Josh M
Train Attendant
A month from today, November 11th, I'm leaving on my 4th long distance Amtrak trip. I'll be going from my home station in Royal Oak, MI, to Chicago, then on to D.C. aboard the Capitol Limited (I wanted to avoid boarding at zero dark thirty in Toledo, and an afternoon in Chicago having lunch with a friend I haven't seen in years sounded better). Then I'll be in D.C. for a couple days before heading down to Fort Lauderdale on the Silver Meteor to stay with friends for a week. I'll be flying (ugh) home the Monday before Thanksgiving since I won't have the time to spare to do the trip in reverse.
Because this isn't my first LD trip, I know a lot of the general Amtrak long distance trip tips like bringing an extra pillow and a small surge protector to plug into the only outlet in my rooms, etc. I'm also well aware of the issues surrounding the food service (which I experienced on my 2019 trip on the LSL), the lack of the SSL on the CL, etc. I am wondering, though, if there is any specific info, tips, or suggestions that are peculiar to either of the trains I'm taking or to navigating Union Station in Washington (which I've only been to once over a decade ago and never as a sleeper passenger).
For example, a few specific questions:
-Is dinner served on the CL upon departure from Chicago? I'm debating whether to eat before boarding given that 1) it's flex and 2) my body will still be on Eastern time. Same question w/r/t the Meteor after leaving D.C.
-Is there anywhere to store luggage at the station in Washington, similar to the Metropolitan Lounge's luggage room in Chicago? My hotel checkout time is noon, and the Meteor doesn't leave D.C. until almost 7:30, so I'd rather not lug my bags around all day if I don't have to.
-As of now, is the Meteor still running with one V-I and two V-II sleepers? I'm in the 10 car, which last I saw on here was a V-II, so I've been crossing my fingers it still will be so I can check the new cars out.
Any other information about these trains that you think I should know, or about the station, would be greatly appreciated!
Because this isn't my first LD trip, I know a lot of the general Amtrak long distance trip tips like bringing an extra pillow and a small surge protector to plug into the only outlet in my rooms, etc. I'm also well aware of the issues surrounding the food service (which I experienced on my 2019 trip on the LSL), the lack of the SSL on the CL, etc. I am wondering, though, if there is any specific info, tips, or suggestions that are peculiar to either of the trains I'm taking or to navigating Union Station in Washington (which I've only been to once over a decade ago and never as a sleeper passenger).
For example, a few specific questions:
-Is dinner served on the CL upon departure from Chicago? I'm debating whether to eat before boarding given that 1) it's flex and 2) my body will still be on Eastern time. Same question w/r/t the Meteor after leaving D.C.
-Is there anywhere to store luggage at the station in Washington, similar to the Metropolitan Lounge's luggage room in Chicago? My hotel checkout time is noon, and the Meteor doesn't leave D.C. until almost 7:30, so I'd rather not lug my bags around all day if I don't have to.
-As of now, is the Meteor still running with one V-I and two V-II sleepers? I'm in the 10 car, which last I saw on here was a V-II, so I've been crossing my fingers it still will be so I can check the new cars out.
Any other information about these trains that you think I should know, or about the station, would be greatly appreciated!