Amtrak Coach Review (Long distance train): The Empire Builder (Portland to Chicago)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- A review of Amtrak's long distance coach product on their famous Empire Builder route from Portland to Chicago.
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Date of travel: 26 September 2019
Class of travel: Coach
Cost of ticket: $193
Other info:
Sometimes in coach, you are able to just board the train and choose a seat. At other stations, you are allocated a seat on the platform or in the station. You reservation only guarantees you a seat on the train and not a specific seat!
All coach tickets can be upgraded to sleeper on the app after purchase up until you are due to travel the first leg of your itinerary. As such, if you do choose to buy a coach ticket, I would recommend keeping a close eye on the upgrade prices as they tend to fluctuate and you could snag a good deal!
22:35 Oh my goodness that little girl reuniting with someone, too cute.
I was scrolling down the comments for this, I knew I wasn't the only one "awwwing" at that ;)
Haha thanks for pointing that out, that was adorable! :]
Eight hours of sleep in a seat. Currently not managing to do that in my own bed. So feel very jealous.
Years back I rode the Southwest Chief from Winslow, AZ to Los Angeles and back semi frequently. I pitied those who rode coach the whole way from L.A. to Chicago or vice - versa.
For a 12 hour trip it was fine, especially if I could get the front seat (more legroom, no seat back leaning in front) and could stretch my legs a bit. Also, when it gets late enough one could stretch out in the lounge car and not be bothered.
Nearly always I met interesting people on the train. It's a nice way to travel if you're going where it does.
@@-oiiio-3993 Did you stand on a corner first? And take it easy?
I’m hoping for 5 hours a night at best but I’m gonna drink myself to sleep and hope for the best lol
You have made me want to take a train ride, just for fun, I never have. Totally enjoy your videos.
Thanks and I hope you do because it's a great experience!
No but I do plan on using them.
I almost got left behind at Havre, Montana when I rode this Chicago to Portland October, 2018. It is a long stop for people to get off and smoke and walk around and such. I walked way down to the front of the train to take photos of the entire train. When I took my last photo, I noticed almost everyone was back on the train. I hadn't hear the "all aboard" and there were no long horn blasts to warn of imminent departure. I started briskly walking back, heard two short horn blasts which means "off we go forward", and the train started moving! With my open hand I pounded three times on the door glass of the first passenger car as it went by. I did the same "pound, pound, pound" on the door glass for the second car. At that point, I figured I was going to be left behind. Then the train slowed and stopped. The conductor was about six cars down and only his car door opened. So I scurried to that car and he scolded me. What a relief to get back on the train. The thing is, I'm a life long railfan and model railroader and try to be very low maintenance to crews - and here it is ME who is the one to cause an unscheduled pause. Embarrassing. At the next open air stop, I joked with my sleeping car attendant that I might get off the train, but would keep one foot on it.
I got off the train one time when going from Saint Louis to Portland at Cheyenne Wyoming to go to a tamale stand I saw from the train, we had about a 25 minute stop so I thought I had time but I almost got left behind! I won't ever stray away again!
That definitely would be me too. I like to wander and explore.
Well there never is a blast of the horn until the train is actually departing
How did the response to your "joke" go?
You got lucky. Amtrak's rules say once rolling, no stopping. In nearly 100,000 miles of train traveling I have seen a train stop once.
19:32 - "Okay, Kevin, I heard you... thank you!" LOL
I've taken the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville,CA. Rode in coach. I'm 70 yrs old & even though it was a bit rough, for the most part I was very comfortable! Hope to do it again soon!
At 13:35, what would have made the trip even more spectacular if Bigfoot made a showing 🤣👌
Glad I watched, I learned that a “fresh air stop” means passengers can step out the train for a smoke break or “fresh air” before the train continues the trip. Thank you for this. I’m gonna start train trips this year.
Glad you enjoyed!
@Karen Patterson I quit 30+ years ago after smoking for about 25 years. My mother finally passed away from complications of lung cancer after out living the diagnosis. She had quit 27 years earlier.
@Karen Patterson I rode Amtrak from Winslow to Los Angeles semi frequently several years back.
