Recent content by TheVig

Last year I got a text that the Crescent was running two hours late into Charlotte. The text came about 18 hours after my trip was completed. Message also said to call USA Rail for assistance. Trips I've taken since on other trains, the text messages, if they are actually sent, I received in...

Anyone hear anything new?

All this talk about the Star, got me thinking about RGH. Sure enough I did some checking for Jan 2025. Sold out coming and going between RGH-NYP. That means the Carolinian has the potential to see even more riders. Something tells me I should go ahead and book my Carolinian business class...

I have the Cambria-Chelsea NYC booked with points for six nights coming up soon in May. Cash price would have been around $2200.00. Very affordable (sarcasm).

I'm not in the station everyday either, but I'm in and out enough to have seen my fair share of shenanigans. Most of the time the homeless will enter the station and ask people in the waiting area for money, and quickly leave. They know they are not welcome. The worst I've seen first hand is...

Amtrak most likely has negotiated contracts with various hotels. Most airlines have negotiated contracts as well. Bottom line, is they ain't paying what you and me would pay.

Madness, I say. Madness.

Yeah, I started to notice it about a month or so ago. I'm done with roomettes and bedrooms on the Crescent. At least until traditional dining returns. Going north, I'll stick with business class on the Carolinian.

I've observed the role being staffed by one or the other on the Carolinian.

Everything from pizza to KFC

A bean counter at OIG probably figured out, that if you removed the weight of the potatoes from the trains, Amtrak in turn would save about $10 in fuel, across the entire fleet.

"Dedicated" IMO seems to be more of a suggestion, than a standard from my observation when riding these days. With that said, there is one conductor I get once in awhile who seems to stay dedicated to the business class car when he works the train. He has a great sense of humor, but is no...

It's a new Amtrak thing on NEC trains and some long distance trains on the east coast. In other words it's intentional to have half the seats in one direction, and half facing the other. When I look at the seat map on the app for my tickets, it shows what seats face which direction. This way you...

I've a got a trip on the Carolinian coming up in a few weeks. I'm in business class. Most of the seats facing direction of travel are sold. Riding backwards has wide open availability.

I just had to look at 20 into CLT. All things considered, not too many Bermuda Triangle mishaps.