Is amtrack the best train in california?

Question

Is amtrack the best train in california?

Answer 1

yes in america too.

Answer 2

Well, despite Tekkaman's GLOWING review... I would actually pick the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) as "best".

I base my opinion on their beautiful trip, the clean and up-to-date equipment, their FANTASTIC on-time rate, AND that they will EMAIL (or text) subscribers with messages regarding a delay of as LITTLE as 5 minutes !!

OH, and that the standard rate for their 180 mile roundtrip ticket is just under $20 !!

Answer 3

Dear Mom-

Amtrak is what is left of the Passenger Rail Service in the United States.  In the late 70's all of the major class 1 railroads dropped the majority of their rail services for passenger traffic.  This was mainly due to direct competition with the Airlines and the fact people could drive from location to location in their own vehicles and make better time.

Amtrak was formed by the Federal Government in an attempt to preserve an alternate means of travel in the US other than Bus, Aircraft or your own vehicle.

My wife and I are both avid Amtrak travelers.  No, we are not some old fuddy-duddy's, both of us are 36, and just enjoy the slower pace of travel, that takes us back to a simpler time.

Amtrak is more like a nice rolling hotel.  The food and the staff on Amtrak have always been very good.  We travel twice per year on the #11 and #14 Coast Starlight out of San Jose into Seattle, WA to visit family.

The Coast Starlight is one of Amtrak's premier runs as it starts its operations in Los Angeles and makes its way along the beaches of Southern California, then heads inland to pick up the senic farmland of the Salinas Valley.  You will pass through Elkhorn Slough just before getting into Watsonville, CA and passing through Gilroy.  

Then heading North, through San Jose, along the salt flats at Milpitas, then along the edge of the San Pablo Bay, across the bridge at Martinez into Suisun Bay near Fairfield before stopping in Sacramento.  

Unfortunately on the #14 this is all done during the night hours, so you will have to return on the #11 to enjoy the view.  After Sacramento, the #14 heads North through the Central Valley, and it will be sunrise in Redding.  You will enjoy the vistas and views of Lake Shasta, then on to Dunsmuir.  Above Dunsmuir you get to see the vistas of the upper Sacramento River Valley, and take in the view of great Mount Shasta as you travel by its Cinder Cone then into the Blast Area of its huge Basalt Field.  

You don't get to see this from Highway 5!

From there it North to Klammath Falls, Oregon!  The scenery on the way there is great.  

I could go on, and on, but just take your camera, and see it yourself.

As for accomodations, I would really recommend that you reserve a sleeper.  The run from San Jose to Seattle is slated for 22.5 Hours, but because Union Pacific is the hosting railroad, the trip is often 30+ hours.  So having the sleeper is far better.  

Plus when you get the sleeper your meals are included with the fare.  You can order anything on the menu from the Diner, and the food is really good.  Just be sure that you have your tickets with you as this is your meal ticket.

My wife and I always get the Roomette.  Its small but cozy.  Its also just perfect for the two of us.  If we had kids, we would probably go for the Deluxe Room.  

Most of all you can walk around the train, hang out in the lounge/observation car, or the parlour car.  The view from there is great, and best of all you get to meet new people.  

If you have any more questions, feel free to shoot me a line, in a contact email.  I will shoot you my email address, and we can chat without the counter cutting us off.

Enjoy your trip!