A few amtrak questions for a first timer (LA>BOS)

[Tennessee Traveler]

Also, if you make the reservation for both you and girlfriend at the same time, just make the reservation for BOTH of you. The "open" add on tickets, etc. applies only if you have already made and PAID for your ticket and roomette charge and add your girlfriend at a later date. In any case, there is only ONE accommodation charge for the roomette plus each passenger will have to pay for the coach fare for each. Don't worry with trying to do your reservation on line. Simply call and join Amtrak Guest Rewards and make all your reservations through those very understanding and helpful agents.

 

[ehbowen]

Since you said in your opening post that you were in a position to consider a bedroom, the second person changes the calculus a bit. Nota bene: Regardless of what anyone may say, two adults in a Roomette is do-able...I shared a Roomette with my (then) 84 year old father for a two week circle tour of the West. That said, it's very tight. If you are thinking of taking your girlfriend along you will be much more comfortable in a Bedroom...plus, you will have your own private toilet and shower cubicle. As with a Roomette, the total price is the single accommodation charge for the room plus a base rail fare for each passenger. So you won't be looking at double the high Bedroom prices; it will probably be about $200 (or less) above the Bedroom price for a single traveler. If you can afford it and if you are fairly certain that you want to bring her along, that's what I would recommend. The larger space (and wider bed!) will make the trip much more pleasant for both of you.

 

[jebr]

If you're trying to save a bit of money, I'd stick with the roomette for two people as long as you and your girlfriend are close/comfortable with each other. My spouse and I travel together and share a roomette pretty comfortably. The only downfall is that on the train from Los Angeles to Chicago, the top bunk doesn't have a window, so it can get claustrophobic up there. The bottom bunk isn't big enough for two people to sleep comfortably. However, during the day the roomette is pretty comfortable for two people, with plenty of room to kick off your shoes and get comfortable. There's also the option to go to the lounge car if you need a bit more space.

 

[cpotisch]

If you're trying to save a bit of money, I'd stick with the roomette for two people as long as you and your girlfriend are close/comfortable with each other. My spouse and I travel together and share a roomette pretty comfortably. The only downfall is that on the train from Los Angeles to Chicago, the top bunk doesn't have a window, so it can get claustrophobic up there. The bottom bunk isn't big enough for two people to sleep comfortably. However, during the day the roomette is pretty comfortable for two people, with plenty of room to kick off your shoes and get comfortable. There's also the option to go to the lounge car if you need a bit more space.

Exactly. While it can be a bit tight for two people, it's definitely doable, and you can always spend your day in the SSL anyway. A bedroom on the Southwest Chief will likely be at least $400 more expensive than a roomette, and I just don't think that's worth it.

 

[VM]

Excellent thank you guys - I really don't know what I'd do without this expertise it makes me feel 100x better having all of these questions answered.

We'll be choosing the roomette. As for the ride itself, do you guys know how bumpy it is? I'm sure there are rough patches in certain areas but in general is it a pretty comfortable ride in the sleeper?

 

[ehbowen]

Have you been on other trains in the past? Train motion is not like car, plane, or boat motion; it's an animal all to itself. That said, the quality of the ride depends upon the quality of the track. In California and Arizona you'll be on some of the best track in the United States...with a 90 mph speed limit in some places. Between Albuquerque and Dodge City the trackage is decades overdue for a major overhaul and the ride will not be as good. East of Newton on in to Chicago your ride quality should go back up dramatically. I personally haven't been on the Lake Shore Limited route and I've heard mixed reports from those who have, so I won't comment about that one.

 

[zephyr17]

I was just on the Lakeshore in May and the quality of the ride is okay. Not as smooth as some other places, but not nearly as bad as others (thinking of the Silvers).

 

[cpotisch]

Excellent thank you guys - I really don't know what I'd do without this expertise it makes me feel 100x better having all of these questions answered.

We'll be choosing the roomette. As for the ride itself, do you guys know how bumpy it is? I'm sure there are rough patches in certain areas but in general is it a pretty comfortable ride in the sleeper?

The Southwest Chief can get pretty bumpy unfortunately. Still nothing like what you'd experience in a car, but for certain short stretches on the chief it likely won't be too smooth. The Lake Shore is usually very smooth, though.

 

[cpotisch]

I was just on the Lakeshore in May and the quality of the ride is okay. Not as smooth as some other places, but not nearly as bad as others (thinking of the Silvers).

What? In my experience, the Silvers are incredibly smooth!

 

[CAMISSY55]

On the City of New Orleans there are places that are so rough that it literally feels like the train has run over a large log or hit a significant elevation point in the rails. I've often heard cries from those obviously unfamiliar with the route exclaim explitives, then immediately apologize for their language!

 

[zephyr17]

I was just on the Lakeshore in May and the quality of the ride is okay. Not as smooth as some other places, but not nearly as bad as others (thinking of the Silvers).

What? In my experience, the Silvers are incredibly smooth!

Been a few years since I rode the Silvers. When I rode them, the ride was so rough that a water bottle sitting on the shelf flew over my body without touching me. Glad to hear they've improved the trackbed, because the few rides I had on the Silver service (both Star and Meteor) were among the worst I've had, on a level with the Chief through eastern Kansas when it was still going 90 over marginally maintained stick rail. Memorably rough.

 

[pennyk]

I was just on the Lakeshore in May and the quality of the ride is okay. Not as smooth as some other places, but not nearly as bad as others (thinking of the Silvers).

What? In my experience, the Silvers are incredibly smooth!

