I can't believe how good it was!

[me_little_me]

Using points, we went from ATL to NOL on the Crescent (overnight in NOL) then Sunset Limited to El Paso. We had bedrooms on both trains. One zone trip.

As someone who has consistently complained here about the inconsistent and sometimes downright poor quality of on-board service, I couldn't believe how good it could be.

Two different sets of service people and everyone from the SCAs to the OBS to the diner waiters were outstanding. And although I tipped very well, I saw many customers who tipped neither the SCA nor in the diner and yet still received first class service even though by the second or third meal, the waiter had to know there would be no tip from these people. The SL's cafe car salesman (and you could only call him that) was constantly promoting his sales with good reasons and bad jokes on the loudspeakers. He was so good, I had to go down to buy something just because I had to see this guy!

And it was not just the service. Everything worked in the cars! And the on-time performance was excellent - 30 minutes late into NOL and only a few minutes in ELP. The only glitch was in San Antonio where we arrived an hour early and left an hour late. Apparently there was a "mechanical problem" and we ended up with a "broken" and unused transdorm put in front right behind the engines. Wonder if it came off the Eagle. We were w/o power for an hour and so at 3AM I was wide awake with no power for my CPAP on the only trip that I left the battery pack home. The tracks in LA on the SL need to be repaved. Pretty rough until we got to Texas.

I just hope the return will be just as good as the outgoing one.

If this was how Amtrak always operated, I couldn't afford to travel as everyone would be taking the train.

 

[Acela150]

Referring to the topic title... THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!!

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Sometimes, despite Amtrak best efforts, everything goes well.

 

[Palmland]

Glad you had a great trip. But, I could do without the PA announcements. They are annoying after about the 10th time, especially when repetitive. It would be nice if the new Viewliners had an option to turn off the speakers except for an override for an operational announcement by the conductor.

 

[battalion51]

Unfortunately the PA system doesn't know the difference between an announcement from an LSA or from a Conductor. I don't foresee that option coming anytime soon either.

 

[me_little_me]

Glad you had a great trip. But, I could do without the PA announcements. They are annoying after about the 10th time, especially when repetitive. It would be nice if the new Viewliners had an option to turn off the speakers except for an override for an operational announcement by the conductor.

I don't think any two were the same (the jokes for sure were different).

 

[George Harris]

The tracks through south Louisiana between New Orleans and just east of Lake Charles are now BNSF as part of the deal with the UP takeover of SP. Also, south Louisiana is all swamp on river sediments. The ground is settling, and not all at the same rate. Soil conditions are terrible. The soil conditions have a lot to do with the ride quality as the track settles unevenly if on poor ground. After you get past Houston you are finally getting on some land with decent soil conditions and that is not in the process of settling. As has been said many times, however, it is not settlement itself that is the issue, except as you are approaching sea level, but differential settlement.

 

[supergrandmother]

Glad to see this good report. Grandson and I are scheduled for ATL-NOL on Crescent and then on to LA on Sunset Ltd in July. I have ridden Crescent to NOL many times but I usually go on to CHI on CONO. This will be my first time on Sunset Ltd and grandson's first time in a sleeper (he has done the ATL-WAS many times in coach). I always travel alone so this trip will be interesting with grandson in roomette. BTW, where did you overnight in NOL? I have stayed at the Hotel St. Marie in the past but am always willing to try something different.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Try La Pavillon. It's on Poydras street, In the middle of everything. Stunning hotel with a pool and hot tiling on the roof. Walkable from the station, too.

 

[ehbowen]

BTW, where did you overnight in NOL? I have stayed at the Hotel St. Marie in the past but am always willing to try something different.

In recent years I have stayed at the Fairchild House B&B in the Garden District and at the Ambassador Hotel a block north of Harrah's casino. I can recommend both establishments.

 

[cassie225]

Le Pavillion is nice hotel and if you get there early in the evening enough they have nighttime peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I think they still do that.

