picnic42
Train Attendant
After taking a wonderful vacation and enjoying the 4 trains we traveled on (which was part of the vacation). We have come back home still with all the enthusiasm we had before we left. We can't wait to get back on the train and ride again!
Every train we rode, announced as we boarded, that it was a sold out train... all seats have been sold. The Cardinal, The Southwest Chief, The Coast Starlight, and the California Zephyr, all had similar announcements. Even when I booked this trip in January I was told some trains were approaching sold out. When booking the Southwest Chief I was told to not hesitate, but to book now due to the high volume of Boy Scouts that ride that train to one of their Camps! (yes that train was packed with boy scouts... snacks in the lounge car were sold out early LOL)
This leads to the question... when is a slack time to ride these "Western" trains? (is there a slack time?)
Way back in the "day" I used to have the luxury of sleeping in two seats... even as late as 2001 I took a train to Texas and did not have a person sitting next to me.
Is ridership UP so much that all or most of the seats are ticketed and used?
If anyone has a thought of when the western trains are lightly traveled, let me know. (Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, Empire Builder)
Thanks
Ralph
Every train we rode, announced as we boarded, that it was a sold out train... all seats have been sold. The Cardinal, The Southwest Chief, The Coast Starlight, and the California Zephyr, all had similar announcements. Even when I booked this trip in January I was told some trains were approaching sold out. When booking the Southwest Chief I was told to not hesitate, but to book now due to the high volume of Boy Scouts that ride that train to one of their Camps! (yes that train was packed with boy scouts... snacks in the lounge car were sold out early LOL)
This leads to the question... when is a slack time to ride these "Western" trains? (is there a slack time?)
Way back in the "day" I used to have the luxury of sleeping in two seats... even as late as 2001 I took a train to Texas and did not have a person sitting next to me.
Is ridership UP so much that all or most of the seats are ticketed and used?
If anyone has a thought of when the western trains are lightly traveled, let me know. (Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, Empire Builder)
Thanks
Ralph