I haven't ridden a train since I was a young teen in South Florida in the 70s. Now I am booked for a one-way trip on the California Zephyr leaving Chicago in early Fall and I am so excited. There was no way I could afford a roomette so I'll be spending my nights rather upright in coach. I'm not a picky sleeper so I think I'll be fine, but I was wondering if any seasoned travelers could recommend the best seating location for me. Downstairs? Upstairs? Front, middle, or back of car? Also, is there a way to get hot water for my Starbucks Via packs? I just don't think I would enjoy train coffee, but maybe I'm wrong about that.
Hello, I'm new here w/questions about coach on California Zephyr
- Thread starter Valerie
- Start date
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Welcome to AU! Wonderful trip!
Please read the Forum that has tips for First Time Riders and the Trip Report Forums, lots of good info!
As for your Coach trip, of course you'll want to wear layers of comfortable Clothing and comfortable Footwear( Sneakers work well), take a travel pillow and light blanket or throw,.
You can keep your Big luggage downstairs in the Luggage rack and just take what you need upstairs to your Seat.
Most of us like to sit Upstairs in Superliners since the egress through the Train to the Cafe and Sightseer Lounge is upstairs and the View is better.
Downstairs is where the Restrooms are, and Amtrak tries to save these seats for the Mobility impaired and Seniors.
The best ride is in the Middle of the car( not by the Stairs) and Window Seats give you the best Asfor your View of the passing scenery and also make it easier to clean against the wall to sleep if you have yo share a Seat with another passenger.
As for your food and drink, you can carry on food and drink, and the Cafe attendant will give you a cup.of hot water upon request.
Amtrak currently sells Dunkin Coffee @ $ 2.75 a cup, it's not bad, but is best whdn freshly brewed in the morning for Breakfast.
The National Menu in the Cafes and Diner are changing once Full Service returns this Summer( Daily Trains) so be sure and read them once they are Posted.
Please read the Forum that has tips for First Time Riders and the Trip Report Forums, lots of good info!
As for your Coach trip, of course you'll want to wear layers of comfortable Clothing and comfortable Footwear( Sneakers work well), take a travel pillow and light blanket or throw,.
You can keep your Big luggage downstairs in the Luggage rack and just take what you need upstairs to your Seat.
Most of us like to sit Upstairs in Superliners since the egress through the Train to the Cafe and Sightseer Lounge is upstairs and the View is better.
Downstairs is where the Restrooms are, and Amtrak tries to save these seats for the Mobility impaired and Seniors.
The best ride is in the Middle of the car( not by the Stairs) and Window Seats give you the best Asfor your View of the passing scenery and also make it easier to clean against the wall to sleep if you have yo share a Seat with another passenger.
As for your food and drink, you can carry on food and drink, and the Cafe attendant will give you a cup.of hot water upon request.
Amtrak currently sells Dunkin Coffee @ $ 2.75 a cup, it's not bad, but is best whdn freshly brewed in the morning for Breakfast.
The National Menu in the Cafes and Diner are changing once Full Service returns this Summer( Daily Trains) so be sure and read them once they are Posted.
Last edited:
Ditto. And welcome to AU Valerie!Welcome to AU! Wonderful trip!
Please read the Forum that has tips for First Time Riders and the Trip Report Forums, lots of good info!
As for your Coach trip, of course you'll want to wear layers of comfortable Clothing and comfortable Footwear( Sneakers work well), take a travel pillow and light blanket or throw,.
You can keep your Big luggage downstairs in the Luggage rack and just take what you need upstairs to your Seat.
Most of us like to sit Upstairs in Superliners since the egress through the Train to the Cafe and Sightseer Lounge is upstairs and the View is better.
Downstairs is where the Restrooms are, and Amtrak tries to save these seats for the Mobility impaired and Seniors.
The best ride is in the Middle of the car( not by the Stairs) and Window Seats give you the best Asfor your View of the passing scenery and also make it easier to clean against the wall to sleep if you have yo share a Seat with another passenger.
As for your food and drink, you can carry on food and drink, and the Cafe attendant will give you a cup.of hot water upon request.
Amtrak currently sells Dunkin Coffee @ $ 2.75 a cup, it's not bad, but is bestcwhdn freshly brewed in the morning for Breskfast.
The National Menu in the Cafes and Diner are changing once Full Service returns this Summer( Daily Trains) so be sure and read them once they are Posted.
Thanks. Any word on the hot water availability to a coach rider?
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- Jul 16, 2010
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Bob Dylan did mention that. ...the Cafe attendant will give you a cup.of hot water upon request."
Note, IMHO, Amtrak coffee (which used to be really fabulous) is still better than Staryuks - and cheaper too!
I'm not sure what the setup is on the Superliners used in the Zephyr, but when they switched to Dunkin coffee on the Northeast Regional, they replaced the coffee storage carafes in the cafe car with vacuum carafes. That means that the coffee isn't sitting on a hotplate evaporating into bitter sludge and so stays fresh longer. It also means that if it sits around too long, it gets cold, as I found out last week when I ordered my free BC drink on a 6 pm departure out of Philly.
Ditto about the coffee.
I just rode the Zephyr this past November. Its an amazing trip, and the scenery is spectacular.
Hopefully, by the time you ride, traditional dining will be restored, and coach passengers can dine in the dining car. Amtrak food (pre-covid) was actually pretty ok, and the experience of dining while the train runs is special.