Been a few years since I rode the Silvers. When I rode them, the ride was so rough that a water bottle sitting on the shelf flew over my body without touching me. Glad to hear they've improved the trackbed, because the few rides I had on the Silver service (both Star and Meteor) were among the worst I've had, on a level with the Chief through eastern Kansas when it was still going 90 over marginally maintained stick rail. Memorably rough.

Earlier this month, I had a pretty rough ride on the Silver Meteor. I believe Jis, who was diagonally across the hall, had a rough ride also. I was over the trucks, and a truck had a flat spot.

 

[JRR]

The info provided by the others is great with a slight correction: You WON'T be escorted to the Train from the Lounge. As a Newbie I suggest you use a, Red Cap to take you to/from the Train on their Golf Carts.

Just tell your SCA before arrival and the Check in Desk @ the Metro Lounge you'd like a,Red Cap.( tips,are appreciated by these helpful folks who are Amtrak employees!)

They escorted us to the train from the lounge in February. Might have been an anomaly but that's what happened.

That is the first I have heard of passengers being escorted from the "new" Chicago Metropolitan Lounge. I have been through Chicago many times and I have never seen passengers being escorted from the NEW Metropolitan Lounge.
Generally, the lounge attendant will announce the train and give directions to the side exit door and to the gate.

In July, we were escorted from the Metropolitan Lounge to the CL. They announced the train, we all lined up at the East door and were led down to the track where the train was waiting. From there we walked to our cars.
I considered that “escorted!”

 

[cpotisch]

I was just on the Lakeshore in May and the quality of the ride is okay. Not as smooth as some other places, but not nearly as bad as others (thinking of the Silvers).

What? In my experience, the Silvers are incredibly smooth!

Been a few years since I rode the Silvers. When I rode them, the ride was so rough that a water bottle sitting on the shelf flew over my body without touching me. Glad to hear they've improved the trackbed, because the few rides I had on the Silver service (both Star and Meteor) were among the worst I've had, on a level with the Chief through eastern Kansas when it was still going 90 over marginally maintained stick rail. Memorably rough.

Earlier this month, I had a pretty rough ride on the Silver Meteor. I believe Jis, who was diagonally across the hall, had a rough ride also. I was over the trucks, and a truck had a flat spot.

Hmm. Maybe I'm just immune or something!

 

[jis]

I was just on the Lakeshore in May and the quality of the ride is okay. Not as smooth as some other places, but not nearly as bad as others (thinking of the Silvers).

What? In my experience, the Silvers are incredibly smooth!

Been a few years since I rode the Silvers. When I rode them, the ride was so rough that a water bottle sitting on the shelf flew over my body without touching me. Glad to hear they've improved the trackbed, because the few rides I had on the Silver service (both Star and Meteor) were among the worst I've had, on a level with the Chief through eastern Kansas when it was still going 90 over marginally maintained stick rail. Memorably rough.

Earlier this month, I had a pretty rough ride on the Silver Meteor. I believe Jis, who was diagonally across the hall, had a rough ride also. I was over the trucks, and a truck had a flat spot.

That was more due to a bad car in need of getting a truck serviced more than a route track quality issue.
In general CSX track on the route of the Meteor these days is pretty good except at interlockings, which can sometimes be pretty rough. Track that was really rough in places was NS between Chicago and Cleveland.

 

[VM]

I'm trying to use amsnag to get something between the 8th of September and the 11th, but the cheapest price I can find (with only 1 connection) is about $1500 after I'm about to check out. Am I doing something horribly wrong? This seems higher than when I checked last.

2 adults for a roomette if anyone else can check, would be greatly appreciated. Looking to spend around $1k.

 

[Railroad Bill]

I'm trying to use amsnag to get something between the 8th of September and the 11th, but the cheapest price I can find (with only 1 connection) is about $1500 after I'm about to check out. Am I doing something horribly wrong? This seems higher than when I checked last.

2 adults for a roomette if anyone else can check, would be greatly appreciated. Looking to spend around $1k.

Depending on the route you select and the length of your trip, it is very possible that it will now be rather expensive to book a roomette on short notice in September. If you could provide more specific information about your route we might be able to help determine if the fares are better via Amsnag.

 

[jebr]

Yeah, a cross country trip two-three weeks out is going to be quite expensive. I doubt anything's going to get cheaper than around $1500 unless there's mass cancellations.

That said, polling ten random days in February shows the lowest price around $1132, so I don't know if it'd ever get lower than that in practice.

 

[cpotisch]

I'm trying to use amsnag to get something between the 8th of September and the 11th, but the cheapest price I can find (with only 1 connection) is about $1500 after I'm about to check out. Am I doing something horribly wrong? This seems higher than when I checked last.

2 adults for a roomette if anyone else can check, would be greatly appreciated. Looking to spend around $1k.

You're booking this very short notice, so it's going to be very expensive, basically no matter what you do. And in case it wasn't clear, AmSnag is just a tool to show you all the prices over a certain number of days. It doesn't find cheaper fares than Amtrak, or anything like that. And since you're only looking at four dates of travel (9/8 to 9/11), you should probably just use Amtrak.com.

But I'll emphasize, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to find cheap cross country sleeper fares less than two weeks out. When we book something like this, it's at least three months out. So you're probably going to have to eat the cost or travel later.

 

[cpotisch]

That said, polling ten random days in February shows the lowest price around $1132, so I don't know if it'd ever get lower than that in practice.

Lowest possible price should be a little over $1000 for two people. But those do not show up often.