I would like to see your opinions abot the best Amtrak train nowadays when it comes to service, comfort , style and scenery. Many might argue about wether the Southwest Chief or the Empire Builder is the best, but I really wanna hear your personal opinion about the best Amtrak train.
Coast Starlight followed by Empire Builder
Short runs? Hoosier State. Clean and on time.
How about Acela from NYP to Boston?
You start out with a view of the NYC skyline on Hell Gate, then lots and lots of great shore line views thru Connecticut.
Acela is Amtrak’s newest and fastest equipment
I’ve only ridden three long distance ones so far, the Pennsylvanian, the Capitol Limited, and the Empire Builder, and I’d have to say the Empire Builder was the best for service, accomodations, and scenery.
Of the trains I have taken (Lake Shore Limited, Three Rivers (when it was a train), Capitol Limited, Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, California Zephyer, Downeaster, Pacific Surfliner/San Diegan plus the entire Northeast Corridor), I’d have to say the California Zephyr was the best. I hear the Empire Builder is excellent as well, but I have never been on that train… yet.
Coast Starlight hands down–great scenery, usually the top Amtrak crews, and the Pacific Parlour car. For corridor runs, I absolutely loved the Cascades from Vancouver to Seattle–fabulous Puget Sound scenery, decent “bistro” food, and even a movie in business class if you wanted it.
The Coast Star Late you mean? [:D] although I agree it is a great ride–if and when it shows up [:D] I’ve taken it from Santa Barbara to San Francisco–I especially like the run along the coast from Santa Barbara through Vandenberg AFB and the climb up Cuesta Pass out of San Luis Obispo. The Salinas Valley has a spare (if somewhat monotonous) beauty, and the run just north of San Jose where the tracks run along the bay is beautiful, especially at sunset.
For corridor runs, I like the Capitol Corridor from Sacramento to San Francisco, which I take several times a month. Decent food, helpful staff, a place to plug in your laptop and work, a quiet car to doze, it’s everything you want corridor service to be! [:)]
Coast Starlight followed by the California Zephyr.
I’ve ridden SW chief, Empire Builder, Coast Starlight (but not far). Overall the Builder is best. Planning the Calif Zephyr this summer. I agree about the Cascades. df
I’ve rode on the Three Rivers, Ann Rutledge, Kansas City Mule and the Texas Eagle. Of these I rank the Texas Eagle as the best considering comfort, food and professional friendly onboard staff. In the near future I plan to ride on the Sunset, Southwest Chief and one of the west coast trains. Will rate them all later.
Best in the East-Capitol Limited and Crescent
Best in the West-Calif. Zephyr
Runners up- Empire Builder and Silver Star
Since I live in Oakridge, Oregon I have to say the Coast Starlight, and yes it does run late, but considering where it has to run (California, where the Ilegals think that it stops for them) and our mountains and the massive flooding and slides in Washington, its still a wonderful ride and this time of year the snow run in the Cascades is fantastic!!!
Well Im predjudiced living in The Cascades on the Oregon Division of UP, but it has to be Coast Starlight, the scenery is fantastic (the wintertime run from KF to Eugene is worth the whole trip!!! As to being late, it has to run almost the length of California where the Illegals think the train stops for them!!! and thru the snow, and then the Washington thingy with the floods and slides!!!
Best trip my wife and I had was on the Empire Builder
Second best was Southwest Chief
then the Capitol Ltd. Never been on the Sunset & was
wondering why the ridership on this route dropped
10.4% over last year. Any other reasons beside
its punctuality, as this train used to be the crown jewel
of Amtrak’s fleet Years ago if I remember correctly,
Amtrak used to give rebates to unsatisfied riders.
sorry, made mistake, Meant to say never been on the Coast Starlite
and questioned it’s drop in ridership.
I don’t have much to compare. The Coast Stalight was wonderful trip a couple of years ago. Went first class from Seattle to Martinez. Cheese and wine tasting in the parlor car. A great (and no extra cost) steak dinner in the dining car. What a wonder going over the Cascades: steek trestles, tunnels an cliffs. Freshly cooked cookies at bedtime. Parked in the moon light in Dunsmuir next to the turntable. A nice breakfast just beyond Sacramento. My previous overnight trip was in the 60’s from Oakland to Omaha was going coach, so I don’t have much to compare, but I can hardly imagine anything better in service and accommodation than the Coast Starlight.
I’d say either the Montrealer or the Maple Leaf. Both provide a scenic view along the banks of the Hudson river with the Montrealer heading north beyond Albany taking the D&H before entering Canada to reach its namesake city and the Maple Leaf heading west from Albany to travel the Mohawk River Valley to Buffalo before entering Canada and heading to Toronto. Of all the Amtrak trains mentioned previously in this forum, these are the only two international ones.
The California Zepthyr rode it all the way from oakland to denver good times[^]
A few people mentioned about illegals wanting the train to stop for them. Are these people on the track or passengers who want off at places not schedled.
I’m in Maine right now and have no idea what you are referring to but curious.