crescent2
Conductor
I recently purchased points with the 50% bonus, so now they are trying to burn a hole in my pocket. My dream CZ trip is on indefinite hold for several reasons, mostly logistics, but what are the pros and cons of the simpler trip below?
I'm asking here instead of on the AGR forum because most of my questions are also applicable to paid travel.
On a Tuesday-Wed.: ATN-WAS Crescent
(connection 9:53 am-4:05 pm in WAS)
Wed.-Thurs. WAS-CHI Capital Limited (or could do Card)
(connection 8:45 am-5:45 pm in CHI)
Thurs.-Fri. CHI-CVS return on same day, Cardinal (or could do CL)
(connection 2:49 pm-8:52 pm in CVS)
Fri.-Sat. CVS-ATN Crescent
I entered this as a round trip for ATN-CHI on Amtrak's website. The Capital Limited and the Cardinal were options for both legs of the trip. I entered Cap Ltd going up, but only because the connection time in CHI for the return trip is a little longer. Entered Cardinal for the return leg, just for different geography and a different train. (Also, because it's a Viewliner, I could do roomettes instead of bedrooms, saving some points.) I could take the Card in either direction. I want to take the CL for a least one leg because I've never traveled in a Superliner, but I could take it in either direction, or both. All the connection times are several hours and would therefore (I think) be guaranteed.
My questions:
Are the connection times between these trains pretty safe? Any special maintenance or other foreseeable delays that you know about?
What are the pros and cons of the Capital Limited vs the Cardinal? Is one direction of travel better for each? Better as pertains to scenery, reliability, service, equipment, food, connection times and cities, or anything that comes to your mind. I've never traveled on either.
Amtrak's website let me put this trip into my cart using "Round Trip," but please confirm for me that a same-day return from CHI is allowed on either the CL or Cardinal. I would rather not stay overnight in CHI unless the connection probably can't be made. Only AU people would understand that four nights on trains isn't a totally crazy plan.
I've never been to Charlottesville. The website says the station is open until 9:30 pm, so is CVS an OK place for a solo older female traveler to spend several hours? If the #19 Crescent runs late, does the staff remain until the train arrives? (8:52 pm scheduled connection) I wouldn't want to wait in an unstaffed station at night unless there were several other passengers also waiting, and I have no way of knowing how many others there might be.
Because these are published routes, I can think of no reason it couldn't be done on points as well as a paid trip. By raking and scraping and converting and buying, I have enough points.
This is an AGR question, but I didn't want to start two new threads. Would this trip be two 2-zone awards? In another thread I read that re-entering a zone doesn't add a third zone.
Any other info on these trains or this itinerary is appreciated. Thanks!
I'm asking here instead of on the AGR forum because most of my questions are also applicable to paid travel.
On a Tuesday-Wed.: ATN-WAS Crescent
(connection 9:53 am-4:05 pm in WAS)
Wed.-Thurs. WAS-CHI Capital Limited (or could do Card)
(connection 8:45 am-5:45 pm in CHI)
Thurs.-Fri. CHI-CVS return on same day, Cardinal (or could do CL)
(connection 2:49 pm-8:52 pm in CVS)
Fri.-Sat. CVS-ATN Crescent
I entered this as a round trip for ATN-CHI on Amtrak's website. The Capital Limited and the Cardinal were options for both legs of the trip. I entered Cap Ltd going up, but only because the connection time in CHI for the return trip is a little longer. Entered Cardinal for the return leg, just for different geography and a different train. (Also, because it's a Viewliner, I could do roomettes instead of bedrooms, saving some points.) I could take the Card in either direction. I want to take the CL for a least one leg because I've never traveled in a Superliner, but I could take it in either direction, or both. All the connection times are several hours and would therefore (I think) be guaranteed.
My questions:
Are the connection times between these trains pretty safe? Any special maintenance or other foreseeable delays that you know about?
What are the pros and cons of the Capital Limited vs the Cardinal? Is one direction of travel better for each? Better as pertains to scenery, reliability, service, equipment, food, connection times and cities, or anything that comes to your mind. I've never traveled on either.
Amtrak's website let me put this trip into my cart using "Round Trip," but please confirm for me that a same-day return from CHI is allowed on either the CL or Cardinal. I would rather not stay overnight in CHI unless the connection probably can't be made. Only AU people would understand that four nights on trains isn't a totally crazy plan.
I've never been to Charlottesville. The website says the station is open until 9:30 pm, so is CVS an OK place for a solo older female traveler to spend several hours? If the #19 Crescent runs late, does the staff remain until the train arrives? (8:52 pm scheduled connection) I wouldn't want to wait in an unstaffed station at night unless there were several other passengers also waiting, and I have no way of knowing how many others there might be.
Because these are published routes, I can think of no reason it couldn't be done on points as well as a paid trip. By raking and scraping and converting and buying, I have enough points.
This is an AGR question, but I didn't want to start two new threads. Would this trip be two 2-zone awards? In another thread I read that re-entering a zone doesn't add a third zone.
Any other info on these trains or this itinerary is appreciated. Thanks!