I boarded a train in WLO one night when smoking had just been prohibited on them. If anyone doubts the extent and severity of nicotine addiction they should have been on that train to witness the attitudes and actions of otherwise 'reasonable' nicotine addicts, many on board since Chicago, when suddenly denied their 'fix' for hours at a time. I remember thinking how I could have made a small fortune selling nicotine gum on that trip.
I toyed with the idea of buying a case of it for the return trip - 'coulda, shoulda'.
Nicotine is a drug, folks - a rather nasty and deadly one.
@@-oiiio-3993 LOL! Addicts will do anything or pay anything for their drug!
If Amtrak was smart they would’ve sold NICO gum on thier trains!
Riding from Portland to Chicago then to Cleveland then to Toledo before catching a greyhound to Columbus ohio in august. Videos like this make me super excited for my journeyb
Thank you for sharing this. I'm embarking on a 43-hour ride in coach tomorrow. I've never rode Amtrak (I've been on commuter trains more than I can count), but not many people I found had commented on riding such a long distance in coach. Glad I found someone who documented their experience in so much detail!
Hope you enjoyed your trip!
Thanks for visiting my hometown of Portland! The bridge you crossed the Willamette on used to be a swing-span bridge until it was converted to lift span in 1989, and is now the longest lifts spans in the world. Also, it is one of the highest lift spans, as Navy destroyers have to be able to sail under it.
The bridge you crossed the Columbia on is the oldest bridge on the lower Columbia, and one of only two swing span bridges left in Portland. The route you took north from Portland, across the Columbia, and down the north bank of the river was built by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (the "Seattle" portion of the name was mostly aspirational, the company never actually got there.) It's since been bought out many times over and is now owned by BNSF. The tracks that follow the southern bank of the river were built by the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, which was bought out by Union Pacific.
Thanks for the extra information! Very interesting.
I watched while in social isolation. I'm supposed to be cleaning out junk and clutter in my house, but looking at videos like yours is much ore fun! I got a kick out of your comment about 1066. That seems to be a date everyone remembers from school. I went to the "real" Hastings once while on vacation in England.
I must admit, I am a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to doing what I am supposed to be doing as well. Glad you're enjoying my videos. Despite having lived in the UK all my life, I am yet to go to Hastings in England.
Took this train from Chicago to Portland in June 2022. It was very enjoyable
You mention that you can book either an upper or lower coach seat. I recommend a lower level seat. The bathrooms are on that level and, because there is no through-car traffic, it is quieter and more private down there. I did coach west bound on the Empire Builder, and a roomette east bound. Since I'm older now, I much preferred the roomette!
Westbound I traveled from Chicago to Portland. Eastbound I traveled from Portland to Seattle, then to Chicago.
What side of the train do you recommend for the roomette? I have heard that there can be times where it is better to be on the North or South side of the Empire Builder.
@@danellemoore1461 If you wish to see the Columbia River gorge, the Southside. If you wish to see the Mississippi River valley east of Minneapolis, the Northside. Glacier National Park is better on the Northside as well, but the Southside isn't awful. It depends, why sitting in the Sightseeing Lounge as much as possible is the best overall...
I took the Empire Builder from Seattle to Minneapolis on a coach seat, never again! I would only do it again if I had a sleeper or was traveling with someone, (who could watch my stuff while I wandered around).
Did you have something stolen? I am considering taking coach on this route and wondering if I should watch out for anything particular.
@Christopher Robinson, thanks for the quick reply! That’s good to know.
I didn’t, so I had to take stuff with me when I wandered or stay in my seat, (maybe they have lockers now)!
@Christopher Robinson Why bring outside food when the dining car food comes free with the room? The dining car food is pretty good -- not exactly high cuisine but at least basic diner quality (unlike the cafe car food which is basically just gas station food).
As someone who wants to go to Chicago from Portland on a budget this is the perfect video
Love your reviews, Dylan! Smart of you to use captions rather than voice, I like it. I like your love of history, same with me.
Thanks 😁
I and 41 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the U.S. appreciate it too!
