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Local San Antonio person here. I concur - if you don't particually have a reason to want San Antonio, I would recommend Austin instead as posted above. The downtown San Antonio station is okay, but even I as a local & used to the rougher parts of town would not want to wait in the station all night. It's safe enough to be in that area of downtown at night, but there will be homeless & tourists can be a target for theft. Don't engage and you're usually fine as long as you don't look wealthy.

If you do book San Antonio, I recommend the Whataburger that is just a few blocks beyond the Denny's, in a building that also houses a police substation. Denny's is anywhere, Whataburger is a Texan institution. Via offers downtown service that goes nearby Amtrak that will get you to said Whataburger without as much walking as well.
 
I think the hubby and I were spoiled by the free trolley connecting the Kansas City Amtrak station (on last fall's Missouri River Runner trip) with several reasonably-priced hotels, including ones whose rewards programs I'm a member of. Part of the reason we were contemplating spending the night in the San Antonio train station was concern over finding reasonably-priced hotels nearby, with reasonably-priced transportation to & from the hotel. And the return trip would have to start the next day, because we're trying to squeeze this trip in around an event in the NW suburbs of Chicago (an auction at the hubby's favorite game store), which will take place on a Thursday (but we don't yet know WHICH Thursday) in October. So leaving IL on Sunday afternoon would allow us to start the trip without missing church, and boarding the Northbound return trip on Tuesday will get us back home around lunchtime Wednesday (assuming the Eaglet isn't horribly late).
I should probably head to the "Hotels adjacent to Amtrak" thread to get some tips on reasonably-priced hotels near Amtrak's TX stations along the TE's route.
 
Also when you call Uber to Austin TX station, remind the driver that he needs to come in on the Cesar Chavez St. side of the railroad tracks and not the other side. Twice I had an Uber driver come to the other side of the tracks across from the station and expect me to jump across tracks and hoops to get to him, and then proceeded to try to charge me for not meeting him, which of course I got refunded by Uber. Often Uber drivers are not very knowledgeable about the local lay of the land and follow GPS into figurative ditches.
 
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MccfamschoolMom said:
Since I haven't yet booked the trip, I will have to look into getting off at Austin instead of San Antonio. Sounds like it might be an improvement over spending the night in the San Antonio station, then perhaps hiking 1/2 mile each way to the 24/7 Denny's for "first breakfast" before "second breakfast" on the train! alternate ideas:
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Alternate ideas:

Ride the Eaglete to Dallas instead of Austin( arrival around 1130AM/.Departure around 3-4PM with Dinner on the Train in the Piney Woods.)

There are several reasonable Hotels around Union Station ( 2 across the Street)within walking distance .

Also a good Deli, Cindy's, is across the street, and the West end has several good cafes and eating places.

2 Blocks away is Dealy Plaza where JFK was assisinated, with the Book Depository Museum a must see.

DART, the everexpanding Local Rail system,operates out of Union Station and can get you pretty much anywhere in Dallas and it's suburbs.( get a Day Pass)

TRE also operates between Union Station and the Intermodel Station in Ft Worth , which has several really good places to visit ( Water Falls Park ,The Stockyards, Museum District) and many good eating places.

You could also stay in Ft Worth which has lots of Hotels not far from the Rail Station . If you book to Ft Worth youll be served Lunch on the Eaglete which begins around Dallas)Use any of the many Travel sites to research.(City Buses operate out of the Intermodel Station to downtown and the Stockyards, and Ride Share is readily available)
 
Bob Dylan said:
9

Alternate ideas:

Ride the Eaglete to Dallas instead of Austin( arrival around 1130AM/.Departure around 3-4PM with Dinner on the Train in the Piney Woods.)

There are several reasonable Hotels around Union Station ( 2 across the Street)within walking distance .

Also a good Deli, Cindy's, is across the street, and the West end has several good cafes and eating places.

2 Blocks away is Dealy Plaza where JFK was assisinated, with the Book Depository Museum a must see.

DART, the everexpanding Local Rail system,operates out of Union Station and can get you pretty much anywhere in Dallas and it's suburbs.( get a Day Pass)

TRE also operates between Union Station and the Intermodel Station in Ft Worth , which has several really good places to visit ( Water Falls Park ,The Stockyards, Museum District) and many good eating places.

You could also stay in Ft Worth which has lots of Hotels not far from the Rail Station . If you book to Ft Worth youll be served Lunch on the Eaglete which begins around Dallas)Use any of the many Travel sites to research.(City Buses operate out of the Intermodel Station to downtown and the Stockyards, and Ride Share is readily available)
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I tried looking up hotel prices in Dallas & Ft. Worth near Amtrak this morning, and spotted several places with rooms in the $200-$230 range, which is a lot closer to what the hubby & I would consider "reasonable" prices. The hubby approved the idea of getting off at Dallas/Ft. Worth when I mentioned the hotel prices, and leaving/boarding the train during daylight hours would make us both feel more comfortable. Will try booking the October trip after work today!
 
