Now why didn’t I think of that??!?!??!?1!?
The real question is, how can we monetize this?!
It sounds like you have the Covid risk well in hand by getting vaxxed a month or so before traveling. If RSV vaccine is available to you in Canada, that would be worth getting too. It is a once and done vax. Have a stash of K94 or N95 masks for the stations or unexpected coughing, sniffling, fellow travelers in narrow train corridors or station crowds.
One suggestion I’d make as a seasoned Amtrak traveler who really enjoys train traveling, even with age & mobility challenges and carting oxygen with me: go to or from Milwaukee one way on the Empire Builder and to or from back on the California Zephyr. Both go in and out of Chicago. That way you’ll get the best of several scenery worlds. Glacier Park (Empire) and the high northern US mountains and plains and also the central Great Plains, including stupendous scenery in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Utah. To connect between the Empire Builder and the California Zephyr is the Coastal Staright running along the Pacific Coast.
That way you’d incorporate 3 of the 4 vaunted MOST SCENIC Amtrak routes and maximize the variety of your dream trip experience.
That’s what I would do if I could. Chicago has a lovely lounge for Sleeper class passengers which you could use for both routes. Rest, free snacks, beverages, concierge services.
Let me know if you’d like more tips. I know there are differences in optimal daylight for scenery viewing whether you go east on one route or west.
Even if you have reservations already, Amtrak is gracious about changing the route and schedule, just don’t try to do it on their app, call and ask to talk to a real live agent-they know all tricks to get you the most bang for your time and money. If you haven’t already, that would be a good time to ask for the senior discount or disability discount and assistance. Lots of discounts, at least one will fit you.
On YouTube there is a wonderful set of videos about Amtrak travel, especially in sleeping accommodations. Look for the “Grounded Life” train travel series.
The attendants are very happy to bring you your meals and refreshment to your cabin so you needn’t go to the dining car, cafe or observation car if you don’t care to. The food on the western trains of Amtrak is beyond merely ok or decent all the way to renowned for some items (the French toast or the dinner steak). Not vast variety but good for 2 days of meals.
You’ll want to get some cash in the US-5s & 10s for baggage handler-the red caps if you use them-and for meal tips. 20s for a daily tip for your bedroom car attendant. Slip them a $20 after they settle you into your bedroom when you first board and then maybe when they bring you your coffee in the morning or when they make up your bed at night.
I’ll just note that while the Coast Starlight does run in view of the coast between Oxnard and Lompoc, it is mostly inland, and while there are still some nice views of California and Oregon mountain ranges, the name tends to overstate how much “coast” you actually get to see. The California Zephyr definitely has the best views of any western Amtrak route but also the train that is most frequently sidelined for freight, so just be prepared if you go that route.
Stranger
Unless you are headed to a wedding, funeral or a job interview, those delays don’t matter and are of short duration. Amtrak will keep feeding you and ensure you make your connections if delayed significantly. There’s a lot of wide open stretches on the Zephyr route, plenty of chances for them to make up time.
I had a coworker (and his family who took the trip because of wanting to see the scenery) that was sidelined for about 18 hours because of freight train conflicts. (This was in mid-to-late 2021, so it might have been a result of ‘pandemic catchup’, but it was an extended period.) They did make up some time but basically got in at midnight instead of their late morning arrival time, and passed through the most scenic parts of the ride in darkness, so they were less than impressed. Obviously, for the o.p. some delays aren’t of a major concern but riders should just be aware that Amtrak isn’t noted for punctuality. Then again, sitting on a train with any view is certainly better than being stuck overnight in an airport.
Stranger
And with a delay that is significant, in addition to ensuring you make your connection, whatever that takes, including a hotel, cabs and meals, you can call Amtrak guest services and request a partial refund or a voucher for future travel. Amtrak is generous with those.
I was taking the Empire Builder eastbound a few years back, and when I got to the station I found out that a truck had hit the westbound train* in North Dakota. As a result it didn’t get in until several hours after it was scheduled to leave, and despite the cleaning/stocking crew busting their butts we were 4-5 hours late the entire trip. More to the point, at one of the stops in Wisconsin a group of Amtrak reps boarded and set up shop in the dining car to make sure that anyone who needed help with connections and/or accommodations were taken care of before we got to Chicago. I wasn’t affected, but that struck me as superior customer service.
* Yes, subject and object are correct: the train was already going through the crossing when the truck hit it.
Yes, but not publicly funded unless in a high risk group. My 87 year old mother paid out of pocket, about $200.
Being 87 doesn’t qualify as high risk?
You would think so, but nope. Residents of Seniors Homes, organ transplants, unhoused people, First Nations are covered at least in Ontario. Each province determines their own strategy for vaccinations. This may be due to limited supplies for this winter and they will expand it next year, but we will have to see.
More anecdata: My wife and I took Amtrak cross country and back in the summer of 2022. We took most of our meals in our roomette, and masked up in public areas, except when eating. We didn’t catch covid.
We took the Cardinal to Chicago, the Empire Builder to Seattle, drove to LA, took the Coast Starlight to the Bay area to catch the Zephyr back to Chicago, and then train back to DC. We had a great time! Amazing scenery, even in allegedly boring upper midwest. Train travel is so relaxing compared to air travel, if you can spare the time.
In the fall of 2022 week took the Auto Train to Florida. We’ve done that several times. This tine we got covid after the return trip. Based on the timing we likely caught it waiting for our car to be unloaded. Since we were vaccinated and got treatment, we were just sick at home.
With all that, IMNSHO the Auto Train beats the heck out of driving, and is better than flying.
One more bit of advice - bring a power strip. Amtrak’s sleeper cars are all 30-50 years old (they’re planning on introducing new sleepers in the next decade, but who knows if that’ll happen) and predate the modern boom in personal electronics, and as such there’s only one electrical outlet in each sleeper cabin. You’re gonna want more than just one outlet if you plan on keeping your devices charged.
Oddly enough my parents swore off Amtrak after taking the auto train. Four hours late leaving Lorton VA. My parents lived fifteen minutes from the station. They spent six hours at the station before the train left. Drip, drip, drip. Then they arrived in Florida twelve hours late, so they lost another eight hours in a 17 hour journey. By the time they got their car it was past 10pm.
Oh, yes, they did score an extra lunch because instead of arriving at 9am they arrived at 9pm. But on the first night they were served dinner at 11:30pm.
My father is a huge rail travel fan. His father was a station master. But the ridiculously bad performance of Amtrak just wore him down. Silly fool thought that rail travel was an alternative way of getting from point A to point B (the only practical way in India before the motor car and aeroplane became available to ordinary folk). In the US, long distance train travel is for folks who think of it as a cruise on land. If your 48 hour journey takes 56 hours, it’s a bonus, not an imposition.
Thanks, everyone, for all the thoughts, opinions, and experiences shared here. It is very helpful and illuminating.
I get it! I’ve had friends who gave up on Amtrak after less serious issues, and I don’t blame them.
OTOH, when we left for a driving trip to FL, my wife told the kids “We’re driving 6 hours - whether that’s Wilmington or Lorton!” Turned out closer to Wilmington. Even though Lorton is a 10 minute drive for us, with DC area traffic it could gave been 6 hours.
Decided not to go on the trip (“Elbows up, eh!” plus covid concerns). Friend of ours flew to visit the same people we were going to visit, came back with Covid. Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions here.
That’s understandable.