Something does look funny here. All July dates show as available, but none of the August dates. Seems like a system glitch. Have you phoned Amtrak?
I'm impressed that the Empire Builder is sold out in August (often in both directions) between Chicago and St. Paul given that a) there's the extra Chicago-St. Paul car, and 2) this is a route that Megabus competes on. On the other hand, the scenery between St. Paul and Red Wing is some of the best in the nation, I think.
I'll be on the EB west bound Sept. 3rd - 5th. ?????
No, they do make more when they transport more people (unless, of course, they only transport a few more people, which would result in them selling less high bucket seats - but they could always sell an additional coach at all high bucket prices), but they won't necessary cover their costs to repair the coach, nor is that something that can happen on very short notice.
No, that's something a critic would say though. They would say every passengers that steps aboard they lose $300 or whatever number they come up with. I would hope someone with a little common sense would realize that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The cost of adding one extra car is marginal vs. the amount of revenue to come in.
I'll be passing you eastbound on the Empire Builder, returning to St. Paul after the Republican nat'l convention ends.
You need to take more trains. Great scenery, sure; best in the nation, not likely.
The biggest reason is that Amtrak does not have much, if any, spare equipment to run (especially sleeping cars). If they did, I'm sure they'd be all for increasing capacity.
De gustibus non est disputandum
Is August usually the busiest season for Amtrak?Amtrak should rent cars from Grandluxe, just for the month of August.
Hay, if you really want to travel in August, pay up the $4,000 accommodation up charge or stay home.
) and with school starting soon, families and others want to get away during the summer.
With many trains at capacity, it feels like every month this year is the busiest season for Amtrak! But yes, the summer is typically the busy season.Is August usually the busiest season for Amtrak?Amtrak should rent cars from Grandluxe, just for the month of August.
Hay, if you really want to travel in August, pay up the $4,000 accommodation up charge or stay home.
Oh goodie. Heading west from St. Paul August 13, and back again from Seattle August 20. I guess I'd rather be on a crowded train than a crowded plane. Actually, it's better than a non-crowded plane for that matter.With many trains at capacity, it feels like every month this year is the busiest season for Amtrak! But yes, the summer is typically the busy season.Is August usually the busiest season for Amtrak?Amtrak should rent cars from Grandluxe, just for the month of August.
Hay, if you really want to travel in August, pay up the $4,000 accommodation up charge or stay home.
Go ahead and take a poll. I doubt it'd come up in the top ten.
I just tried to change my coach reservation on October 18 from ATL to WAS to a roomette. It said "... not available ... consider this alternative" - and it gave an October 19 departure! That means on October 18, BOTH coach and sleepers are sold out!
Hey, I like what I like, and I like the upper Mississippi (and the Great Plains, for that matter), and having taken many trains on three continents over several decades I have looked out a lot of train windows. Polls don't really have any bearing here. Aesthetic judgments are idiosyncratic, not democratic, and really can't be argued about.
What would you say are the top 5?
Not necessarily in this order (except for #1
), I personally would say: ), based on what I've heard, the eastbound Cardinal through WV should be in there also!
Ya Know,Not necessarily in this order (except for #1
- DEN-GSC (or GJT) on the CZ (westbound)
- RNO-SAC on the CZ
- north of LAX-SLO on the CS (northbound)
- the southern part of LAX-SAN on the Surfliners, and
- ID/western MT on the EB (eastbound)
Although I haven't taken it (yet
