And the FOLLOW-UP on the timings of the Southwest Chief on our recent trip:
We returned last evening form our GRR-CHI-LAX-CHI-GRR trip. I am happy to say everything went fine and according to plan.
The GRR-CHI leg was on time both for departing and arriving.
The Chicago Metropolitan Lounge was a comfortable place to relax, do computer work, and snack. I'd even say go early so you can enjoy it. We waited about 5 hrs for the SW Chief but it was nearly as comfortable as being at home.
We were able to get off one stop before LAX--in Fullerton Our excellent SCA (Richard) said Totally Fine! It was about 30 minutes behind schedule into Fullerton. The train hit a horse we were told somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico and there was a 15 min stop to check the train after that. There were maybe a few very brief stops on the trip due to freight traffic.
On our return from LAX when we arrived at the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge in Los Angeles I asked the very friendly attendant to link our return reservations to GRR in case we missed our GRR connection. (I waited until she had time to address it--in Chicago the ticket agents were always busy so I decided to wait until LA.) She did by adding a note on our reservations on her computer. She actually showed me what she wrote on her computer, so that was an extra measure of trip protection.
No need to worry though as we arrived in CHI just 28 minutes late (some occasional freight traffic). We had about a 3 hour wait back again in the CHI Metropolitan Lounge. But very comfortable and enjoyable.
And our final trip from CHI-GRR was on time leaving and arriving in Grand Rapids.
Wonderful timing the entire trip!! Thanks all for your comments and suggestions!
* Also want to add the dining car was open and the food was consistently DELICIOUS. And we didn't have to wear masks in when in our rooms in the sleepers. They didn't announce that overhead but the SCA's both ways said it was fine not to wear in our rooms when they came around to our bedroom to greet us (Masks were required everywhere else they said.)
We returned last evening form our GRR-CHI-LAX-CHI-GRR trip. I am happy to say everything went fine and according to plan.
The GRR-CHI leg was on time both for departing and arriving.
The Chicago Metropolitan Lounge was a comfortable place to relax, do computer work, and snack. I'd even say go early so you can enjoy it. We waited about 5 hrs for the SW Chief but it was nearly as comfortable as being at home.
We were able to get off one stop before LAX--in Fullerton Our excellent SCA (Richard) said Totally Fine! It was about 30 minutes behind schedule into Fullerton. The train hit a horse we were told somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico and there was a 15 min stop to check the train after that. There were maybe a few very brief stops on the trip due to freight traffic.
On our return from LAX when we arrived at the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge in Los Angeles I asked the very friendly attendant to link our return reservations to GRR in case we missed our GRR connection. (I waited until she had time to address it--in Chicago the ticket agents were always busy so I decided to wait until LA.) She did by adding a note on our reservations on her computer. She actually showed me what she wrote on her computer, so that was an extra measure of trip protection.
No need to worry though as we arrived in CHI just 28 minutes late (some occasional freight traffic). We had about a 3 hour wait back again in the CHI Metropolitan Lounge. But very comfortable and enjoyable.
And our final trip from CHI-GRR was on time leaving and arriving in Grand Rapids.
Wonderful timing the entire trip!! Thanks all for your comments and suggestions!
* Also want to add the dining car was open and the food was consistently DELICIOUS. And we didn't have to wear masks in when in our rooms in the sleepers. They didn't announce that overhead but the SCA's both ways said it was fine not to wear in our rooms when they came around to our bedroom to greet us (Masks were required everywhere else they said.)
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