Some interesting information received from a Cafe attendant on a San Joaquins train.
1. The current proposal of adding high-level platforms at most or all stations was shot down by BNSF
2. The doors don't work properly. They've been having problems with the automatic doors to where the "open...
It seems the second set of Caltrans Venture cars is about to enter service. The Amtrak San Joaquins Instagram page has been posting weird teasers which feature them. They have a "big announcement" on March 5th.
Seems that Amtrak has been continually testing these coaches, hopefully the rumors that they'll enter service soon are true.
Test train 865 was spotted on November 30th per this YouTube video.
If you've ever ridden in a Superliner Sleeper and have used the upstairs bathroom, it's roughly half the size of a Rommette. I imagine Amtrak could fit two small but comfortable bathrooms in the space of a Viewliner Roomette.
So I took this trip last year on The Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited, from Los Angeles to Fort Worth, and there's a possibility I might take it again. When I went to go check pricing, all trips for this train (422) are showing up as cancelled or not bookable. The train was technically the Sunset...
I have one final update to this story.
The manager of the Texas Eagle (this is what he called himself) called me personally and apologized profusely. He gave me his work cell number and told me if I ever ride the Eagle/Sunset again and encounter a problem, to please call him.
Amtrak Customer...
821 Heartland Flyer was running late due to a track issue. About 3 hours.
Passenger across from me was venting to someone on his cell phone.
"I thought it was called the Heartland Flyer, not the Heartland Sit-here-and-do-nothin'!"
OP here. Called Amtrak.
The Customer Relations Agent was abosolutely speechless as to why the LSA would say such nonsense. He confirmed Amtrak's website was correct in regards to meal times and I should've received meal service.
They sent me a voucher for future travel.
Seems this is a case...