 

[me_little_me]

Glad to see this good report. Grandson and I are scheduled for ATL-NOL on Crescent and then on to LA on Sunset Ltd in July. I have ridden Crescent to NOL many times but I usually go on to CHI on CONO. This will be my first time on Sunset Ltd and grandson's first time in a sleeper (he has done the ATL-WAS many times in coach). I always travel alone so this trip will be interesting with grandson in roomette. BTW, where did you overnight in NOL? I have stayed at the Hotel St. Marie in the past but am always willing to try something different.

The Quality Inn on O'Keefe.

You can walk to/from the station.

You can take the trolley from station just a couple of stops to Tulane stop then walk two blocks:

Outgoing Train to Hotel: Trolley to Tulane. $.40 for seniors.

Outgoing Hotel to Train: Walk in morning as we just missed the trolley.

Return Train to Hotel: Taxi for $11 (ripoff) as train was 1 1/2 hr late so we arrived in NOL at 11PM with a 7AM Crescent.

Return Hotel to Train: Trolley from Tulane.

Get a standard room. They upgraded us to deluxe for both stays. Apparently if room s are available, they upgrade everyone.

$125 sr. rate outgoing; $98 sr. rate on return.

Highly rated on TripAdvisor and I understand why - they wanted to compensate me for mistake in reservation (I thought I had reserved a king deluxe but that was for a hotel in NM so I complained. They don't have any in that place). When I realized my mistake, the manager still wanted to compensate me for my "inconvenience". I had to refuse him multiple times before he finally gave up. How's that for good service!

 

[me_little_me]

The return trip: Not quite perfect but very good.

SL left EL Paso a couple of hours late. Since we were staying at a friend's house, it was not a problem EXCEPT it turns out there is apparently a RR museum within walking distance. I did get to see the new stadium of the AAA Minor League El Paso "Chihuahuas". Yes, the former AA Diablos have a new stadium right by the station and :wacko: :wacko: call themselves the Chihuahuas :wacko: :wacko:. Egad! They must wear paper bags over their heads when they play! :blush: :blush:

No gelato nor any soup were loaded on the rain [sigh!] and dining service was not as sharp.

Late into San Antonio and even later leaving so we departed being able to see the station in daylight. Our SCA Smiley (that was on her Amtrak nametag although when we asked, she told us her real name) lived up to her name. We arrived in NOL at 11PM.

Same SCA as outgoing trip on the Crescent so that was excellent. Wife was ticked at the OBS for not allowing her to order the kid's mac and cheese even though the SL crew permitted it. Since we were in sleeper, why would they care since Amtrak would have saved money over the steak she eventually took?

No room issues on either train.

Anyway, I would rate the outgoing trains as 5 star and the returns as 4 star.

Not bad for a 2-train 3-day free (used points) bedroom trip in both directions.

Oh, and as to the rest of the vacation, it was perfect also. Twelve days in NM visiting old friends, former co-workers, family, eating at old hangouts and much much more. We lived in three cities there for a total of 2 years and left 22 years ago! She cried when we left.

 

[Amazing!]

"I saw many customers who tipped neither the SCA nor in the diner and yet still received first class service"
Amazing! Please share how you witnessed 'no tipping' of 'many' SCA's and continued 'first class service'. Considering most customers tip and the end of the journey. It must be a fascinating story!

 

[Bob Dylan]

In the Diner its easy to see when passengers stiff the servers by leaving the table without leaving a tip! Based on my extensive LD experiences I'd say that its about a 75-25 Ratio of those who tip to those who don't with most of the non-tippers being foreign visitors (they are used to service charges more than tips)and young folks!

 

[me_little_me]

In the Diner its easy to see when passengers stiff the servers by leaving the table without leaving a tip! Based on my extensive LD experiences I'd say that its about a 75-25 Ratio of those who tip to those who don't with most of the non-tippers being foreign visitors (they are used to service charges more than tips)and young folks!

We encountered an Australian couple in the diner. They asked us about tipping. I explained that, unlike restaurants, Amtrak servers do get paid a lot better but they have long hours and they'll never get rich in their jobs. I told them it was customary to tip them as one would in a restaurant in the US. They did.

We also encountered a college kid who was traveling coach. He was on a full basketball scholarship and had no problem ordering the steak and the salmon on different nights. He left no tip.

Most sleeper passengers tipped but not all.