Finally booked the trip (Pontiac, IL-Ft. Worth, TX & return) just before heading to work, and booked a room at the Hampton Inn 2 blocks from the station. The hubby wanted to see if the AGR points from booking the outward journey would show up & be useable for booking the return trip (they weren't), so booked as 2 separate 1-way tickets. Enough hrs. in Ft. Worth between trains that I'm fairly certain boarding for the return trip won't be a problem.
 
MccfamschoolMom said:
Finally booked the trip (Pontiac, IL-Ft. Worth, TX & return) just before heading to work, and booked a room at the Hampton Inn 2 blocks from the station. The hubby wanted to see if the AGR points from booking the outward journey would show up & be useable for booking the return trip (they weren't), so booked as 2 separate 1-way tickets. Enough hrs. in Ft. Worth between trains that I'm fairly certain boarding for the return trip won't be a problem.
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Good plan, Ft Worth is a nice place, Dallas gets all the publicity but FTW is a real Texas City ( Cowtown) with lots to see and do,from Cattle Drives and Shootouts @ the Stockyards ( City buses from the Intermodel Station)to Great Art Museums!

Also some good Tex Mex and BBQ places ( Google up info)!

The Water Falls Park close to The Intermodel Station on the way to the old T&P Station( now the Start/End of the TRE Rail line to Dallas)is a must see.
 
Bob Dylan said:
Good plan, Ft Worth is a nice place, Dallas gets all the publicity but FTW is a real Texas City ( Cowtown) with lots to see and do,from Cattle Drives and Shootouts @ the Stockyards ( City buses from the Intermodel Station)to Great Art Museums!

Also some good Tex Mex and BBQ places ( Google up info)!

The Water Falls Park close to The Intermodel Station on the way to the old T&P Station( now the Start/End of the TRE Rail line to Dallas)is a must see.
Click to expand...
It looks like that Water Falls Park might be a nice place to hang out in the morning before boarding the northbound Eaglet in the afternoon. Will definitely look up Tex/Mex & BBQ places (pref. within walking distance), as it would be nice to have a meal of regional cuisine for supper after arriving in Ft. Worth.
 
Shanson said:
On the move as of noon, next stop San Antonio, with a delay of 17 hours.
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It looks like the westbound Sunset which was due out of San Antonio this morning at 2:45 a.m. is still being held for 21. The Sunset will likely depart San Antonio about 8 to 10 hours late.

This is in contrast to a recent issue with the northbound coast starlight at LA where another train (can't recall which one) had connecting passengers and was running late and was due to arrive 20 minutes after the starlight was scheduled to depart. The starlight was not held and departed LA on time as I understand.
 
Rasputin said:
It looks like the westbound Sunset which was due out of San Antonio this morning at 2:45 a.m. is still being held for 21. The Sunset will likely depart San Antonio about 8 to 10 hours late.

This is in contrast to a recent issue with the northbound coast starlight at LA where another train (can't recall which one) had connecting passengers and was running late and was due to arrive 20 minutes after the starlight was scheduled to depart. The starlight was not held and departed LA on time as I understand.
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Different situation. Two of the TE cars have to hook up to the SL, it’s not just passengers who are connecting. Else the next SL out of LAX will be short 2 cars.
 
How is it a dispatcher in DC or CHI thinks it makes sense to hold 1 at SAT instead of putting connecting pax on a charter out of Temple or Austin and meet 1 at El Paso. Back in the good ole days of the 80s and 90s, Amtrak a few times put them on a SWA flight in DAL and flew them to El Paso and vice versa.
 
frequentflyer said:
How is it a dispatcher in DC or CHI thinks it makes sense to hold 1 at SAT instead of putting connecting pax on a charter out of Temple or Austin and meet 1 at El Paso. Back in the good ole days of the 80s and 90s, Amtrak a few times put them on a SWA flight in DAL and flew them to El Paso and vice versa.
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These decisions are typically not made by local dispatchers. They come from CNOC.
 
So today's 22 from SAT is canceled of course and I guess tomorrow's 22 will look like the 22 from happier times with two locos , one of the two being ferried back to CHI, pulling 8 Superliners. No need to add the Superliner coach in STL.
 
frequentflyer said:
How is it a dispatcher in DC or CHI thinks it makes sense to hold 1 at SAT instead of putting connecting pax on a charter out of Temple or Austin and meet 1 at El Paso. Back in the good ole days of the 80s and 90s, Amtrak a few times put them on a SWA flight in DAL and flew them to El Paso and vice versa.
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Are there protect coaches and sleepers in LA? Don't forget that two cars come off #21 and go onto #1. Those 2 cars will be needed for the next #2.
 
frequentflyer said:
There are protect Superliner cars in San Antonio for this very reason. Old pic.

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4224522,-98.4777866,3a,75y,217.64h,77.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s1DZKXCXtC6Qa2oNEenYupQ!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=1DZKXCXtC6Qa2oNEenYupQ&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=243.7419&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
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Ah, I forgot about those. Wonder if they went out on another SL as protect.... I don't keep up with those trains, so I have no idea how they've been running lately.
 

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