I'm surprised the gorge looked that good, the Eagle Creek fire was just horrendous. Some timestamps for certain points in the western Columbia Gorge:
7:51 Franz Lake in the foreground, Nesmith Point in the background
8:02 the very beginning parts of the Bonneville Dam
8:24 the Bridge of the Gods is on the right, and the town of Cascade Locks is in the middle. Before the Bonneville Dam raised the river levels, there used to be lots of rapids in this area, called the Cascade Rapids. So they built a set of locks in order to bypass them. They used the name of the rapids to name the mountain range that separates the green western part of Oregon/Washington from the desert eastern portion, the Cascade Mountains. The Bridge of the Gods is the lowest point on the Pacific Crest Trail, and costs $2 for cars to cross. PCT hikers can cross on foot for free!
8:40 Shellrock Mountain
I took "this" from Los Angeles to Minneapolis! Yeah, more than 3 days. Same clothes, no shower, bad food.
Why didn’t you change clothes and wash up bird style in bathroom?
I enjoyed traveling along with you. We take the Empire Builder from Chicago to Minot, ND frequently, as our daughter and her family live there. We are from Buffalo, NY, and take the Lakeshore Limited from Buffalo to Chicago. We only travel coach, and agree that the food is better in the dining car, but very expensive. We now carry our small cooler with food and beverages. Thank you for sharing. I will be on the Empire Builder again in June.
Glad you enjoyed!
Thanks for the video. I’m brought here by my plans. Going to start my nearly 84h long journey in nearly 72 h from SC to CA. Expecting a lot of good memories, layovers, sceneries and more.... Prepared myself well for the adventure.
Have a good trip!
How was it?
I've done the reverse trip in coach with my wife (way back in 2003!)... it wasn't bad but the older I get, the less I think I can do 2 full days in coach anymore. Need a shower, real food, less noise, etc. You picked a good seat about midway between the door and stairs; if you get stuck near either of those places, you're in trouble. On our train, there were no two seats together left except right in front of the door, and at night when I'm trying to sleep and that door suddenly opens, I get jolted awake every time. It's also really annoying having it constantly opening and closing even during the day. I spent most of my time in the lounge car, even at night... along with 3 or 4 other people who probably had similar problems, I actually slept in the lounge car overnight.
That said, it was great when I was younger and more tolerant of stuff like that, and I still love traveling that distance in a roomette. I even do kinda like the crappy lounge car food and sometimes get it by choice. But not for 2 days straight.
btw you probably wouldn't really want a downstairs seat. Those are really intended more for people who have trouble getting up the stairs, and it's only a tiny little cabin and not every coach has one. It's hard to tell if yours did; I see the door but can't see beyond it. It's probably a little quieter (depending on the passengers in it) because you don't have people walking through, but I feel like it'd be a little weird to spend 2 days in that little 12-seat room.
I spent a night in coach on the Capitol Limited after this and I was in an aisle seat right by the door which leads to the next coach and it was honestly the longest 18 hours of my life so I was definitely grateful to b in a good position for the longer Empire Builder.
There was no seating on the lower level of my car; that was being used to store baggage. The other coach car had lower level seating though.
We go to Europe once a year. The first leg on a train from Portland Oregon to NYC then the Queen Mary 2 from NY to Southampton. We like doing it old school.
Sounds fun!
Great video:) I was planning on doing this route in a roomete sleeper from Seattle to Chicago in August. I've been hearing reviews on Trip Advisor that the Eastbound train is always late into Chicago. You actually got pretty lucky arriving into Chicago. Also I postponed the trip to June 2021.
Thanks! Hope you have a good trip if it goes ahead 🤞😁
Taking in mind social isolating is taking part at home your videos really help with been stuck at home. Thanks Dylan.
Glad I can bring travel to you so that you don't have to risk your own health. Stay safe!
You mention the Missouri River which is the longest river in the U. S. It's a good trivia question because most people think the longest is the Mississippi River.
The larger Amtrak stations from the former glory days of train travel in the USA reveal fine architecture, you should also record video of the smaller small town depots which have been wonderfully restored by many communities. While not as grand as the larger stations, they have their own quaintness as well... Many were becoming derelict before they were restored, one by one...
in coach take a seat at the very front seat as you get the most legroom. personally i recommend a sleeping car but to each his own. this is my favorite amtrak long distance train. the scenery is incredible. the st. paul and chicago depot's are beautiful buildings.it's amazing they built a railroad through this route. bye the way i recommend a long distance train ride for anybody's bucket list lol.
