Steve,
Just completed our first Amtrak trip - Lake Shore Limited Chicago - Boston and return. The information your site provided helped us get the most out of our trip. There were almost no suprises and we knew what to expect. We also got good information from a listing called "First Timer Tips" by William K Pou III. I cannot find this info again. Do you know where it is? The trip started out on the wrong foot. Planned to take California Zephyr from Galesburg IL. to union station, but it was 9 hours late. We drove 2 1/2 hrs to Chicago vs 1 hr to Galesburg. Reasonable long term parking in garage adjacent to Union Station. $8 day weekdays, $5.50/day weekends, just give them your train ticket stubs. The change turned out for better - travelling with 2 children, the Lake Shore was enough train for one trip. We had 1 viewliner std bedroom, 2 of us in coach. The crew let us walk back & forth with no restriction. We sat in back of coach adjacent to sleeper car (better view from back) They even made sure we used the 2 meals for the sleeper, even if a coach rider ate. Crew was friendly, but didn't go out of their way to explian things. Met another pair of travellers in a sleeper who didn't even know how to work the video! The attendant must not have explained it. On trip to Boston..had interesting experience at breakfast - as recommended, sat with others to meet new people. I met the Product Line Manager for the Lake Shore Limited. Nice man, shared his efforts to improve service & employee attitude - said biggest problems track condition (Conrail tracks?) and on time service. As a gesture, he upgtaded two of us to sleeper for balance of trip. enogh on the trip....again thanks for the information that made the trip more enjoyable!
Bruce S Bales
Selab5@aol.com
