Thank you!
Please note, I don't know much, but I will tell you what I know.
1. Amtrak does not serve Las Vegas by train. I believe they offer thruway motorcoach (bus) service there, you would transfer in Kingman, AZ after hopping off the Southwest Chief.
Would I have to transfer in Chicago to get the Southwest Chief?
Whenever the border does open, where would we transfer from to get to Niagara Falls?
I know all about the long distance trains & their delays. We used to take the Lakeshore Limited from NYC to Chicago, then transfer in Chicago to Denver on the California Zephyr. We have even taken the train from NYC to CA once. We have also taken Southwest Chief from Raton to Kansas City. We are just not too familiar with traveling from FL to other states or other parts of FL. We are only familiar with the Orlando area.
If we had to transfer in Chicago & there is a layover, where do we get food if the food court is closed? Would we have to quarantine if we are just transferring? What if we missed our train & had to put us up in a hotel like they have in the past?
We travel safely by Lynx & Sunrail. We also eat inside restaurants & have even gone to the movies. We have gone to Disney Springs & Universal. We also go to Walmart all the time so we feel safe doing these things.
Thank you for giving me your best answers.
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Yes, you would have to transfer in Chicago to get to the Chief. it'd be ORL - WAS/NYP/BOS - CHI - KNG
Once the border is open, you would transfer in New York to get to Niagara Falls.
No idea if the food court is closed at Chicago Union Station. I don't think you would need to quarantine for a transfer, but have someone else double check.
About connections, if you book it all under one reservation, basically where the Amtrak App/website shows it as a connection, it is guaranteed. So they will either hold your next train for you, put you in a hotel, or bus you to your trains next stop.