The St. Paul area, most of Minnesota in fact, was built due to the lumber industry; hence, a railroad through the area. :)
Usually the west coast long distance sleeper trains are more than half empty in coach, but more than half full in the sleepers. For that distance you will be hard pressed to find a cheaper fare in coach, even with Greyhound. The roomette sleeper costs more, but does include a nice cot to sleep on and diner meals are included with the fare. For two nights driving two nights in a hotel as well as dining in restaurants will cost nearly as much on top of your gasoline and car expenses. I ride trains as I get a lot of rest and relaxation whereas if I drove I would be dead tired by the time I reach the destination. Plus I see the country side pass by, not the lines on the highway...
When I travel Amtrak coach, I always bring my food in s small soft sided cooler plus a large thermos with my coffee. The lounge food just isn’t the greatest and the dining car is pricey. Empire Builder route is my favorite (MSP to Seattle)!
I would rather eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich, Elvis' favorite, than dine on a convenient store prepared nuked cheeseburger... Potato chips and drinks are about the only thing I buy from the lounge cafe. I prefer the diner food much more, even though it isn't Gordon Ramsey cuisine... Usually I bring a can of cocktail peanuts for snacking between meals...
@Christopher Robinson Yep, go into the camping section & buy a couple of Mountain House cerial breakfasts. 25 year shelf life and generally considered to be very tasty.
Yep, I always fill a backpack with food before I travel coach. Might buy the odd bag of chips or a soft drink. But bringing my own works out fine.
@@leighrate what did you bring to heat up the food?
The Cut Bank-Shelby section is a region called "Marias Pass."
I did redwing mn to Seattle (empire builder) with a 4 day layover in Seattle that was well worth it and back to redwing.In a sleeper just before everything closed down due to covid march 6th-13th.
Glenview is a suburb of Chicago. It's in the same county as Chicago and Metra Chicago's Commuter Rail Service goes there.
25:25 That's Glenview Metra Station, an absolutely beautiful little station and my hometown.
Seeing those small stops makes me want to get out and walk around. I love those old small towns with their downtowns. Sad so many are dying out and the downtown is dotted with "for rent" signs. Seems like only banks, insurance agents and restaurants are open in many of them.
Unfortunately all of the corporate chain stores are on the interstates and highway bypasses of many of these small towns... Mom and pop businesses are fading out everywhere in rural America...
Haha, I was just thinking the very same thing, why don't they dim the lounge lights, it would be wonderful stargazing. It's beautiful country, I think it's time to visit OR and WA.
AWESOME VIDEO I HAVE SEEN OTHERS AMTRAK ADVENTURES ON THE TH-cam BUT YOURS IS SO MUCH SUPERIOR THEN THEIRS !!!
Thanks!
Great video. Once again, you rode the reverse of what I did. The ride from Chicago to Seattle is definately not as nice as from Portland to Chicago. But, I always wanted to travel cross country on the ground, but never wanted to drive it. Amtrak is for sure the way to travel.
I agree! There's something quite special about taking an Amtrak train!
I always travel roomette, that's way too long in coach, I would be going crazy if I went coach across the country. I did this route last year. And next week taking Train from Chicago to Orlando. Capitol limited to DC. Silver Star from DC to Orlando.
I was going crazy by the end of the trip 😂
I did the Crescent in coach. It’s not too bad for a single night.
@@counterfit5 Unfortunately its two nights on the Empire Builder, not one....
I have been watching many of your train trips VDOs. I really wanted to go, but as I am writing this comment, it is Jul18, 2020. The d.... covid thing, I am crying...
Hang in there. There will be an end to it. This situation won't be forever.
That ad at 9:40 was train themed
Great trip review!
I tell you what, the scenery is just fantastic. I do not know how you manage to travel so often but more power to you and thank you for showing such beauty :-D
Thanks!
