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My policy is to tip on boarding. I've never had bad service that way. It *shouldn't* be that way, and if everyone did it it would probably revert back to bad service, but it's always worked for me.

VL2s are brand new, don't know what the ride quality is like since I haven't been on one yet.

VL1 carbodies are still good. Could use them as a base for a total overhaul (new trucks, suspension, etc. with VL2 fixtures and finish inside). Though honestly they'd be better off coming up with a sleeper design using the Venture base for future expansion.

Last time I had flex was on CS, and they wouldn't even give me black pepper. They said no condiments. I was very confused.

I haven't seen any go missing. Unless you count SFC where the whole facility went away. It's more a matter of smaller stops never having received any in the first place.

I don't have a printer but I just keep the pdf saved on my phone. I like the feel of physical ticket stock though so I always print at the quik trak when there is one.

As someone who gets motion sickness, a flight in good weather is definitely more stable than freight track on the long distance Amtrak routes. The caveat being that turbulence can be far worse than even the worst track, but it's usually much shorter in duration. Obviously the train wins when...

This actually works really well on the Eurotunnel service and makes the loading process fast. Of course this is on carriers designed for drive on/drive off.

I always carry a compact strip with built-in USB-A and USB-C. Never had a problem with the power quality or had it kill my stuff. The built-in USB is nice so I don't have an abomination of wall warts hanging off the strip.

My experience with flex has taught me to carry a small travel spice kit to make it palatable. A bit of curry powder and Sriracha does wonders. Nothing will fix the obscene sodium content though, so you just need to swig some water while you eat. Thankfully my home trains are traditional again.

Waiting at EMY for 11 now. Agent said they had to route around flooded track.The storm that affected yesterday's train affected it today too.

Haha okay, I apologize. I'm just used to having to explain how they work elsewhere, obviously a large number of people here do understand how they work. I'm sure you can empathize with experiences with confused passengers twisting the dials randomly and waving their hands under the vents. In...

The superliner temperature controls work fine, they're just not very intuitive. They control the power to an electric space heater in the wall that takes time to warm up. This does nothing to control the temperature coming from the vent in the ceiling. If you're cold, just close the ceiling vent...

I do like the idea of an ADA sleeper/lounge combo. Of course that leaves out the ADA coach passengers. You could even make the upper floor a first class lounge like the old parlour cars. The lift area could open into a small wheelchair-friendly area immediately in front of the elevator. The...

Hey, some people pay good money for the "dungeon" experience on craigslist. This is an untapped market for Amtrak to explore.

I dunno, I've only been graced with AmStew once, but I found it kind of charming.

I don't understand the push to make every part of the train accessible since the train itself is so hard to get around for someone who is mobility-impaired anyway. Unless we switch to Brunel Gauge or something I don't see how we could ever make trains truly accessible. Better instead to have...

The vinyl seats will probably be a bit less comfortable, but I understand the reasoning given how stained and nasty the cloth ones can get. Remember that sleeper cars #1 customers are elderly folk, and many of them can have bladder/bowel control issues. Not to mention the people who put their...

Yup I actually did this once. It's because at the beginning and end of the LD routes they actually won't accept passengers for short trips where alternative Amtrak routes also serve the area, e.g. California Zephyr won't serve passengers at the end of the line from Sacramento to Emeryville. So...

Something you can only see from southbound (unless northbound is delayed by many, many, many hours) is Drawbridge, California -- the only ghost down in the SF bay area. It's in the swamps between Fremont and Santa Clara (between Oakland and San Jose on the CS). There are buildings on both sides...