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  1. U

    How reliable is Air Conditioning in Bedroom cars

    Northbound in August 2016 on train 14 ("Coast Starlight') I was in roomette number three and did not have any problems at all. The bedding was nice and warm: the car temperature was about 22 degrees Celsius which is comfortable for me and hopefully most.
  2. U

    Cascade Business Class is it worth it

    The lounge at PDX was poorly stocked and boring, but in my late August 2016 on the 1450 hours northbound Cascades on a Saturday, the business class was worth it. There were only nine others in the car. In contrast, economy class was better loaded. The quicker boarding was an advantage, as was...
  3. U

    Showers on Amtrak Sleepers - What are they like?

    LOnghai, yes, on the northbound number 14 'Coast Starlight' in August, I found my sleeper's shower to be fine: the hot water was copious, although compared to Australian and some other foreign trains, it was just ever so slightly peeving having to press the button for more water. I kept it...
  4. U

    'Amtrak Cascades': the good and the not so good

    In August 2016 I travelled on the northbound 'Amtrak Cascades' twice: firstly from Portland, Oregon to Edmonds, Washington, and then from Edmonds to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On Saturday 27 August, I observed Amtrak locos 117 and 176 departing from Portland on a 12 car southbound...
  5. U

    Things Passengers Wish OBS WOULD Do

    As an Australian (non tipping country) I am in two minds about this, but having recently travelled on 'Coast Starlight' where the dining car attendants (whom I tipped) and the parlour car substitute sightseer lounge attendant (whom I did not tip) were excellent but the sleeping car attendant...
  6. U

    What makes a well located Amtrak station? Which stations well located

    For a rural station, Oceanside was very impressive when I used Amtrak in August 2016. Since my last visit, a local diesel train two-car shuttle has commenced to Escondido along the median of a highway, and there is an excellent local bus terminal adjacent to the station. Restaurants and the...
  7. U

    'Coast Starlight': Los Angeles, California to Portland, Oregon

    OlympianHiawatha, thank you - in time, I may post a trip report re the occasional Australian train, but much of the time my focus is on overseas travel. maxbuskirk, could not agree more about the PPC. I suspect mine was the only one of the 'Coast Starlight' sets not to have one in its consist...
  8. U

    'Coast Starlight': Los Angeles, California to Portland, Oregon

    OlympianHiawatha, yes, I omitted to mention that apparently 'my' Pacific Parlour car was in the shops for repairs. I agree that this is a 'major downgrade' as I had been looking forward to experiencing those much discussed lounge chairs. The southbound 'Coast Starlight' that I saw mid...
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    'Coast Starlight': Los Angeles, California to Portland, Oregon

    My August 2016 trip on 'Coast Starlight' from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon was an opportunity to see if things had changed since my previous trip about 15 years ago. I enjoyed a brief time in the Amtrak lounge, which would be better if it served free alcohol (not that this is required at...
  10. U

    Condition of Superliners

    Is it harder and harder for Amtrak to source spare parts for the interiors of the Superliner cars? Or does the company have a fairly large stock of almost anything that could conceivably need replacing short of a writeoff caused by an at grade collision?
  11. U

    Sunset Limited Getting Some Daylight Desert Running

    All unfortunate, oregon pioneer, but thank goodness in such circumstances Amtrak does not merely 'put on a bus (road coach)' as some railways overseas - I'm thinking Australian long distance - might in such circumstances.
  12. U

    Amtrak Queue at St. Paul Union Depot

    While others have pointed out to me that Amtrak's boarding procedures vary by station, generally speaking as a foreigner (Australian) I find it difficult to understand why we cannot all wait on the platform for the doors to open as is the case in the vast majority of countries. In Europe...
  13. U

    The Texas Eagle - Los Angeles to Chicago, May 2015

    Excellent quality video: no camera shake, very clear despite much having been shot through a car(riage) window (well done also to the cleaners!); atmospheric music even if not quite to my 1960s and 1970s pop taste and good, at times humorous narration. Good on you both.
  14. U

    Can passenger delayed by accident when train hits truck sue

    Those of us who live in countries that have inherited British judicial and executive systems find it difficult to understand why so many USA residents seem to believe that taking legal action is beneficial. Everyone pays for this, one way or another.
  15. U

    am I the only one bothered by pajamas in dining car?

    Good post A Voice: for small children under say five, pajamas may be acceptable in the dining car; for everyone else, no!
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