@@DylansTravelReports Well, you have a knack for making these videos. No voice unless excusing yourself to others and you make nice clean shots out the windows without jerking the image all around plus the window shots are long enough to really grasp what you are seeing. Glad I came across your channel at random :-D
Hi Dylan I,m subscribed to your channel. I enjoyed watching your tv videos!!
Thanks!
Your welcome
I rode to LA from Kansas on Amtrak in 1973 in coach. I really liked it. But I would not go in coach now. I caught a glimpse of you in the mirror in the bathroom and you looked quite young so I imagine it did not bother you either. But when your bones get old having to sit and sleep in a seat for that long can make you wonder what the hell you were thinking.
I did used to go to LA and back to San Diego about 15 years ago and that was better than being stuck on the freeway for several hours.
No train service here in Las Vegas.
We do have train service here in Kingman, AZ. I think they stop around 2am to and from LA.
@@JanetOrt That's where that line goes through. It's only about 80 miles from here to Kingman. Might be worth driving there to take the train to LA if I ever want to go there for a day. They have a good metro there to get around.
I've taken the Chicago to St Paul leg many times - you were lucky, in the summer there is not one empty seat!! Great trip and wonderful camerawork ... you've inspired me to go the whole way sometime. When you pass through Chicago Union Station next time be sure to treat your viewers to a peek at the beautiful Great Hall ... still looks just like it did when it made a very special guest appearance in the movie The Untouchables
Thanks! The only reason I didn't show the great hall is because I showed it in my other videos!
@@DylansTravelReports Yes, I just now saw it in you Southwest Chief video! :) I'm working my way through all your videos - so interesting! thanks!
I'm planning the trip in mid October. How are the crowds then??
That station hall in Portland looks EXACTLY like the one in Seattle. I was in Seattle for the Cascades to Vancouver.
Nice job. However, next time you might comment about the only flag stop on the EB line: The Isaac Walton
Inn, located in West Glacier Park, MT. Most of the guests at The Inn traditionally walk out on the porch and wave as the train passes the inn. The coming train is always announced all over the hotel before arrival.
Thanks! I didn't know they that at the inn.
In this case, with a largely empty carriage and comfortable seats, it almost looks like it would be worth considering.
I think however they have changed the seats to harder leather type seats which might not be as conducive to sleep.
Deciding what food to pack for a trip in coach is one of the pleasures of train travel. Avoid the cafe car at all cost.
So what would you bring with??.. Planning on a trip in Sept/Oct and I'm getting a little nervous lol..
Sarah Green Don’t be nervous- you’ll love it! Pack food that doesn’t need refrigeration or microwaving and isn’t very smelly. Include some things that are more substantial than just snacks. And I’d suggest some wet wipes. Beyond that, it’s down to personal preference!
The hot logic mini would be useful for heating up food at your seat!
Near Portland, Ore, in Longview, Wash, they dumped the ash from Mt. St. Hellens back in 1980. I remember it all too well.
Would like to take another Amtrak trip but I’ll wait until the mask kabuki theater is finished.
@10:31 I 100% agree. Stargazing could really become the selling point. They have those blue and red lights on the floor anyway.
Hi Dylan:
Thanks for your travel-logs.
I've got a question for you: My experience of train travel occurred many decades ago. At the time, one of the real pleasures of taking the train was meeting and talking with other passengers, especially in the lounge or dining car. But no one, including yourself, makes any mention of interaction with other passengers. Have trains gone the way of airplanes, neighborhoods, and many public places--everyone staying in their own private space?
People still chat with one another in the dinning car and to some extent in the lounge car. That said, when I was in sleeper, I would tend to stay in my roomette more than if I were in coach.
By the way, no matter what time of year you travel on Amtrak, bring a pillow & blanket or at night you will shiver!
Good advice!
I would not have expected Tudor architecture in Montana but there you go.
I am glad that I am now financially able to afford a sleeper car.
hello i want to take thnat train one day it looks fab. and yes about the food its really poor in the lounge car the dining car is better ty for filming this. coach is comfy and ive spent time stuck in an aisle seat becsue the trian was ful
On my next train (the Capitol Limited,) I was confined to an isle seat as well!
