Solo Amtrak travel

[SirDuff]

Years and years ago when I took The Montrealer (Montreal to DC, no longer exists) customs came right on the train. Now they make you collect all your belongings and line up inside - customs - wait a decent amount of time and back on the train.

Since I was taking such a short trip on the Maple Leaf, on the way back I simply got myself to the Rainbow Bridge & walked into Canada. Seemed so much easier, believe it or not.

I believe Amtrak pairs with Via for Montreal, Toronto & Vancouver. The price is ridiculous due to Via rail, not Amtrak.

On the Vancouver to Seattle train (the train goes beyond Seattle but not totally sure where to), go through US customs/immigration in Vancouver before getting on the train (I guess like you do in airports). Going the other way, I think we did it on arrival in Vancouver though I could be remembering wrong (Vancouver is the only stop in Canada).

On the bus, we got out at the border, went through customs/immigration and got back on the bus (I've only done the bus from Seattle to Vancouver, not the other way).

 

[bcla]

On the Vancouver to Seattle train (the train goes beyond Seattle but not totally sure where to), go through US customs/immigration in Vancouver before getting on the train (I guess like you do in airports). Going the other way, I think we did it on arrival in Vancouver though I could be remembering wrong (Vancouver is the only stop in Canada).

On the bus, we got out at the border, went through customs/immigration and got back on the bus (I've only done the bus from Seattle to Vancouver, not the other way).

Here’s the current Amtrak Cascades schedule.

https://content.amtrak.com/content/timetable/Amtrak Cascades.pdf

Two trains per day from Vancouver, BC and two to there. The other end will be Seattle or Portland. But the full route goes all the way south to Eugene, Oregon, but no train covers the entire distance. The service is subsidized by Washington state and Oregon. They have their own website separate from Amtrak, although booking is tied directly to Amtrak.

https://www.amtrakcascades.com/

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I've been planning my annual trip to California and I've now booked my second trip on Amtrak. I'm redoing my June 2022 trip but in reverse. This time I will be starting my Amtrak adventure in LA Union Station and ending in Seattle. I have a roomette again but this time I'm on the opposite side of the train. Hopefully this means I will have the coast view. In 2022 I had all meals in my room as I wanted to be cautious and travel hadn't really got back to normal. This time I'm looking forward to meeting new travel mates at the shared table meals in the restaurant carriage.

As I'm starting at Union Station, I'll get to check out the Amtrak Lounge this time.

 

[citruscurtis]

Can't really complain. When traveling alone I usually asked for a window seat if given an option. I had a seat companion all the way from Seattle to Emeryville, but we never said a word to each other the entire time. Just universal gestures whenever I wanted to leave my seat or come back.

I've booked with a non-fare infant and we had two seats together even though technically that's only paying for one seat to share. When older, my kid once wanted to just lie down on both seats and the attendant didn't care when I sat in an empty seat.

But the buses are something else. I remember riding the Coast Starlight overnight and could sleep through the night easily (other than a stiff neck). I'm pretty sure the conductors were just waking up passengers based on their destinations on their seat checks. But on the overnight buses the driver loudly announces every stop to wake people up.

..yes.. heading south bound my seat mates never said a word...my observation was that were males in a world of trouble ....north bound I picked up talkers at San Luis .. which makes sense.. university town ..one was young and we talked the whole trip to his departure Oakland.. the other found an empty seat after Sacramento midnight... but then the half of our car jelled when southbound came to a rock slide ...we actually got to walk around morning dunsmuiir

 

[citruscurtis]

I've been planning my annual trip to California and I've now booked my second trip on Amtrak. I'm redoing my June 2022 trip but in reverse. This time I will be starting my Amtrak adventure in LA Union Station and ending in Seattle. I have a roomette again but this time I'm on the opposite side of the train. Hopefully this means I will have the coast view. In 2022 I had all meals in my room as I wanted to be cautious and travel hadn't really got back to normal. This time I'm looking forward to meeting new travel mates at the shared table meals in the restaurant carriage.

