So I'm finally using some Amtrak Guest Rewards points to take a free trip to New York to help a friend pack his apartment and load his truck for the West Coast (I'm a helluva friend! But seriously, a good excuse to make a LD train trip and have a mini vacation).
I'm leaving CHI on June 2nd on the Cap Ltd to WAS then NEC up to NYP, doing the reverse on June 5th to get back to CHI on June 6th. Lake Shore Ltd.would have eaten a lot more points and it is my least favorite LD train, and I love the Cap Ltd. more than any other east coast train (for those of you wondering why not the direct route). All the trains I'm taking and all stations involved I've been in many times before, but it has been several years since I've done a LD trip (most of my trips these days involve either IL or MI corridor). I used to go back and forth between NYP and CHI a lot on the Pennsy and Cap Ltd when I still lived in NYC. I wish I was helping him move in his new place in Seattle so I could revisit my youth with another CHI-SEA trip on the EB, but alas.
So looking for some opinions for a few things.
First, what do people think about the Legacy Club at CUS? I've been by the outside of it a few times now and I like the way it looks. Is the bar in there open yet? And how busy does it get? I like a nice quiet place to have a drink before boarding a train. I liked the old Metro Deli bar when it was slow but not during those evening rush departure times. I'm hoping that the new Metropolitan Lounge will have its promised opening date before my trip, I'd like to check it out. But I won't hang out in the old one, never liked it. And if the new one - like the old one - still doesn't have place to sit and grab a beer (I never understand that lost opportunity for alcohol sales) I'll probably still opt for the Legacy Club.
And is it true you can still get your priority boarding from the Legacy Club without having to hustle back to the ML?
Now in WAS - one of my favorite stations - I've never checked out the ClubAcela, how is that? And what's your favorite place to hang out in WAS Union Station? Been many years (maybe 10) since I've been there, don't know what might be different.
As far as the Cap Ltd is concerned, how's that train these days? Food, service, etc. I was last on it about six years ago, haven't kept up if they've made major changes in anything, or if the quality has taken a slide.
Anybody know if you don't like one of your roomette assignments (on the way back I'm on lower level by the family room) what the chances are you could get Amtrak to switch you if you call and say pretty please?
I'm leaving CHI on June 2nd on the Cap Ltd to WAS then NEC up to NYP, doing the reverse on June 5th to get back to CHI on June 6th. Lake Shore Ltd.would have eaten a lot more points and it is my least favorite LD train, and I love the Cap Ltd. more than any other east coast train (for those of you wondering why not the direct route). All the trains I'm taking and all stations involved I've been in many times before, but it has been several years since I've done a LD trip (most of my trips these days involve either IL or MI corridor). I used to go back and forth between NYP and CHI a lot on the Pennsy and Cap Ltd when I still lived in NYC. I wish I was helping him move in his new place in Seattle so I could revisit my youth with another CHI-SEA trip on the EB, but alas.
So looking for some opinions for a few things.
First, what do people think about the Legacy Club at CUS? I've been by the outside of it a few times now and I like the way it looks. Is the bar in there open yet? And how busy does it get? I like a nice quiet place to have a drink before boarding a train. I liked the old Metro Deli bar when it was slow but not during those evening rush departure times. I'm hoping that the new Metropolitan Lounge will have its promised opening date before my trip, I'd like to check it out. But I won't hang out in the old one, never liked it. And if the new one - like the old one - still doesn't have place to sit and grab a beer (I never understand that lost opportunity for alcohol sales) I'll probably still opt for the Legacy Club.
And is it true you can still get your priority boarding from the Legacy Club without having to hustle back to the ML?
Now in WAS - one of my favorite stations - I've never checked out the ClubAcela, how is that? And what's your favorite place to hang out in WAS Union Station? Been many years (maybe 10) since I've been there, don't know what might be different.
As far as the Cap Ltd is concerned, how's that train these days? Food, service, etc. I was last on it about six years ago, haven't kept up if they've made major changes in anything, or if the quality has taken a slide.
Anybody know if you don't like one of your roomette assignments (on the way back I'm on lower level by the family room) what the chances are you could get Amtrak to switch you if you call and say pretty please?
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