The ticket price was a bargain and the scenery was beautiful. Not all of us could sleep well in one of those seats, though they're vastly better than a plane's economy seating. I'm sure that the company providing the lounge food wouldn't permit it, but wouldn't it be nice if at each of those stops there were at least prepackaged sub sandwiches to buy? At longer stops, a McDonalds would be welcomed! This trip would be a great experience if I were 50 years younger, but not now.
Great video! I switched to 1080p so that I could read the menu. Just after that, the scenery started. So of course, I continued in 1080p. You did a great job of capturing the beauty and editing. The video never felt jumpy, incomplete, or frenetic. I loved your using natural sound and subtitles. No talking at us! I liked the subtle way we at least got to see you--in the bathroom mirror! Thanks for all the information. It was everything we wanted to know and felt like an integral part of the experience. Apparently, the westbound route is not nearly as scenic. Your review at the end seemed fair and well supported. As you suggested, we can watch some of your other videos to vicariously experience the roomette or higher class experience. I would be disappointed to make this trip and not get a south-facing window. Finally, it looked like at the stops, you might have to go to some effort and some distance from the train to get away from the smokers. It would be nice to know in advance how much of a problem that's going to be for someone who is physically intolerant, as some people are gluten or lactose intolerant. Thanks for the video!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed! I found it fairly easy to get away from smokers as I think they have to be a certain distance from the train.
Thanks for the reply. That would be great if that's true. I thought the woman in the white cap at 16:12 was smoking, but now I'm not sure. And the "smoke" from the gentleman facing the train at 16:17 is actually steam from his coffee. :-) It's not realistic to ask smokers to go without for more than 24 hours, so I hope Amtrak has found some way to accommodate the needs of both smokers and nonsmokers.
I can only imagine the sad little lives had by those people who bizarrely give a 'dislike' to videos such as these.
Baffling.
I did probably longer from Clifton Forge Virginia to Los Angeles on the cardinal and then further on the southwest chief all in coach
That's a long trip. I connected straight onto the Capital Limited to DC once I arrived in Chicago.
Fyi Dylan (dont know if anyone else brought this up) with the exception of the NE corridor (DC-NY) all of the tracks are owned by freight companies, who take priority over Amtrak. This is why Amtrak runs late on many longer distance routes
Yes so I've heard although Amtrak still (in theory at least) has priority over the freight trains. The trouble is, some of these freight trains are too big for many of the sidings so can't always pull over to let the Amtrak trains past.
The towns and cities along the route were, in fact, named after places in Europe by James Hill, the railroad baron who built the Great Northern Railroad. He was called the Empire Builder, and his agents in Europe and in New York recruited refugees fresh off the boat to come and settle. By naming towns Glasgow (Scotch), Harve (French), and Bismarck (German), they hoped to lure immigrants to settle out there. Once they did, they'd be customers (or captives) of the railroad.
Idk about the others, but people from Glasgow, Scotland would have got a shock when they arrived at Glasgow, MT as they are completly unlike one another.
I have traveled coach on Amtrak many times. It's not the most comfortable for sleeping at night, but it's not so bad that you can't stand it for a couple of days--and you can't beat the price. If you book early, it's really dirt cheap to travel across the whole US by train if you travel coach. You still see all the beautiful scenery and you can buy food in the snack car or make reservations in the dining car. Plus, you have the chance to have conversations with all sorts of people. Coach can be a really nice experience.
This is something I would love to do, either in the United States or in Canada (like Toronto to Vancouver). Great video as ever Dylan! 👍
Excellent stuff - I do pity those who took this and ended up 20-40 hours late largely due to delays caused by weather and/or resulting from trackage ownership of the freight companies (which is actually the opposite in say... Japan and parts of Europe)
Thanks! I wouldn't have wanted to spend an extra 20-40 hours in that seat so I pity them too.
