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Trip Reports by our Clients:
AMTRAK'S EMPIRE BUILDER, COAST STARLIGHT, AND CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR
by
Ron & Carol
Hi Ted & Sylvia:
Our trip was a success! At times we thought we were living out the
movie, "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (Buses) however.
As you recall we were to board in Alton, on to Chicago, on to Glacier,
then to Portland via the Empire Builder, to Sacramento in the Starlight,
and the Zephyr to Denver, then home via Chicago. Our trip changed to
board
in Lincoln due to track work, bus ride to St Paul, MN due to the flooding
in Wisconson, and finally a flight from Denver due to flooding in Iowa,
what an adventure! Amtrak is in process of refunding the portions that we
were not able to use on the train, I must add if you ever are in
Portland,
they really did their best to accommodate any problems.
As for your choice of accomodations for us, bravo! The Benson in
Portland
was great, not to be missed is Jakes for Dining. The Parlor car on the
starlight should be on all long distance trains, what a treat. Our stay
in Sacramento at the Holiday Inn is next door to the Calif. Railroad
Museum,
very convenient plus our room overlooked the train station! As for
Denver,
due to the scheduling problem with the Zephyr and the Iowa flooding, we
checked
in at 10PM and checked out at 7AM, what we did see was tremendous
however.
Overall the service by the on board staff was very good, the exception
was
the dining staff on the Zephyr, while the staff on the "Builder" and the
"Starlight", really conveyed the message, "we're glad you're here", the
dining
crew on the Zephyr really did not, rather, just a job to be tolerated,
that's
too bad because with all the scenery it should be on of the best trains
that
Amtrak has.
We really appreciated all of your help and look forward to future trips
with
you all. If we are ever needed as a reference, please let us know.
Thanks again,
Ron & Carol
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