As I'm starting at Union Station, I'll get to check out the Amtrak Lounge this time.

Window in room is small so after conductor has checked your ticket go to observation car ... very seldom full until San lius.then when you leave Portland go to observation car

What is your date... train will be full around June 21 dates... train buffs ride as dunsmuiir area will have sunlight... dunsmuiir canyon and mt Shasta are the most beautiful sites the entire trip.... always in dark...and hope for a late train to guarantee a view

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Window in room is small so after conductor has checked your ticket go to observation car ... very seldom full until San lius.then when you leave Portland go to observation car

What is your date... train will be full around June 21 dates... train buffs ride as dunsmuiir area will have sunlight... dunsmuiir canyon and mt Shasta are the most beautiful sites the entire trip.... always in dark...and hope for a late train to guarantee a view

Thanks, this will be my second time on the Coast Starlight, I did a full trip report with photos here https://www.disboards.com/threads/a...2022-updated-complete-final-thoughts.3888833/

The train in 2022 was at full capacity, so I know what to expect. I'm going to try for the early lunch reservation and hopefully get a coast view for the meal

 

[Minnesota!]

Now we have to see if @Minnesota! has booked anything as yet.

aww - this thread is such a fun read for me! We have our first trip booked for early March (just to Chicago and back). We are doing a roomette there and coach back so I can scope out both. Then, provided my anxiety liked it, I am planning a trip out west on it for this summer. We are going to be in Boston in March, too, and I had tentatively planned on going to NYC for a day on it, but I hesitate to book anything since I am not sure if the weather will play nice and I would hate to take for ever to get there and then have to just turn right back around (we had originally planned an early morning one in, spend about 6 hours in NYC then a later night one back). We might still do a quick day trip to Providence or Maine just to get it off the list of states we need to visit - but we will play it by ear (weather...).

And, I am tentatively planning one to Michigan for fall - our anniversary Lots in the works, only 1 solidly booked so far (and, I was BUMMMMMMED) to not be able to take advantage of the rail pass discount this year...fingers crossed it is offered at that price again soon...).

 

[Dan Murphy]

(just to Chicago and back)

How about to Chicago and stay? We need more good thinkers like you here, MN.

 

[bcla]

..yes.. heading south bound my seat mates never said a word...my observation was that were males in a world of trouble ....north bound I picked up talkers at San Luis .. which makes sense.. university town ..one was young and we talked the whole trip to his departure Oakland.. the other found an empty seat after Sacramento midnight... but then the half of our car jelled when southbound came to a rock slide ...we actually got to walk around morning dunsmuiir

Anyone who is a talker is welcome to go to the Sightseer Lounge. That overnight trip there was someone who had something in common when they met in the lounge, but this guy finds his new friend back in his coach seat and is talking to him with the lights down at 10:30 PM. Should said something about it, but he was being really rude by carrying a loud conversation when most in the car were trying to sleep.

The other fun thing is the dining car, although they've cut back so much that post-COVID coach passengers can't use the dining car any more. Bedroom passengers have meals included, and I believe business class passengers can pay for meals. The first time I did that was just that short ride I mentioned. And they make sure that seats are filled. My first time in the dining car was for breakfast where my kid and I were paired with an older couple in a bedroom. We had a nice conversation and it tended to bring people together. The other thing was the prices back then. I think I paid $3.50 for the kids breakfast and maybe $10 for the special (crab cakes) where all beverages were included. And my kid got orange juice and a milk. The stopped beverages included with the meal unless it was for bedroom passengers.

Some of the more interesting passengers are Amish and Mennonites traveling from the east to Mexico where they're getting medical care. Kind of an interesting dynamic there. Apparently most orders don't get commercial health insurance, but are OK with modern medicine and they have their own self-insured funds, and care in Mexico is much cheaper. They'll travel together, and train travel is usually cheaper (plus orders than might be opposed to air travel). I've seen them in train stations, like waiting in Emeryville. I haven't seen them on a train, but I've heard of them. Usually polite and they will engage in conversation in the dining car, or at least did when coach passengers could use the dining car.

