Trip on City of New Orleans

[tulanegrad]

I just took the City of New Orleans from New Orleans to Chicago yesterday, arriving this morning. I had a roomette, which was wonderful, and the attendant for our car, Roberta, was top notch. She was always available and very friendly. And unlike my last Amtrak trip (on the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Tucson) we were only 30 minutes late (as opposed to four hours late on the Sunset, which I understand isn't all that late for the Sunset, which often runs much later than that).

Interestingly, the only complaint I had (and many passengers had) was the rough ride. While I am used to riding in a train and getting jostled around (I rode from Nola to Tucson, after all) this was so pronounced even the attendant in our car said it was far worse than normal. She made a note of it in their maintenance log and encouraged us to call Amtrak and let them know. I don't know if that will change things or not, but the ride was so rough I often couldn't read my book because it was bouncing around in my hands so much and I could barely sleep because I was being thrashed around my sleeper. Next time, I'm wearing a football helmet!

 

[Midland Valley]

My Wife and I will be in a roomette (economy bedroom) on the City of New Orleans Jan. 2 from Chi. and Jan. 6 from NO. You said the ride was rough. Is it because of the track or the particular car you were in? Also were you in the Metropolitan Lounge in NO and if so, what is it like? This will be my first time of the City of NO. It looks loke the train station is fairly close to our hotel on Canal Street.

 

[Trogdor]

New Orleans doesn't have a Metropolitan Lounge. Instead, there is a "Magnolia Room" off towards the back of the waiting area (opposite the ticket counters, to your right when you enter the station from the street). This room is tiny, and comes equipped with some old couches, chairs, a table, and a television tuned to the channel that shows nothing but those stupid court shows.

No beverages or snacks are provided in that lounge (unless things have changed since January), and it's sometimes not large enought to accommodate all sleeper passengers, especially if the westbound Sunset Limited is late (because you'd have two trains worth of sleeper passengers looking for space).

Not to put the room down, or anything. It's still a bit better than waiting out in the general waiting area.

 

[AlanB]

No beverages or snacks are provided in that lounge (unless things have changed since January), and it's sometimes not large enought to accommodate all sleeper passengers, especially if the westbound Sunset Limited is late (because you'd have two trains worth of sleeper passengers looking for space).

They used to have coffee and water available in the lounge, at least back when I was there a few years ago.

 

[Midland Valley]

Wonder why Amtrak lists the station as having a Met. lounge? I can see them not having free coffee and water though, with all the late trains through there they could go broke.

 

[jccollins]

It's still a bit better than waiting out in the general waiting area.

There was still complimentary water and coffee available for first class passengers when I was there in April. When I was there for a layover, first class passengers were instructed to go to the Magnolia Room for priority boarding and then we were escorted to the train by Amtrak staff. Others have mentioned that this is not always the case, but it makes things easier when it is done.

 

[Trogdor]

Come to think of it, there may have been coffee (I don't drink coffee, so I don't pay attention to it), but I don't remember water. Unless I missed it somehow.