Any idea why I can't book CS EMY-PDX on Feb 3 (or any surrounding dates)? It seems very cancelled.
To clarify, train 505 is a Sat/Sun train only. On selected weekends in Jan/Feb, it will operate at 0600 instead of 0830. In other words, it willCascades trains operate earlier and later than the scheduled work window so they are not affected except for train 505 which will depart Portland at 6:00am instead of 8:30am to accommodate the work window.
Surely it would be faster to go to Chicago, stay overnight, and take the SWC from Chicago to LAX.With the recent history of the EB you might want to go by way of Chicago and take the CZ to MTZ or EMY followed by the CS the next morning to LAX.
According to this post the discussion refers to an AGR award which would seem to indicate that your suggestion has a very low chance of being allowed by Amtrak.Surely it would be faster to go to Chicago, stay overnight, and take the SWC from Chicago to LAX. Eastbound EB on the 7th, overnight in Chicago the 7th, depart on SWC the 8th, arrive in Chicago morning of the 10th. Very low chance of misconnects.With the recent history of the EB you might want to go by way of Chicago and take the CZ to MTZ or EMY followed by the CS the next morning to LAX.
I would ask for a supervisor, and if they still deny it, I'd ask AGR Insider on Flyertalk. The policy indicates you should be able to overnight at PDX (on your dime) and connect on the same redemption.I was just told by AGR that the CS-EB connection is not allowed now. So it would require and additional 1-zone award and a hotel stay!
Often bustitutions are thrown together in an emergency, Amtrak is forced to contract with whatever charter operator has buses available. Amtrak doesn't have that problem this time.Heck even hour and half bustitution rides here in Illinois were far from enjoyable - especially with providers Amtrak chose. It was more like hang on tight hope bus doesn't rattle apart and we make it to destination alive.
Safety concerns on buses are overblown.Many of us prefer not to deal with buses for multiple reasons. Some of us are also well aware of safety issues with bus providers and on highway systems - compared with what is usually safer Amtrak travel.
Amtrak's fascination with buses has to do with the fact that they can easily detour around construction and closures, something trains often struggle to do.I have always stated this in regards to Amtrak's fascination with buses = If I wanted to ride a bus I wouldn't have booked a train!!
Um, that's not the CS, is it?
Amtrak passengers on four Coast Starlight trains will be switched to buses between Portland and Eugene during track work in mid-January and half of February.
Union Pacific Railroad is doing the work. It will affect passengers from Jan. 16-23, Feb. 1-8 and Feb. 16-23.
Exactly my point: It's NOT the Coast Starlight.No that is a Cascades Talgo.
I think this is confounding different bus companies, unfortunately. If you add it up, there are about 30 bus-passenger deaths per year, and about 7 Amtrak/commuter rail passenger deaths per year. But the bus crashes are clustered in particular bus companies with bad records.Safety concerns on buses are overblown.
Is there room for improvement? Yes.
Are buses less safe than trains? No. Trains and buses have very similar fatality rates per billion passenger-miles. Either way you cut it, you're far more likely to be involved in a fatal accident driving to the train station than while on the train or on this short bustitution.
That is called "an online editor searches the Oregonian's archives for 'Amtrak' and uses the first/most recent staff archive photo they canExactly my point: It's NOT the Coast Starlight.No that is a Cascades Talgo.
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