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My family and I are taking our first train trip. We will be taking the Texas Eagle to Chicago connecting with the Empire Builder to Seattle. I've noticed the TE is usually late arriving in Chicago, normally after the EB's ETD. This is a guaranteed connection by Amtrak. What action can we expect of Amtrak if we miss our connection?
Posts: 22 | From: Little Rock, AR | Registered: Jun 2001
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From long experience attempting connections, particularly in Chicago, I strongly recommend that you arrive a day early and stay overnight in Chicago. The current timetable has the Texas Eagle arriving at 12:40 pm, and the Empire Builder departing at 2:10 pm. A ninety minute connection is far too risky. What Amtrak will usually do is put all its passengers (including the first class) on a bus!(to who knows where) in order to make a connection. I recall a few years ago I arrived in Chicago on the Lakeshore Ltd. to connect with the (now deceased) Desert Wind for Las Vegas. Due to a freight derailment, all passengers were being bussed to Omaha--an outrageously long distance. I refused this alternative "transportation" and they agreed to re-route me to Los Angeles on the SW Chief with a connection there to the e/b Desert Wind. In those days, prior to the so-called Satisfaction Guaranteed programme, Amtrak was quite good in compensating their "guests" for extra expenses (such as hotels and meals in my case). Currently all they will offer you is a transportation voucher for a future trip, with so many black-out dates that it is almost worthless. Take my advice and spend the extra money for the hotel in Chicago.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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I completely agree with the last reply. Stay overnight in Chicago. Amtrak just sends you on a long bus ride to catch the train. I would never rely on a connection for Amtrak. My mother was nine hours late on the Texas Eagle one time. I would always stay overnight between connections.
My wife and I are travelling from Arizona to Boston, on the Southwest Cheif to Chicago, then the Lake shore Limited to Boston. There are several hours between connections in Chicago, but we are still spending the night in Chicago each direction.
Do not rely on Amtrak. When you travel Amtrak, you are on your own to take care of yourselves. Customer service is absolutely terrible.
Dean
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
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