Long Distance Rail Travel

[drross]

Had a great trip Jo'burg to Vic Falls just after Zimbabwe became independent. Money changers at every stop. Had some railway guys looking after me and told me when to change my Rand for Dollars....official rate was 1:1, I think I ended up getting 10:1. Great deal for a poor Aussie uni student!

 

[erkpod]

I've just been talking to QR via Twitter & they tell me that the replacement service for The Sunlander starts on 28/10 & bookings are now open. The train will be called the Spirit Of Queensland. The beds look something like those on long haul J/F.

http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com...ail-travel_spirit-of-queensland-factsheet.pdf

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've just been talking to QR via Twitter & they tell me that the replacement service for The Sunlander starts on 28/10 & bookings are now open. The train will be called the Spirit Of Queensland. The beds look something like those on long haul J/F.

http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com...ail-travel_spirit-of-queensland-factsheet.pdf

Wow that looks pretty cool.

Bet the Frailers([SUP]1[/SUP]) threads don't argue about switching off electronic devices

---

([SUP]1[/SUP]) Yes I'm running with this one.

 

[UP4014]

I've just been talking to QR via Twitter & they tell me that the replacement service for The Sunlander starts on 28/10 & bookings are now open. The train will be called the Spirit Of Queensland. The beds look something like those on long haul J/F.

http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com...ail-travel_spirit-of-queensland-factsheet.pdf

That's terrible, QR are calling it innovation but its an airline seat transplanted.

I guess I'll be sticking to BAM travel for longer distances in Australia.

Matt

 

[JessicaTam]

I've just been talking to QR via Twitter & they tell me that the replacement service for The Sunlander starts on 28/10 & bookings are now open. The train will be called the Spirit Of Queensland. The beds look something like those on long haul J/F.

http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com...ail-travel_spirit-of-queensland-factsheet.pdf

They are having trouble with their units of measurement. Recline 35", Pitch 2065mm. :!:

 

[Paddy55]

Discovered High Speed Rail in Europe 2009. Instant convert for convenience, comfort, etc, etc

With Mrs Paddy travelled on:

Eurostar twice (London - Paris),
TGV (Paris to Avignon)
TGV Lyria (Zurich - Paris) and
Thalysis (Paris - Amsterdam)

In Nov/Dec Paddy Jnr and I are travelling

Eurostar (London - Paris)
TGV (Paris - Munich)
ICE, ICE and Eurostar (Munich - Frankfurt - Amsterdam - London)

 

[erkpod]

That's terrible, QR are calling it innovation but its an airline seat transplanted.

I guess I'll be sticking to BAM travel for longer distances in Australia.

Matt

Bogie exchange in Brisbane? LOL

 

[gwilli1]

Love my rail travel , especially in Europe.

Trips I have done...

London to Paris ( Eurostar)



Paris to Barcelona ( Joan Miro Hotel Train - Overnight Sleeper )



Barcelona to Nice via Montpellier

Berlin to Amsterdam

Amsterdam to Munich via Frankfurt ( ICE )



Nice to Ventimiglia (Italy via Monaco )

 

[amaroo]

Thinking about doing Toronto-Montreal X-mas day......figure it would be a memorable way to spend 5hrs whilst everything else is shut!

Might even fit in a day (rail) trip Montreal-Quebec City.......have been before but thinking the kids will kick out of -30 degrees and a bit of ice breaking crossing the St Lawrence River.

Just booked VIA Rail Toronto - Montreal

 

[Storyteller]

Have a couple of Amtrak questions, if I may..

Anyone know if passengers joining the Sunset Limited in SAS can board early? The 0245 departure is brutal.

Also, I read somewhere that the same train continues from LAX as the Coast Starlight. Do they allow through passengers to sleep in, or are we out of bed & onto the platform at 0535, & reboard just in time for 1010 departure?

