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My upcoming first trip got me a little excited and I decided to see what it would cost to go from Fresno to Orlando Fla so my wife could take our family to Epcot and Disney World which is something she always wanted to do. The problem lies in that the website routes us on the Southwest Chief to Chicago and then back down to Fla which greatly increases the cost and time of the trip. I see where the Sunset limited can get us from Los Angeles to New Orleans and I also see what looks like a route from New Orleans straight to Jacksonville Fla but whenever I try to get a fare for that route it sends me up to D.C before coming back down to Fla? Why? Can anyone find a cost effective route for 8 people (Grandparents want to go as well). So it would be 4 adults and 4 kids
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The New Orleans-JAX route is that of the Sunset East, which was discontinued after Katrina during Sep 2005.
So far as Amtrak is concerned, the service is "temporarily suspended" and in order to maintain that position, as distinct from giving Notice under ARAA '97 to have such discontinued, the route map, and for that matter the Public Timetable, must reflect the route remains part of the System.
Various advocacy groups and one Member here, Mr. Native Son acting as an individual, are making efforts to have the service restored. I withhold any comment regarding the propriety of such initiatives beyond noting rights delineated by the First Amandment.
SunsetLtd Member # 3985
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That route you see in the Sunset Limited's eastern half that was pretty much cut when Katrina hit. Used to, the Sunset Ltd ran coast to coast LA to Orlando. But ever since Katrina its LA to New Orleans. Your best bet would be via Chicago most likely aboard the Zephyr or Chief.
Pappy Member # 9426
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Seems to me that the more economical route would be to take the train to New Orleans and then rent a car for the 9 hr trip from New Orleans to Orlando.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Likely Amtrak concluded the same as has Mr. Pappy; the 22hr schedule that Sunset East had is simply not competitive with any other ground transportation, save hitchiking.
While the 9'25" drive time NO to Orlando reported by Google, is about as far as anyone should drive in one day (with fuel and rest stops, we are talking 11 hours), it is still within the distance of a one day drive that can be made without an overnight rest stop.
Sunset East was always the weakest LD route; it appears that Amtrak is just as glad to be rid of it. Should it be restored, possibly on the grounds that Amtrak has failed to follow the provisions of ARAA '97 in that no 180 Day Notice pursuant to that Act was filed? Well the answer to that will vary, but likely my answer and that of Mr. Native Son will differ.
Pappy Member # 9426
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Just called Amtrak Travel to see if we could get a price quote for a trip from Fresno to New Orleans but he told me that amtrak hasn't had a train on that route since Katrina. I informed him I could get tickets online but he insisted that route was closed. I also asked him about a bedroom suite for my family (2 adults and 4 kids) but he said he couldn't book that for me because he didn't have a room that could fit that many even though on the internet it says it can handle 6 people in some instances. Any help would be appreciated.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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This appears to be the case, Mr. Pappy. The earliest train/bus from Fresno #702 arrives LAUPT 225P, Sunset #2 leaves 230P. Therefore any Fresno to New Orleans itinerary involving the Sunset would require an overnight stay in LA.
Now if the USA were Western Europe, a five minute connection would be quite commonplace.
train lady Member # 3920
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The number of people in a family room really depends on how big and how old your chldren are. If they ae small you could probably put 2 in the upper, the other 2 in the child size ones and you and your wife share the bottom bunk.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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quote:Originally posted by Pappy: I also asked him about a bedroom suite for my family (2 adults and 4 kids) but he said he couldn't book that for me because he didn't have a room that could fit that many even though on the internet it says it can handle 6 people in some instances. Any help would be appreciated.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but there are WAY too many Amtrak employees who don't have a clue what's going on. I don't know how they got hired, how they passed training, and how they continue to maintain employment when they don't know the very basics of Amtrak travel.
To answer your question about the room, YES, you can book a bedroom suite for your family of 2 adults and 2 kids. It is sometimes called a "suite", but it's just 2 bedrooms (formerly called "Deluxe Bedrooms") that have a sliding wall between them, and the sliding wall is unlocked and pushed away---thus giving you one big room (with 2 restrooms and 2 sinks/vanities). On Superliner trains, the rooms that can be made into a "suite" are rooms E and D, or rooms C and B. Room A can not be combined with another room because both walls are solid and do not open.
If you ever get an Amtrak employee on the phone again who doesn't know this basic information, ask to speak to the supervisor because you know Amtrak information better than he does. This is just so typical with Amtrak it's getting frustrating.
Pappy Member # 9426
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OK, I tried again to get a price on Bedroom suite. This time a lady knew what it was but gave me the price of two bedrooms instead of a suite price. Is this correct? It was something like $5,370 for a round trip from LAX to New Orleans... Seems awful steep seeing that I could fly my family out there for about 6 grand.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Yes, that is correct---a bedroom suite would simply be two bedroom prices combined into one.
And yup, it definitely ain't cheap! You could almost charter a luxury private motor coach for that price (and get there faster and with better food).
Pappy Member # 9426
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So how would one look into the private motor coach thing?
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Well, I was sort of saying it tongue-in-cheek. In addition to being a railfan, I'm also a bus fan, so that's why I mentioned it. There are lots of companies out there that charter luxury motor coaches, but you will pay a hefty premium for that service. It would cost much more than a bedroom suite configuration on Amtrak.
Some of the finest coaches out there are owned by NASCAR drivers. If you ever watch the pre-race show when they do interviews from the infield bus lot, there are always several multi-million dollar MCI and Prevost buses sitting there. I'd love to drive one.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Smitty195, you're only the SECOND bus fan I have encountered. The first was Jim Lehrer, the PBS newscaster, who actually owns an old bus from the 1940s or 1950s and drives it around now and then. (In his youth he was an agent for a long-defunct Western bus line.)
What's busfanning's version of railfanning's "foamer," anyway?
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