posted
I had made reservations 3 months in advance and MISTAKENLY thought that coach would suffice. My wife & I were scheduled to depart San Antonio at 6:00 A.M., Nov. 23, 2003, and I was excited about the trip but dreaded the middle-of-the-night arrival and departure times. If I had booked a sleeper, I could've simply went back to bed as soon as I boarded but I was firmly convinced that a more civilized departure time would actually occur. After monitoring the Sunset Limited #2 for days before then and noting the late times, I knew that I was correct. Before I turned in, I checked again on the train status and it was estimated that the departure would be 8:44 A.M. I then talked to an agent and was told that the safe thing to do would be to call at 5A.M. Being a smart guy I figured that it would still be late. After all the train was nearly 3 hours late. Confident that I would be able to climb back in bed, I called Amtrak at 5 A.M. and was stunned that the train had made up over 2 hours. Fearing that more time would be made up, I frantically did some last minute packing and left for the station. On the way my wife inquired about the tickets. After returning for them, we arrived at the station at about 6:08 as the Texas Eagle was preparing to depart. The Sunset finally rolled in about 8 A.M. and I excitedly boarded even though by then sleep deprivation was kicking in. We were seated in the Lower Level in seats that were mounted flush against the end of the car facing the other seats. We couldn't recline but had ample leg-room and any sleep for me was impossible (Later we sat elsewhere but still no sleep). At about 8:30 A.M. our train pulled out and I had no choice but to stay awake and make the best of it. We made our way to the dining car for breakfast. I don't recall actually deciding to go to sleep because an over-nite trip in coach is an endurance contest where you just slip in and out of consciousness throughout the night. Soon after we left San Antonio it became apparent that Amtrak's schedule was the greatest work of fiction in this millennium. We stopped A LOT. In fact it took over 12 hours to get out of Texas! Our destination was Pensacola, Fla. and we arrived the next morning 10 hours late sleep-deprived and frazzeled. On the return trip Dec. 1 a freight train derailment somewhere in Alabama prevented our train from traveling past Pensacola so Amtrak bussed us to New Orleans leaving at 5AM after telling us to be at the station at midnight. From New Orleans the Sunset was amazingly on schedule. Again, no sleep only unconsciousness. Early (1:30 A.M) Dec. 2 we arrived in San Antonio worn out but ahead of schedule. I would do it again in a heartbeat but only in a sleeper. Riding a train was GREAT but I can say nothing positive about over-nite travel in a coach seat.
Posts: 113 | From: San Antonio, Texas,USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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This was to be my first time on Amtrak and my wife & I were scheduled to depart San Antonio at 6:00 A.M., Nov. 23, 2003. I was firmly convinced that a more civilized departure time would actually occur so that I would avoid getting up in the middle - of - the - night. After monitoring the Sunset Limited #2 for days before then and noting the late times, I knew that I was correct. Before I turned in, I checked again on the train status and it was estimated that the departure would be 8:44 A.M. I then talked to an agent and was told that the safe thing to do would be to call at 5A.M. Being a smart guy I figured that it would still be late. After all the train was nearly 3 hours late. Confident that I would be able to climb back in bed, I called Amtrak at 5 A.M. and was stunned that the train had made up over 2 hours. Fearing that more time would be made up, I frantically did some last minute packing and left for the station. 10 minutes later my wife inquired about the tickets. After returning for them, we arrived at the station at about 6:08 as the Texas Eagle was preparing to depart. On seeing it I immediately thought that the Sunset was somehow on schedule and would quickly depart. (I know now that the words "quick" and "Amtrak" are mutually exclusive.) The Sunset finally rolled in about 8 A.M. and I excitedly boarded. We were seated in the Lower Level in seats that were mounted flush against the end of the car facing the other seats that were arranged in 2 rows. We couldn't recline but had more than ample leg-room. (Later we sat elsewhere) At about 8:30 A.M. our train pulled out. We made our way to the dining car for breakfast where I ordered the much praised french toast and was not disappointed. For lunch, the Angus Burger proved to be even better. By the time dinner time rolled around, nothing else but a steak would do and I topped that off with cheese-cake smothered in fudge sauce. I don't recall actually deciding to go to sleep because an over-nite trip in coach is an endurance contest where you just slip in and out of consciousness throughout the night. Soon after we left San Antonio it became apparent that Amtrak's schedule was the greatest work of fiction in this millennium. We stopped A LOT. In fact it took over 12 hours to get out of Texas! My destination was Pensecola, Fla.and we arrived the next morning a little frazzeled 10 hours late. On the return trip Dec. 1 a freight train derailment somewhere in Alabama prevented the train from traveling past Pensecola so Amtrak bussed us to New Orleans leaving 51/2 hours after telling us to be at the station at midnight. From New Orleans the Sunset was amazingly on schedule. Early Dec. 2 we arrived in San Antonio ahead of schedule. The return trip was remarkably uneventful but, then I was a Railway Veteran.
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Posts: 547 | From: St. Louis, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
Looks like the moderator is out of town....
Anyway, in response to the legitimate post:
quote:We were seated in the Lower Level in seats that were mounted flush against the end of the car facing the other seats.
I've never been on the lower level of a Superliner coach, but can this particular row of seats be turned like other rows can, or is this row perpetually against the wall? Did you ask the attendant for better seats, or were none available?
As for age and coach seats, I've seen plenty of elderly gentlemen riding happily in coach overnight. Not everyone likes it, and I don't blame you if you don't, but people of all ages do it all the time. Age isn't really the issue. Its the level of comfort that suits the individual passenger (and their budgets) best.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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