongside (unstaffed), thanks in no small part to heavy lobbying from TEMPO and NARP as I understand.1 P42, Transleeper, Sleeper, Diner-Lounge, Coach-bag, Coach.
Meaning the train will NOT run with a sightseer lounge!
This, as we all know, sets a major positive precedent for keeping the SSL's on trains that get the CCC treatment.
Rafi
I have written AMTRAK lots of time about removing the Diner crew in Austin. I even offered the possibility of keeping the crew only when the train is operating as #421 so breakfast will be available for #422 passengers ( and those boarding in SAS).Now, just one more question to add to the fire...will the CCC run all the way to San Antonio or will the crew still get off at Austin? (I know the car will go but will there be service?)
Just for the record, NARP mentioned at the Region 4 (MD/VA/WVA/DC) meeting today that Amtrak has announced that when it starts running the CCC full-time later this spring on the Texas Eagle, the Sightseer Lounge WILL BE RUNNING alongside (unstaffed), thanks in no small part to heavy lobbying from TEMPO and NARP as I understand.
This, as we all know, sets a major positive precedent for keeping the SSL's on trains that get the CCC treatment.
Rafi
Well if they follow the game plan from the CONL, the CCC will be open all the way to/from San Antonio.Now, just one more question to add to the fire...will the CCC run all the way to San Antonio or will the crew still get off at Austin? (I know the car will go but will there be service?)
You can suggest that, the problem is that we quite honestly don't know what they are doing to these cars. Originally when the Diner-Lite plan was originally put forward, 10 diners and 40 lounge cars were supposed to be converted. Then after the intitial problems with the prototype diner that was converted, the plan to convert the lounge cars was put on hold. Shortly after that, we were given the CCC instead of the Diner-Lite.40 SSLs is basically the entire inventory. This means that Amtrak will have NEARLY DOUBLE their current Superliner dining capacity. May I suggest that the Lounge-Diner might just be a name for a substantially upgraded lounge car?
Alan;Well if they follow the game plan from the CONL, the CCC will be open all the way to/from San Antonio.Now, just one more question to add to the fire...will the CCC run all the way to San Antonio or will the crew still get off at Austin? (I know the car will go but will there be service?)
YES! I am glad to see a good decision was made on this (if it holds) and the Lounge will stay. Unstaffed is fine, since it will just be a matter of stepping through to the Lounge side of the CCC if you wish a snack and carrying it back. I enjoy my 26 hour train rides from Oklahoma to Chicago (most my friends think I'm nuts) and will continue to use this option.I just hope they keep the sightseer online. Without, it is cramped in that diner/lounge thing they builtJust for the record, NARP mentioned at the Region 4 (MD/VA/WVA/DC) meeting today that Amtrak has announced that when it starts running the CCC full-time later this spring on the Texas Eagle, the Sightseer Lounge WILL BE RUNNING alongside (unstaffed), thanks in no small part to heavy lobbying from TEMPO and NARP as I understand.1 P42, Transleeper, Sleeper, Diner-Lounge, Coach-bag, Coach.
Meaning the train will NOT run with a sightseer lounge!
This, as we all know, sets a major positive precedent for keeping the SSL's on trains that get the CCC treatment.
Rafi
While you're correct that the City has always had a crew bumper to bumper, the diner wasn't open bumper to bumper. Whereas the CCC is now basically open bumper to bumper according to all reports and that is one of the selling points that Amtrak is pushing. So one would expect that philosophy to carry over to the Eagle.Alan;Well if they follow the game plan from the CONL, the CCC will be open all the way to/from San Antonio.Now, just one more question to add to the fire...will the CCC run all the way to San Antonio or will the crew still get off at Austin? (I know the car will go but will there be service?)
There's only one drawback as Davey as pointed out. The diner crew has been getting off at Austin for quite some time now. I believe at one point it was Dallas or Fort Worth. We all know the mindset at Amtrak HQ; why change something when it would do some good? I'm just wondering if they have even considered keeping the crew on to San Antonio. The City always has had a crew bumper to bumper. Maybe Rafi heard something about this.
It was Fort Worth I would guess until about 5 years ago, give or take.There's only one drawback as Davey as pointed out. The diner crew has been getting off at Austin for quite some time now. I believe at one point it was Dallas or Fort Worth.Well if they follow the game plan from the CONL, the CCC will be open all the way to/from San Antonio.
Davey;It was Fort Worth I would guess until about 5 years ago, give or take.There's only one drawback as Davey as pointed out. The diner crew has been getting off at Austin for quite some time now. I believe at one point it was Dallas or Fort Worth.Well if they follow the game plan from the CONL, the CCC will be open all the way to/from San Antonio.
Here is a riddle. Since the new design is actually serves two purposes, diner and lounge, will AMTRAK let passengers use the 'diner' side as a 'lounge' when the diner crew departs in AUS but the snack bar stays open. Same northbound out of SAS until the crew re-boards in AUS.
From my experience, AMTRAK has *ALWAYS* hated passengers hanging in the Diner when closed. So will they shoo people off? Will they let the folks mess up the diner side? Who will clean that up, or will the dine crew reboard and have to do it? Hmmmmm.
Seems the only real choice is to keep the crew on full time.
Maybe they do not serve breakfast northbound due to cost, but at a minimum they could extend dinner hours, save the $$$ for three hotel rooms in AUS, and have more time to prep for lunch northbound (if running late into AUS). I think AMTRAK would be wise to serve breakfast on #422, and study the feasibility of serving on #22.
Funny thing is, the rooms the crew uses overnights onboard from CHI-AUS, they likely get those same rooms back AUS-CHI.
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