If anyone has done these trips recently I would love to hear. Also, do these trains & Empire Builder & Lakeshore Limited have the full kitchen?

Thanks.

 

[gunzel2]

Sunset Limited and Starlight are two different consists. Change trains at LAX.

Builder has dining car for Chicago to Seattle service #7 and #8. #27 and #28, the Spokane to Portland section is cafe car only.

 

[gunzel2]

Lakeshore #48 and 49 has dining car New York Penn to Chicago. Albany to Boston #448 and 449 is cafe car only.

 

[Storyteller]

Lakeshore #48 and 49 has dining car New York Penn to Chicago. Albany to Boston #448 and 449 is cafe car only.

Thanks for the info this post, & previous.

We are on SEA CHI, & CHI NYP, so sounds like we won't starve . Hoping to try the famous steak.
Shame about the early mornings Sunset & Starlight..

 

[gunzel2]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]An Amtrak service bulletin to staff indicates the removal of some amenities from long distance services in March 2014.
While the changes have not been publicly advertised - the following is taken from FSN-02 issued 04 Feb 2014.[/FONT]
------


Train Specific: All Long Distance Trains except the Auto Train
Issue Date: February 4, 2014

Background:
A number of amenity items are being eliminated and removed from long distance services

Advisory:
The following amenity items are being eliminated and removed from long distance services. Effective dates are posted next to the items and the commissaries will stop boarding these items on these dates. Ending dates were set based on the calculated depletion of existing inventories.

Wine & Cheese Receptions - Effective March 31, 2014
- Empire Builder
- Coast Starlight
- Lake Shore Ltd.

Complimentary 187ml Champagne & Non-Alcoholic Cider - Effective March 31, 2014

Aseptic Cranberry Juice will no longer be offered in the Sleeping Car
– Effective February 8, 2014.
Orange and Apple Juice will continue to be offered.
Dining Car will continue to offer Cranberry Juice.

Complimentary Newspapers – Effective Date TBA. Research is underway regarding existing contracts in place with current vendors.

Amenity Kits – Effective May 31, 2014
- Empire Builder
- Coast Starlight

Flowers and Vases on Dining Car Tables – Effective February 15, 2014.

Astor Chocolate Squares – Effective March 31, 2014.
- Empire Builder
- Coast Starlight

 

[drross]

rather poor form!

 

[UP4014]

Yes it is poor form, although Amtrak Train 1 is the Sunset Limited the Coast Starlight rose to the premier train through some great staff providing above average service. Taking away the little things starts the slide downward.

Good to see management can kill off something the staff had pride in, just like the airline industry!

Matt

 

[Maca44]

I have had many train travels throughout Europe, with the longest being overnight so don't know if they could be called long. Did Edinburgh to London on the Flying Scotsman, and that was great as was the Rocky Mountaineer between Vancouver and Calgary.

Amtrak:

In the first week of September this year I am taking the Amtrak Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle, and you could not get a better deal. They say it's about 46 hour trip, so I booked a roomette (which I have to myself) 11 months out, and the fare of US$580.00 is inclusive of all meals. This would have to be the longest train trip I have been on, and although I have been to the US 20 plus time I usually fly between the various cities and miss seeing things. I will spend a week in Seattle with friends, and then taking the Amtrak Cascades up the coast to Vancouver, and just to make it interesting I am taking the same train back two weeks later. I have been doing a lot of research on YouTube and the scenery looks fantastic on both trains. So, this will be one to cross of the bucket list.

Flyertalk have of lot of info on train travel, and the guy in seat 61 is a great research tool.

 

[Foreigner]

I've just booked Amtrak WAS to NYP. Less than 3.5 uhr. It's daytime booking and for May.

 

[JessicaTam]

I've just booked Amtrak WAS to NYP. Less than 3.5 uhr. It's daytime booking and for May.

Ein bißchen Deutsche?

 

[Foreigner]

Ein bißchen Deutsche?

Ja. Und Sie?


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