Vacation should be an adventure. There is not much more adventure I need than a long ride on the Amtrak. First you forget there are people who just don't function that well. Well, they are on the Amtrak. And there are people who just like the train. They are on the Amtrak.
You always hope Amtrak will improve. The Coast Starlight from San Francisco to Portland has many things to like. No x-ray machines, no baggage searches, no turning off your electric devices, no your seat back can be used as a flotation device speeches. Shone was a wonderful station attendant in San Fran. I think he was just happy to be dealing with some normal people for a change. He looked after us like we were first class passengers. We had to fight the 4th-of-July-Fireworks-Crowd around the Ferry Building. But our bus taking us across the Oakland
Bay Bridge left on time as did the train from Emeryville. This train's on time performance is much maligned online, but over the three weeks I tracked the train it never was more than 1 hour late and that was an exception. Usually it was on time or just a few minutes late.
Bay Bridge left on time as did the train from Emeryville. This train's on time performance is much maligned online, but over the three weeks I tracked the train it never was more than 1 hour late and that was an exception. Usually it was on time or just a few minutes late.
We boarded on time in Emeryville, with the sleeper car passengers having to take the longest walk down the platform. Hey Amtrak, what gives, I thought we were the first class high paying group. How about a little first class service here? The much advertised WiFi did not work "because we didn't bring that car." Then don't advertise it guys. The train was not pristine clean and the roomette was a very small stacked bunk bed that converts to a private room. A great feature for a 17 hour ride.
The top bunk was much to claustrophobic, with no window access and a ceiling staring you in the face. The lower bunk was much more livable and did not come with special seat belts to make sure you staid in the bed like the upper one. But the morning came and so did the beauty of Mount Shasta from the observation car. All can easily be forgiven. We met some neat folks on the train at breakfast and lunch and enjoyed feeling like we were traveling without the headache of fighting the traffic. Or the fun at the airport.
Showing up in downtown central Portland without a long ride from the airport is not an adventure but a convenience.
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