posted
Let me try posting this question in another topic. I will be riding on Train 21/1 ("421") from CHI to LAX via SAS this summer in the through sleeper from the Texas Eagle to the Sunset Ltd. There is a 4-hr layover built into the AMTRAK schedule in SAS to allow the cars from #21 to be switched onto the consist of #1 westbound to LAX. What typically happens if the Eagle (#21) is more than 4 hrs late into SAS and misses the connection with #1 (I realize #1 is usually more than 4 hrs late into SAS, so it probably doesn't really matter in reality. But what if....... if #1 actually makes it to SAS on time, but #21 is more than 4 hrs late)? How do the passengers in the through sleeper get to Los Angeles? (isn't the through sleeper a "guaranteed connection"?) I can't see AMTRAK bussing people from San Antonio to Los Angeles, and the next train heading west from SAS would not depart until 2 or 3 days later, since #1 only runs 3 days a week.
Please advise if anyone has had such an experience. Thanks!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
My wife and I just experienced this same situation in reverse. We were scheduled to arrive in SAS May 12 at 5:01 am. We arrived at 10:48 am, after the Eagle had left. (Thanks to the UP's employee dispatching skills) All of the Eagle car passengers got in buses and headed to Dallas to catch up with the Eagle. We pulled out of SAS at 11:44 am. (not too bad, considering we had 2 full buses and luggage)
Apparently, there is an extra coach and sleeper left in SAS just for this type of scenario. Anyway, my wife and I were dropped off at Austin and the bus continued to Dallas to meet up with the empty sleeper and coach.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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I was also wondering -- if #21 is late into San Antonio, could #1 be held until the arrival of #21 on the days that #21 goes through to LAX?
With the extra coach and sleeper left in San Antonio, how does that work? Do they dispatch the through sleeper and coach as a "second section" of Train #21 from SAS to LAX and keep the extra equipment for the next connection?
Thanks again -- Rich K
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
I can tell you of my experience when #21 was over 12 hours late arriving into Dallas. As I have posted before on this board, all the passengers were booted off the train at 2:00 am and told to take a bus to El Paso and connect there with the w/b Sunset. So to answer your question about the "connection" in San Antonio, Amtrak will not hold the train beyond a certain number of hours (whatever that may be). I refused the offer of the delightful bus, and instead drove to San Antonio (via rental car) and stayed three nights for the next sleeping car equipped Sunset. I had to sue Amtrak in order to recover my costs, which took over a year to finally collect.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I just experienced the trip from LAX to CHI via the through sleeper on train 422. We departed LAX 1 hour late & by the time we arrived at SAS the Eagle had departed. We were bussed to Dallas where we boarded an empty sleeper added to the train in SAS. The transfer to the busses in SAS was terrible, no one seeming to know which bus went where. They should have this down pat as often as it happens. No one on the platform to help passengers, on & on & on. The transfer in Dallas was handled much better. The luggage was taken off the busses & sleeper & coach passengers offered help to the train with their bags. I would never book anyone on the through train at least until the timekeeping becomes much better. The alternative would be to book into SAS and continue the next day to CHI or the next train to LAX, depending on your direction of travel. Reggie BTW, we left Dallas about 1&1/2 hours late & arrived CHI almost 9 hours late. I had the chance to try the very late train beef stew in the dining car. Several large cans of beef stew and either rice or noodles are carried on every train in case delays require feeding the passengers an emergency late meal. If you ever have the chance to sample this meal, head to the lounge car & have something there. If riding in the sleeper, you shouldn't be charged for that.
[This message has been edited by reggierail (edited 05-26-2002).]
posted
Thanks for all your comments, guys! You need to remember that, the eastbound train connection (#422/22) only has a 2 1/2 hr "connection layover" in San Antonio, whereas the westbound (#21/421) has 4 hours, so one would asume that it is more likely that #421 will make the connection to #1 than for #2 to connect with #422 -- also, #421 comes only from Chicago, and does not have to get through all the "trackwork" in Texas that someone mentioned on one of these forums recently, whereas #422 does.
I still don't understand how AMTRAK can post different OTP times for #1 and #421 into Los Angeles (I checked the train into ELP of today, and #421 was marked as 55 minutes late, and #1 was a couple hours late, I believe) -- since these are the very same train!!!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: I still don't understand how AMTRAK can post different OTP times for #1 and #421 into Los Angeles (I checked the train into ELP of today, and #421 was marked as 55 minutes late, and #1 was a couple hours late, I believe) -- since these are the very same train!!!!
RRRich,
I have wondered the same thing about #22/#421 into Chicago.
Mark
Posts: 102 | From: Fort Worth,TX,USA | Registered: Dec 2001
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I have wondered the same thing about #22/#421 into Chicago.
Mark
You mean #22/#422, right?
I have wondered the same thing many times. Maybe 1 reason is the bimbos updating the times don't realize that this is the same train west of San Antonio. Reggie
posted
Just checked the Amtrak web site for arrival info on train #422/22 departing SAS on 5-28, arriving CHI 5-29. It showed #22 3:10 late and #422 2:44 late. They both arrived Chicago at the same time, now to get technical, since #422 cars are at the rear of the train, I guess you could say that they arrived just a little later than #22 cars, which are at the front of the train. Now just a minute, if the train had backed into the station #422 would have arrived a little before #22. I hope I've cleared this up for everyone. LOL
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