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Day 1 (10/29/2023) Everett up to Vancouver on the Cascades. Got fully packed up yesterday, even loaded my big suitcase in my truck last night, so didn't have to mess with loading it along with my CPAP and "toy bag" backpack this morning. Just throw the backpack and CPAP in and go. Didn't...

As a somewhat regular rider (annually) of the Canadian, I take issue with "questionable service standards". The onboard service on the Canadian is both much better and much more consistent than Amtrak. I have never run into a surly OBS crew member on the Canadian, and have run into many on...

The suspension of BC started in early January.

Okay, I said I was going to blog this time and I will. This will be the first "normal" version of my annual November New York via Canada since 2019. No buses, no avoiding VIA's Canadian and staying in the US because they were keeping you in your room on it, no avoiding extra border crossings...

There is a major fire burning in Stevens Pass. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/wildfire-closes-stevens-pass-prompts-evacuation-order/ Just looked at the WA DNR fire map, and it is burning on both sides of tracks around Baring. US 2 is closed. Think there is a good chance this...

Since the recent "modernization" of Multi-City, you can no longer get a fare breakdown (rail fare versus accommodation/business seat charge) without actually buying a ticket. Until recently, Multi-City still had vestiges of the older UI and you could get a fare breakdown on it. No more. I...

This is clearly an artifact of separate Amtrak and VIA feeds that asm transit docs uses , but it is amusing none the less. Amtrak 63 and VIA 98 are the same physical train.

Just checked train status. Train 7(14) is estimated to arrive Seattle at 11:39 pm tonight. Train 8(16) is estimated to depart at 12:15 am. Who thinks they can actually turn the train in 36 minutes? I wonder why the didn't turn it in Spokane and bustitute? I know two bustitutions would be...

As all of know, Amtrak is very much a YMMV service. However, there are supposedly some rules, here are some selections that should provide some entertainment: 8. Hours of Service – Cafe/Lounge Cars a) Open and Ready • The collection of tickets is not a reason to delay the opening of...

For 7: Chicago Departure moved back from 2:15 pm to 3:05 pm Seattle Arrival moved back from 10:25 am to 11:29 am Trip length goes from 46:10 to 46:24 For 8: Seattle Departure moved back from 4:40 pm to 4:55 pm Chicago Arrival moved back from 3:55 pm to 4:45 pm Trip length goes from 45:15...

I have a trip in November, returning from New York to Everett, WA, ideally on November 12th. The date is fairly inflexible, only a day or two wiggle room. I have been checking fares and both the Lake Shore and the Builder have been in high bucket, for a cash fare of over $1700. Since I had...

I am setting up my trip to New York via Canada for the fall. While we all hope that the Maple Leaf will have resumed international service by then, I am making my plans at this point on the assumption it won't be back. I am planning on catching the Leaf (64), leaving at 12:17 pm from Niagara...

Just went in to explore fares on a November trip and guess what? Amtrak has listed the roomette type as "Superliner Roomette" on the Lake Shore. 🙄

Okay, I just had a weird exchange with someone on the Facebook Amtrak Empire Builder page. Someone posted a complaint that she had been told she couldn't check bags between MSP and GPK and was wondering how to handle her bags. I took a look at Amtrak.com, found that MSP and GPK both still...

Effective Monday, October 25th, the Stalight will leave LA 19 minutes earlier, at 9:51 am. The schedule is different up through Vancouver, WA: - Burbank -17 - Van Nuys -16 - Simi Valley -16 - Oxnard -16 - Santa Barbara -13 - SLO -24 - Paso Robles -16 -Salinas -9 - San Jose -19 - Oakland -12 -...

I will be taking the eastbound Lake Shore to New York next month for the first time in several years. I know there will be breakfast and lunch, but is there any food service between Albany and New York?

Does anyone know when the rail fare for sleepers went from lowest value coach bucket to the second bucket? Bonus for why. It was lowest bucket effectively forever, and it was a surprise to me a few months ago when I found that had changed. I don't want to reignite another discussion about the...

Since I am ticketed in March 2022, I am getting email advisories from VIA. I just got one this morning that 1x weekly service will continue past the previously announced date of October 15th and onboard restrictions will continue. Glad I pulled the plug on my 11/1 trip and hope onboard...

I had assumed that the 50% off coupon for the Canadian and the Ocean you get with Privilege status was only good for a one leg on those trains. I just booked a round trip Vancouver-Toronto-Vancouver for next spring and they applied the 50% to both legs, which I was not expecting. The entire...

I just made a reservation from Everett, WA to New York leaving Everett on November 3rd in roomettes on the Builder and the Lakeshore The Superliner roomette EVR-CHI was $287 and the Viewliner roomette CHI-NYP was $250. If memory serves, those are lowest or 2nd lowest buckets for each. I know...