Definitely spend as much time as you can in the observations car. Just after leaving Denver, its important to get a seat (it will fill quickly). The 5 hours after Denver are by far the most scenic on the journey.
I just rode the Zephyr this past November. Its an amazing trip, and the scenery is spectacular.
Hopefully, by the time you ride, traditional dining will be restored, and coach passengers can dine in the dining car. Amtrak food (pre-covid) was actually pretty ok, and the experience of dining while the train runs is special.
Definitely spend as much time as you can in the observations car. Just after leaving Denver, its important to get a seat (it will fill quickly). The 5 hours after Denver are by far the most scenic on the journey.
VentureForth
Engineer
Hi Valerie and welcome aboard!
I know you are requesting hot water - it won't be available on demand 100% of the time. The cafe does close at night and the attendant takes period meal breaks. They can also have quite a long line.
I recommend a plastic water bottle with those drink mixes that you can enjoy cold. There is potable water throughout the train. Not real tasty, not real cold, but it's how I prefer to stay hydrated.
I know you are requesting hot water - it won't be available on demand 100% of the time. The cafe does close at night and the attendant takes period meal breaks. They can also have quite a long line.
I recommend a plastic water bottle with those drink mixes that you can enjoy cold. There is potable water throughout the train. Not real tasty, not real cold, but it's how I prefer to stay hydrated.
BoulderCO
Service Attendant
I know your VIA is about $1 a cup, but the cafe car coffee is in my opinion equally good. So at least try it a time or two.
Your biggest challenge will be sleeping. Both your personal ability to sleep kind of sitting up and the luck of the draw about having a seat mate in coach will be big factors. No guarantees. My preferred coach seating is a window seat on the upper level without anyone next to me. I happens a lot of the time, but not all of the time. In terms of dress, expect to be cold more than you are warm.
In any event, you will optimize your experience by spending a lot of your time in the Observation car. Better scenery, better people watching and more interaction with other passengers. Also definitely have breakfast and dinner in the dining car IF it is back to normal when you take your trip. By early fall, I certainly hope it will be!! It may seem expensive, but it will be the best $$ you spend during your long trip.
Enjoy the experience and please keep us posted as to how it goes both during and after the trip.
Your biggest challenge will be sleeping. Both your personal ability to sleep kind of sitting up and the luck of the draw about having a seat mate in coach will be big factors. No guarantees. My preferred coach seating is a window seat on the upper level without anyone next to me. I happens a lot of the time, but not all of the time. In terms of dress, expect to be cold more than you are warm.
In any event, you will optimize your experience by spending a lot of your time in the Observation car. Better scenery, better people watching and more interaction with other passengers. Also definitely have breakfast and dinner in the dining car IF it is back to normal when you take your trip. By early fall, I certainly hope it will be!! It may seem expensive, but it will be the best $$ you spend during your long trip.
Enjoy the experience and please keep us posted as to how it goes both during and after the trip.
Unfortunately, the dining car will still be closed to coach passengers for the immediate future even once traditional dining resumes around June 30th (
). They haven't announced when they'll reopen it to coach passengers but I imagine it won't be before they stop social distancing enforcement and they can resume community seating. My opinion is don't look for it until near the end of the year at the soonest.When I'm on the Chief (and Card) in late July, they better have traditional dining. I want my steak.Unfortunately, the dining car will still be closed to coach passengers for the immediate future even once traditional dining resumes around June 30th (
There hasn't been full dining (with items reheated on a grill) on the Cardinal for a very long time, way before all this stuff has taken place over the last couple of years.... It had the modified menu to suit an Amdinette car. Maybe you might see the steak on the Chief.....
with luck at least on the chief....to be honest though I did a trip on the LSL which went modified for a while when the Heritage Diners were dying, and the VLs were not available yet, and I have to admit, they didn't do a bad job with what they did serve....but that was with a full staff, not the solo crap
Please get a AGR “Amtrak Guest Rewards” card. You don’t need to apply for the credit card part just the AGR.
JontyMort
Lead Service Attendant
Good to see the suggestion that traditional dining will be back on the CZ from July. We’re doing New York to Emeryville in early October, so fingers crossed. Is the food on the LSL as bad as it sounds? I’m sort of resigned to carrying on some sandwiches for the evening and having a late breakfast in Chicago - and a shower in the Metropolitan Lounge, of course 
.
.It won't kill you. Okay, maybe slowly due to high blood pressure from all the sodium, but not right away.
No, it's okay. But I'm sure you would much rather enjoy a sandwich.
Where does it say you are obligated to eat flex meals?
The OP is traveling coach, at this point, regardless of what has been promised, the status of coach passengers using the dining car probably should be kept in the "I'll believe it when I see it category" People who have actually experienced the flex meals (rather than just rehashing what they have heard) have not been impressed , but many of the comments are obviously silly. But like just about all commonly sold packaged meals and a great majority of restaurant meals in the US too much salt, too much sugar, and too much fat. Folks always point it out about the Amtrak meals, they rarely mention the fact that it is true of a majority of prepared food in this country. The food is not anything to right home about, nor is it as bad as some people try to make it sound.
Oh, come on, the flex meals aren't that bad. They definitely need to improve the quality and the presentation, but they are perfectly edible, and some are even tasty. The main problems are inadequate salads, lack of variety for a 4 day trip, and most breakfast items are sugar bombs. Ordering kosher meals (at least 72 hrs in advance and only over the phone) might result in some improved quality.
The SW Chief hopefully will have returned to traditional dining. The Cardinal is one of the trains where flex dining will continue
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