My daughter, niece, and grandson plan to take Amtrak Southwest Chief from Newton KS to Chicago, and from there I guess it would be the Wolverine to Battle Creek MI. Anyone rode these trains and have any advice, tips etc. I've been reading some reviews; they seem to range from "Forget it, don't even think of trying Amtrak" to " Had a very good time " I think it's a great idea; would like to go along! Much prefer them riding train than having to drive or fly...... Anyway, as I said, any tips, advice would be welcome Thanks Mike
Hi Mike, I rode the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago last October and had a great time. If you've got the time to spare, its definitely preferable to flying and all the hassle that entails. Nice getting into the heart of the city at the other end too.
I've taken several trips on the Empire Builder, scheduled between 13 and 26+ hours (mostly the 13) and I've experienced everything from being delayed 15 hours (on a 13 hour trip) to getting in a little early, and well rested. So, my best Amtrak advice is to go in with a patient attitude and be well packed with food and entertainment. Never made a trip with a layover/train change, but if you miss your connection because the train you're on is late, the next one in some cases isn't until 24 hours (if this is the case, I've also heard of people being put up in hotels by Amtrak, but I can't say if that is current or not). Food on the train is a bit pricey of course - but you're on vacation so it's ok. We had some phenomenal ribs in the dining car. Of course, dining car meals are included if your party books a sleeper space and I'd recommend a sleeper when not traveling alone and spending more than 8-10 hours on the same train. A trick when traveling with young children without a sleeper can be to book "Lower Level" coach on trains so equipped. On the lower level, there's only one door and a few chairs so the floor is a little more accessible for playing, changing, etc. Keep in mind that is the handicapped section, so only use it if you need it. Enjoy the view on Amtrak - and stay patient if things don't go quite as planned and the trip should be a fun one.
