Recent content by whc6

Wow! A fun topic! 1. I would like to restore the current Amtrak Crescent to the glory of the Southern Crescent. Mind, I think the Crescent is still one of Amtrak's better long-distance trains. However, imagine the superb dining on the Southen Crescent, spotless and attentive porters...

Davidson NC. My "home" station is Kannapolis, about a 20 minute drive. It is served by the Carolinian and Piedmont. Salisbury is about a 40 minute drive and Charlotte is about 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours - depending on traffic.

I would say the Coast Starlight followed by the Crescent.

Well, it arrived in Kannapolis last night exactly two hours behind schedule. It left Richmond on-time, lost over an hour by the time it reached Wilson, and was a bit over 1 1/2 hours behind when it left the CSX tracks (to Norfolk Southern) in Selma. I guess we can blame the chronic lateness on...

Yes, I saw that too. Today it is running almost 5 hours behind. Basically makes it a useless train if it is going to be that late. My Mom is picking it up tomorrow to come to Charlotte. If it is that late she will probably never take the train again, which is unfortunate as she loves trains.

I've noticed that the Carolinian has been running up to 3 hours late southbound the past week. I've taken this train many times, and while almost always late, it usually only runs 30-45 minutes behind. Any idea why all the problems?

I am leaving this Thursday for England and Gibraltar. No trains in Gibraltar, but I will ride a couple in England. I'll try to submit a brief trip report also.

I picked the bus up at the Ferry Building last April to go to Emeryville to catch Coast Starlight. It is a perfectly safe area and I noticed cabs everywhere. Finding one should be no problem. I bet there are a couple waiting for the Amtrak bus to arrive. There is a local seafood restaurant...

Sounds like a dream-trip to me. Make sure you take your passport. The Canadian immigration people are getting very picky. When I took the Cascades to Vancouver last April the Canadian's required a passport. I always carry mine so I had no trouble. Those that did not were pulled aside. I...

I have taken the Crescent from Salisbury, NC to New Orleans and back. It was one of my favorite trips and hope to take it again soon. I do recommend booking a sleeper compartment - the trip will be much more pleasant. Things to see and do: Unfortunately the Crescent passes through North...

Business class on the Carolinian is, I think, worth the nominal charge. There is more leg room, clean bathrooms, video (if working and if the videos have not been stolen), newspapers and drinks, and a dedicated attendant. Fewer little kids in business class.

The northbound Carolinian was sold out last Friday. However, as you may know not all seats are sold for the entire trip. When I got off in Wilson, the train was probably 1/2 full. Amtrak was expecting a large boarding at Richmond which would fill it up. The southbound Carolinian was sold out...

It was a 2-2 config.

Here is a short little trip report for a short little trip. I picked up the northbound Carolinian last Friday in Kannapolis for a weekend trip to Greenville NC to see a ball game. The train arrived on-time (hard for it to be late as the origination point is only 25 miles away in Charlotte)...

My wife will be in Switzerland traveling to either Nice or Northern Italy in a couple of months. She is contemplating taking a sleeper - just adding the supplement to her Eurrail pass. We've taken day trains in Europe but never a sleeper. The State Dept warns of crime on some sleeper trains...