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  1. J

    Expiring eVoucher options?

    Last year, just as the big C was turning the world upside-down, I cancelled an Amtrak trip I was due to take for work. I was left with a nonrefundable eVoucher, with the plan that I would use it for personal travel later in the year. Well, that didn't happen, and now I have an eVoucher that...
  2. J

    COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic: Amtrak-related Discussion

    I shouldn't have trusted her either, in hindsight, but I thought I'd give her a try. I guess I assumed that at some point, she'd say something like "Your reservation is subject to a cancellation fee of $7, so your eVoucher will be for $(X-7). Are you sure you want to go through with this?" -...
  3. J

    COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic: Amtrak-related Discussion

    Well, in case anyone's interested in how this went: I called 1-800-USA-RAIL, and (stupidly) cancelled the reservation through Julie the robot. She said she could give me an eVoucher, which I told her was fine - she didn't mention anything about a cancellation fee, but a few minutes later, the...
  4. J

    COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic: Amtrak-related Discussion

    Can anyone confirm whether this is true even of Saver fares? I have a ticket for later this month that I won't be using (work-related travel to a conference that's no longer happening). Trying to cancel online offers me an eVoucher less a $7 fee. If I can get an actual refund by calling, I...
  5. J

    Newb questions--tell me if this would work

    As far as I understand it: The bonus points become available for your use at the end of the billing cycle in which your purchase total hits $1000. Yes, you can use points to book tickets for people other than yourself. No, you cannot use your companion coupon on a ticket that you paid for...
  6. J

    New York to Washington

    A couple of weeks ago I took the Crescent from NYP to WAS. I too was surprised that the system was willing to sell me a seat on a long-distance train for a trip in the NEC, and I was even more surprised that almost all the other coach passengers also left the train the WAS. Filling the train...
  7. J

    Temperature nightmare on Coast Starlight

    Be patient. With all the weather disruptions lately, they probably have quite a backlog of emails to deal with. If you haven't heard from them in a week or two, try again.
  8. J

    Temperature nightmare on Coast Starlight

    If a voucher for future travel would be of any use to you, you can request one by email here: https://www.amtrak.com/contact-us/email.html You might not get anything, but then again you might. In my most recent experience submitting a complaint by email, I never even got a response to my...
  9. J

    Lunch on a late eastbound CL?

    Well, that's unfortunate. I'm glad I asked, though. It seems like really poor planning not to even stock enough lunch items in the cafe, given how often lateness happens, and given how even the on-time schedule arguably warrants a lunch service. But maybe they're doing poor planning on...
  10. J

    Lunch on a late eastbound CL?

    What is the current policy for serving lunch on the eastbound Capitol Limited? I assume that if the train is on time heading into WAS, they do not serve lunch, but if it's delayed beyond a certain point, I imagine they would have to? Is it a specific cutoff (i.e., if more than X hours late...
  11. J

    Delayed Departure...Shorter Vacation...What are my options?

    Amtrak isn't going to pick up your expenses just because you prefer a vacation of a certain length. You can request a voucher for future travel in compensation for the inconvenience of the delay. You're unlikely to get it in time to apply it toward the return leg of this trip, but at least...
  12. J

    Viewliner Roomettes solo

    The narrowing of both bunks at the toilet end of the room (for lack of a better way to put it) is probably my least favorite thing about the Viewliner roomette, because you don't have the option of sleeping facing either direction. I prefer to sleep with my feet pointing in the direction of...
  13. J

    First Time on Superliner/Empire Builder

    - Be aware that it's not uncommon for long-distance trains to fall behind schedule, sometimes by several hours or more. If you're traveling to western Montana, your westbound arrival time could easily be pushed back to the middle of the night. If applicable, make sure your hotel can...
  14. J

    Gerard travelling

    All your destinations are in the eastern 1/3 of the country. Maybe there's a reason for that, but avoiding the western trains does mean you're missing out on some of the best scenery Amtrak (and America) has to offer. West coast cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and...
  15. J

    EURail Pass Anyone Have Any Experience?

    To get a sense of walk-up fares in the regions where you'll be traveling, look at the maps here: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains (Click on the country you're interested in in the right-hand column.) Take everything else on those pages - particularly the assessments...
  16. J

    Rude light rail riders...

    Ugh, I remember trying to board the light rail in Baltimore once - it was right after some event at the Inner Harbor, so there were a ton of people getting on the train at the same stop - and some doofus was sitting on the steps just inside the car doors, blocking about 2/3 of the width of the...
  17. J

    What's your favorite train terrain?

    I love the wind-eroded rock formations like you see all along the CZ route in Utah and in various other locations throughout the West. They're so different from the terrain I see at home, it feels almost like being on another planet. ETA photo:
  18. J

    Bedroom or roomette, if single and the cost is not an issue?

    It's theoretically possible whenever the highest roomette bucket is higher than the lowest bedroom bucket, since (as I understand it) the room categories are priced and sold independently. It's rare to see it "in the wild," but just for fun I did some poking around: On the CONO leaving tomorrow...
  19. J

    Bedroom or roomette, if single and the cost is not an issue?

    Interesting question. Having just traveled in a bedroom this spring for the first time in a long time, I found myself a little disappointed in the use of space in the room - for example, the way that folding down the bottom bunk blocks the doorway into the room. The design of the roomette...
  20. J

    SW Chief connection to Starlight when late

    If you don't want to take the gamble, can you build in an overnight layover? There's plenty to see and do in LA for a day, or you could connect to a northbound Pacific Surfliner (plenty of trains throughout the day, so if the SWC is late, you can just get the next one), stay in someplace like...
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