msm (02/15/83)
In response to this message:
From sytek!menlo70!hao!seismo!harpo!npoiv!npois!cbosgd!nscs!rew
Date: Tue Feb 8 13:57:45 1983
Subject: Amtrak Between Bay Area & LA?
Newsgroups: net.travel
My family will be traveling between the Bay Area and LA this
August (I hope). Is Amtrak still running trains on the Coast
route (the old Coast Daylight run)? If so, what kind of equipment
are they using -- how long does the trip take, sleeping cars
available, etc? Any information appreciated.
Bob Warren
cbosgd!nscs!rew
----------
There are currently two trains daily from the San Francisco Bay Area and
Los Angeles: The Coast Starlight (runs during the day!) and the Spirit
Of California (runs overnight). Both trains use the Coast Route.
The Coast Starlight is the train to take for the scenery: for about 120
miles it runs alongside of the Pacific Ocean (between San Luis Obispo
and Santa Barbara) in daylight hours.
This train uses the newest in North American rail equipment,
the Superliners. Superliner trains have passenger accomodations on two
levels. The coaches have reclining seats with leg rests (the first class
sleeper seats on aircraft have been copied from railroad designs).
The train also has a lounge car with lounge seating, observation windows,
and a bar upstairs, there is a snack bar and tables downstairs. The
dining car has the kitchen below and tables upstairs.
First class (sleepers) are very nice, with four types available:
Economy (a small private room for two with two facing seats and a
table (sleeps two with upper and lower berths)),
Deluxe (a large room with private toilet and
shower, a couch, and swivel chair -- sleeps 2-3 people (one double bed
and one single)),
Family (a very large room big enough for a family), and
"special" (a large room equiped for handicapped people).
First Class passengers enjoy extra service (porter/waiter, etc)
as well as nicer accomodations and privacy.
Of course, first class costs more.
For the trip to Los Angeles, the Starlight leaves Bay area points
(Martinez, Richmond (the Bart/Amtrak station), Oakland, and San Jose)
in the morning (0710:10, 07:39, 08:20, 09:40) and arrives in Los Angeles
(Union Passenger Terminal, downtown) at 19:15. Consult your travel
agent for the current fares as various discounts apply for family travel.
The overnight Spirit Of California leaves the above Bay Area Cities at
20:33, 21:02, 21:40, and 23:00. It arrives in Los Angeles at 08:30 the
next morning. The equipment on this train consists of new Amfleet
coaches and dinette (not a full dining car) as well as refurbished
"Heritage Fleet" (the standard 10 single and 6 double room cars) sleepers.
Michael S. Maiten
Silicon Gulch, California
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