Being spoiled by western and central european railways i tend to brag and look down on railway infrastructure in the US. But i must say that this trip made a very good impression. The landscapes are without borders, the stations looked so pretty and well maintained it could be Disneyland. The train itself is so much different from trains that i am used, but still looks inviting, especialy the sightseer lounge car type is quite uncommon (except from the panorama trains in Switzerland). For a price for under 200$ i really would love to take that train one day. The US may be underdeveloped in passenger railway infrastructure in generall, but the long haul lines they have, are just awesome. I hope to ride one of these soon :)
Wow what a really scenic railway journey they should have this journey on the world's most scenic railway journeys good money value
Lol I discovered your Channel just today, and the second random video I chose to watch literally took you right past my neighborhood on the Columbia River! How cool is THAT? I love your stuff, really charming stuff! Thanks 👍🏽
pS insanely scenic!
planning on doing this hopefully in September, thank you from a fellow northerner for the 'inspiration'. LAX-CHI-WAS-BOS-CHI-PDX-LAX (wanna join me?). by the way, did you take either the Capitol Limited or the Cardinal from Chicago to Washington? shame there's no video on that as would've enjoyed seeing that route too
Yes, I did a video on the Cardinal from NYC to Chicago which is still up.
@@DylansTravelReports ah great, will check it out
I think the pizza looks good read me hungry We should be thankful that we have the pizza to eat We should be thankful that we have pizza to eat in that we can purchase the pizza on the train
For the pizza, it was more the price for the size of pizza that I had issue with.
I must say I really enjoy this type of video! I get to see places I've never been to before!
Glad you enjoyed!
In the U.S. and Canada, you have to be pretty interested in trains to travel long-distance in coach. As cheap, if not cheaper, to fly, not to mention a lot faster :)
I'd say it's worth experiencing but I wouldn't do it all the time!
But MUCH less legroom.
If you like travelling in a seat area the size of a small tin can, definitely fly.
From coast to coast, between big cities, yes, it can be cheaper to fly, but from some of those small towns with their own airports along this route, even a sleeper on the train is cheaper than the lowest airfares, and Amtrak coach is much cheaper.
A very scenic journey, I liked it ! :-) The prairie vistas were somewhat boring, but the mountain, forest and river panoramas were wonderful. :-) The train cars are pretty reasonable in design for something that needs to cross through much of North America west to east. (Though I'll confess I'm mostly unused to cars with upstairs decks, as a European train passenger.)
I suppose railway food (at least from the lounge buffet) has a similar reputation as "airline food" to many Americans, heh. :-)) For a fair few dollars, that small pizza and cheeseburger did look very basic. :-( Hopefully the dining cars have a better offer, though I understand you didn't have those booked for this trip.
I couldn't do coach. Wouldn't sleep at all. Good video.
Thanks! I guess I'm just fortunate in that I could pretty much sleep anywhere.
I loved the scenery, so beautiful! I want to go. I guess I could bring some food, maybe get something at a “smoke stop”, & a coupla meals are the dining car. I don’t want to eat bad food.
Risky going off at smoke stops though.
I like your blogs very much, BUT it would be better if you verbalized. It's annoying to have to read the captions. You do a very good job .
Dylan's videos are the best combination of travel brochure (you want to go there) and travelogue (you've been) 👍
Pleased to hear 😁
@@DylansTravelReports I'd agree. Nice job, Dylan!
Although I know it would be interesting to travel long distance by train, I would not do well in coach. I cannot sleep in seats like those. When I travel, I usually fly and it costs pretty much the same as it does by rail. That being said, my favorite rail journey was in South Korea some years ago on the KTX bullet train from Seoul to Busan.
yes take your own food - even if its going to be cold or buy at fresh air stop
could you do a ride review of ex brightline now virgin trains usa please 🚄🚃
Maybe next time I'm in the states!
The big flames in North Dakota is the Bakken Oil Field, and when you look at it in space, it looks bigger than Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Very interesting!
The Minot, ND stop brought to mind my plans to drive all along the US83 from North Dakota (Minot is considered to be the real "northern terminus") to Texas, a dream I still have to these days. Hopefully one day I'll find the courage to take a AWOL from work and do it! Meantime I should definitely plan a cross country train trip, as soon as they will let us Italians to travel free to the US. Thanks for the great video and enlightening information.
You have really helped me in knowing what to expect when I ride the Empire Builder to Chicago this summer. I've watched alot of your videos. Can't help to notice all the Geo Engineering going on in the skies every where you travel. Look up people. It's not a good thing..