 

[citruscurtis]

Coast starlight 8 hours late north Oakland and South of Salem 2/5/25....2/6...12 hours late into Willamette valley

 

[citruscurtis]

Zeypher is coming in late... that is why north bound delay... Amtrak doesn't want another Oakridge so they are being very cautious with cascade crest snow accumulation

 

[AlohaNow]

Thank you for sharing your photos @lisaviolet !

I always enjoy reading about your trips @Bad Pink Tink 2.0 !

I’m planning on taking the Pacific Surfliner in October from San Diego to Anaheim. The on-time percentage looks pretty good for that one. I’ll be debarking a cruise ship at the San Diego pier and then walking the couple blocks to Santa Fe Depot on a Saturday. My understanding is that if I pre-purchase a ticket for the 10:01 am train that ticket would also be good for the 12:01 pm train if I miss the earlier one. Does that sound correct to the Amtrak experts here?

I was going to start my October trip off solo from Denver to SLC on Amtrak, but I decided that I would probably get bored and perhaps stuck next to someone the entire trip. So I nixed that idea. DH and I will do Denver to SLC sometime this spring or summer just to enjoy the views. The on-time looks decent for that one, but you never know. I’ll be happy if we get into Salt Lake before midnight! From my research it looks like we should bring some food on the train for the 14 hour journey just to cover our bases. Any tips for an Amtrak newbie?

 

[lisaviolet]

aww - this thread is such a fun read for me! We have our first trip booked for early March (just to Chicago and back). We are doing a roomette there and coach back so I can scope out both. Then, provided my anxiety liked it, I am planning a trip out west on it for this summer. We are going to be in Boston in March, too, and I had tentatively planned on going to NYC for a day on it, but I hesitate to book anything since I am not sure if the weather will play nice and I would hate to take for ever to get there and then have to just turn right back around (we had originally planned an early morning one in, spend about 6 hours in NYC then a later night one back). We might still do a quick day trip to Providence or Maine just to get it off the list of states we need to visit - but we will play it by ear (weather...).

And, I am tentatively planning one to Michigan for fall - our anniversary Lots in the works, only 1 solidly booked so far (and, I was BUMMMMMMED) to not be able to take advantage of the rail pass discount this year...fingers crossed it is offered at that price again soon...).

Can't wait to hear about it. Have the best time.

 

[lisaviolet]

Thank you for sharing your photos @lisaviolet !

I always enjoy reading about your trips @Bad Pink Tink 2.0 !

I’m planning on taking the Pacific Surfliner in October from San Diego to Anaheim. The on-time percentage looks pretty good for that one. I’ll be debarking a cruise ship at the San Diego pier and then walking the couple blocks to Santa Fe Depot on a Saturday. My understanding is that if I pre-purchase a ticket for the 10:01 am train that ticket would also be good for the 12:01 pm train if I miss the earlier one. Does that sound correct to the Amtrak experts here?

I was going to start my October trip off solo from Denver to SLC on Amtrak, but I decided that I would probably get bored and perhaps stuck next to someone the entire trip. So I nixed that idea. DH and I will do Denver to SLC sometime this spring or summer just to enjoy the views. The on-time looks decent for that one, but you never know. I’ll be happy if we get into Salt Lake before midnight! From my research it looks like we should bring some food on the train for the 14 hour journey just to cover our bases. Any tips for an Amtrak newbie?

Denver to Salt Lake City is epic. I watched an early twenties guy gasp coming out of a tunnel.

Do not cancel this part. And do not go high season as you will want to live in the observation car. I stayed there my entire leg - all 15 hours or whatever it was . Apparently one can not do that in a busy season.

Have a wonderful trip.