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I will be taking the Coast Starlight from LAX to SEA next month. I have been checking the on-time performance of train 14 every day, and am a bit discouraged by the huge delays that seem to frequently occur. For example, the train is predicted to arrive in SEA today (4/13)over 5 hours late. Where are the bottlenecks on this route occuring ? Are the delays mostly due to freight traffic, or are track maintainence and equipment problems a major factor ?
Posts: 133 | From: Canaan, CT | Registered: Dec 2004
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I'll be on the CS April 30-May 1 {LAX -Portland} I'm curious about the on-time, too.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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We were over 10 hours late on the 14 just last week, and 5 hours late on the 11. It started with a 3.5 hour late departure and then constant delays after that.
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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I believe there are still some delays with slow orders around the areas that were repaired in southern California. But even in the best of times, freight delays are common between San Luis Obisbo and Salinas. Getting out of LA on time seems to make a big difference, though.
I'm going on it next month, so I hope we don't have to wait in Salinas too long.
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I think there must be issues with crew rest in LAX. If the train is very late coming in the crew needs their legal rest before they can depart. I know that's how it works with the airlines and assume something similar is in the contracts with Amtrak.
Frank in blustery SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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I was just speaking with an agent over the phone and she said the Coast Starlight #11 is 30 minutes late now and came in an hour late yesterday. I can handle that! Now I can only hope that this would be the case when we depart out of SEA toward SJC come August.
quote:Originally posted by sbalax: I think there must be issues with crew rest in LAX. If the train is very late coming in the crew needs their legal rest before they can depart. I know that's how it works with the airlines and assume something similar is in the contracts with Amtrak.
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Hearing about this makes me glad I changed my itinerary to head south from Seattle instead of catching this train in Emeryville on the way north! At least if it's late leaving SEA, it will be daytime and maybe we can find something to do near the train station. Anyone know what kind of neighborhood the Seattle train station is in?
Posts: 72 | From: Illinois | Registered: Apr 2005
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When I was asking about hotels in the area of the train station I was told it's not the "best neighborhood". But, not too many blocks over is downtown and Pike Place Market and the waterfront.
quote:Originally posted by mary_228: Hearing about this makes me glad I changed my itinerary to head south from Seattle instead of catching this train in Emeryville on the way north! At least if it's late leaving SEA, it will be daytime and maybe we can find something to do near the train station. Anyone know what kind of neighborhood the Seattle train station is in?
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You would have no problem in this area during the daytime. The usual number of street people but nothing too alarming. I'd use a cab or caution after dark. Downtown Seattle, like so many large cities, pretty much shuts down at night.
Frank in SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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