Don't forget to wear your aluminum foil hat and prepare to beam aboard the mothership at one of your stops to pick up zombies.
@@mircat28 will do, haha
@@mircat28 Sleeper
Two questions... sorry if I missed the answers on another post; is there WiFi during the trip and do passengers have access to a microwave?
Unfortunatly there's not wifi although you should be able to access 4G most of the time. Passengers also don't have access to a microwave.
Dylan's Travel Reports, thanks for the reply!
Questions like whether or not a particular route are available at that route’s page on the Amtrak website
That was a great video Dylan. What time of year is it not too busy as far as travel on this train route?
Tbh, it's hard to say for definite but I took this trip in late September.
Thanks Dylan.
Portland's Union Station seems criminally underrated, absolutely gorgeous, perhaps the best on the West Coast.
Yes we have a lot of names of cities and towns that share the same names as those originally named in Europe, a lot of the immigrants named towns after the places or areas they came from back in the old country.
In the case of Malta and Glasgow, they were named at random by putting a finger on a spinning globe.
Hi! I' was deeply delighted by your trip. Will you do the Sunset Limited? I'm interested in the panorama I can enjoy from this train!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed! I'm hoping to make more Amtrak trip reports in the not too distant future and tbh I'd love to do all the long distance trains!
@@DylansTravelReports will be waiting for them!! Best wishes from Argentina!
@@DylansTravelReports I've done all Amtrak long-distance trains (except the Auto Train). The one with the most spectacular views and scenery is the California Zephyr (Chicago-San Francisco Bay Area). I've also taken VIA Rail's The Canadian, a legendary long-distance train from Toronto to Vancouver, four nights on board. I can highly recommend that journey. Stunning.
Both of them are train that I'm planning on taking later in the year.
I could never sleep on the coach with them taking every single stop to walk around the cabin, or announce over the speaker like it was a bus
I actually watched this video for one thing and one thing only, how comfortable are the seats. So far you gave it a thumbs up eventhough your'e used to sleeping on a train. No doubt, it's night and day from coach to sleeper and since COVID has wrecked alot of things, sleeper may be the only way to go. No way I sit on a train for hours with a mask on!
Hi Great information and very useful information thanks for effort. Kindly always add tickets price information for all class. Thanks once again
I'm from Spokane, I know the only passenger train through here comes at around 2am. Still sad to not see any video of it. I wish there was a better time to catch a passenger train here.
It's a shane that the only train is at such an inconvinient time.
That's true, but on the other hand it means you arrive at relatively convenient times at the major cities. If I lived in Spokane I'd rather leave the place I knew at 2AM than arrive in Seattle at 2AM.
Hi Dillon I'm from St Louis Missouri I was one of your subscribers and had to get back on your side again my name is Jim
Weird how Americans treat getting a train the same pretty much as getting a plane. Checkin and boarding and such. Madness. No wonder trains aren’t well used when it’s that much of an ordeal to get on one!
Yes it is a strange way of boarding trains. I'm more used to just waiting on the platform and getting straight on the train when it arrives.
@@DylansTravelReports the check-in stuff is mainly for the baggage service. Similar boarding procedures (wait on concourse, tickets checked before being allowed on the platform) happen at stations like Euston and Birmingham New Street, for instance. "Local" services like Caltrain or NJ Transit are just turn up and go. The biggest thing that I found different was how very many US stations, even major ones like Chicago, New York Penn etc., have doors and platforms at track-level, meaning you need to climb several large steps to board, whereas all our ones, the doors and platforms are above the bogies.
See that the train is mostly not full. Amtrak is losing its shirt on these long-haul routes. They may not be around much longer. Unfortunately. Good video.
Thanks! For me it wss good that the train wasn't busy as it was more comfortable bit in the bigger picture, that is definatly not a good thing!
how come there's no bullet train service like Japan & Europe in America
Food in the lounge card is absolutely delicious I love the burger and the pizza and the hotdog And the pretzel all of them different choices that they have or actually really delicious and really good
are the sight seeing and cafe cars near the front of the train?