Is this Amtrak's most UNDERRATED train?
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- Опубликовано: 18 май 2023
- Today, we'll be taking what I think could be Amtrak's most underrated train, the Capitol Limited, from Chicago to Washington D.C. in a Roomette!
Date of Travel: March 2022
Class of Travel: Roomette (First Class)
Rolling Stock: P42DC with Superliner I and II
Type of Service: Long Distance Train
Operator: Amtrak
Coach Number: 30 Capitol Limited
Origin: Chicago Union Station, Illinois, United States of America
Destination: Washington Union Station, Washington D.C., United States of America
Cost of ticket: $643 (£517, €595)
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The Cardinal is Amtrak’s hidden secret. A little longer than the other WDC-CHI routes and only thrice-weekly, its variety of scenery is unsurpassed. Love this little train!
Definitely would consider it... 700+ miles in 17.5 hours is atrocious! There has got to be a better way... time to build a dedicated high-speed line from Chicago to the East Coast!!!
@@timnewman1172 America is just too large for nationwide HSR. If you are going to spend trillions building nationwide HSR, it better win the battle for passengers against the airlines. Simply put, HSR has a time limit competing with the airlines at around THREE hours train journey, no matter the speed of the train. Notice Amtrak's NUMBERS prove this FACT, and its the same worldwide... When the train doesn't get you there quicker and cheaper, well, the airlines are going to win the battle for passenger market share... Depending upon which route a HSR line is built from Chicago to New York City, it is around 800 to 900 miles. With a HSR train top speed of 200 MPH, and averaging 150 MPH with stops, we are still facing a FIVE to SIX hours train journey... Airlines fly this in one and a half hours, although with flying you have to travel to the airport and spend a lot of time going through security, why the THREE hours is the sweet spot for HSR... To further make my point, how many HSR trains in Europe or Japan go longer than THREE hours before having to switch to another HSR train, a connection that may take two to three hours?
I have never ridden the eastern routes out of Chicago but have ridden three of the western routes numerous times. With the return of traditional dinning to those routes my opinions have risen dramatically. Over the years the food went from quite good to "flexible slop" to extremely tasty and well presented. From tins served on paper table clothes to proper plates and cutlery on cloth table coverings. With flowers, no less. Massive difference. The cars are antiquated but now being replaced with all new, as are the engines. A slowly progressing change, to be sure, but at least it is underway. And then there is just the experience. As a former airline employee I fly free but I shell out the money every year just for the experience of riding the train. Even after 16 years It never gets old. A roomette costs are close to a full first class seat on a major airline but the views and the camaraderie among the passengers pays for it all, in my opinion. It is a mini holiday. This year I'll be visiting Albuquerque on the Southwest Chief, continuing on a week later to Los Angeles to catch the Coast Starlight to Portland Oregon then a few day later back to Sacramento to catch the California Zephyr back to Chicago. I'll be traveling with friends and staying with family along the way. A great couple of weeks seeing the western U.S. I can't wait. 🎉
Whoa! That sounds great! You're making me want to redo my California Zephyr trip but with proper dining this time!
The Superliner fleet is supposed to be getting completely re-built in the next several years, the shorter distance trains are getting all new equipment...
Amtrak is slowly refurbishing their fleet, there’s tricks to try to book a new car out there. Easy to notice as the old Roomettes had blue seats, the new ones are dark red. (Also the coach seats have been updated to something that looks like a big premium economy airline seat.)
I took the Capital Limited numerous times from Washington DC and Lima, Ohio. There used to be a Dome car on this train and when leaving Washington and working through Maryland it was real fun sitting up there with a cocktail in the evening and watching the semaphore signals drop as we went through them. It was reminiscent of the golden age of railroads but I’ve got to tell you it also very cool.
I respect your objective review which pinpoints the good, bad and the ugly of this once decent train and the shortcomings of the Metropolitan Lounge and Amtrak's boarding process at Chicago Union Station. Next time you are in Chicago you must treat yourself and your lady to the best breakfast in town at Lou Mitchell's deli, only 1 block away from CUS.
Ah, Chicagoans! Every time I have a conversation with one of you about your city all you talk about is all of your delicious food 😁😁😁😁
@@TohaBgood2 I live in Washington, DC but worked the "Capital Limited" to Chicago before I retired from Amtrak. The train crew ate at Lou Mitchell's which is famous for its affordable great food and I was fortunate to meet Lou who graciously greeted customers at the door. If there was a long line we got delicious donut holes and other pastries so we'd be full before you sat down to eat breakfast!
Frankly the weather is considerably different in American major cities than in European major cities. Its gets considerably colder and hotter to the point none of the passengers desire to wait on the platforms before the train arrives. Nor do the trains arrive as timely in America as they do in Europe. There is a huge difference of standing on a platform in 30 plus degrees celsius heat then 15 plus celsius heat of the UK. When I travel to the UK the British claim 20 degrees celsius as being HOT, when that is cool for Americans... Americans prefer to wait for a train inside a heated or air conditioned building!!! Amtrak does it the traditional railroad way in America, the conductor RULES the train as a king.
The platform areas in Europpean stations en route were cold and dreearynwhen I traveled from Barcelona to Milan l(via Lyon, Genève, and Brig) ast weeks so I waited inside warm shops.@@ronclark9724
I laughed at the Sears Tower comment at the beginning. It's SO true!
Just got off the Capital Ltd a few hours ago. I travelled from Chi to Harper’s Ferry and I’d love to add my impressions. BTW, I was a coach and travelling on a Rail pass.
1. You are absolutely correct that coach is crowded! During most of the trip all seats were full. The Capital Limited services other major metropolitan areas on its route including Cleveland, Akron and Pittsburgh. Add to that, the first stop after Chi is South Bend, home of Norte Dame so lots of college students use this train. Then add in that Harper’s Ferry is a key stop on the Appalachian Trail and it becomes obvious why the train is so packed. My entire Rail Pass X-Country schedule revolved around the dates I could get reservations on the Capital Limited.
2. I was also surprised that there was no observation car. I did find something that was pretty edible in the cafe though. That was the ham & cheese sandwich. In fact it was so tasty I ordered again for dinner!
3. Scenery. Obviously you took your trip in late fall or perhaps full on winter. Mine today (May 19) was almost early summer. This time differential had a material effect. On May 19 the foliage is in full bloom. There may be scenic sites, but you can’t see ‘em!
4. Bathrooms were pretty clean, but old. I find it amusing though that these Superliners have rooms marked “Dressing Room.” Unfortunately you can’t lock the door! Locks are non existent, so f you’re a wannabe exhibitionist maybe they’re ok.
Thank you for your insight from coach (where I travel in as well). You wouldn't learn any of this from this vlogger, however, because he is too busy being holed up in his room and the dining car, like the typical phony travel vlogger.
This route would be quite spectacular in the autumn when the trees would be very colorful. The Appalachians are often visited for their fall color.
Meals have always been served in your room upon request way before flexible dining. Crew calls it an "upstairs" order.
Sleeper passengers have been able to request meals delivered to their accommodations for more than a century... The quality Pullman service continues,...
I completely agree with you that coach seats should be assigned on booking. Pretty much every other train system on earth does that, and there's no reason Amtrak can't do it as well. If they wanted to, they could even start charging for "preferred" seating like the airlines do.
I actually prefer the Cardinal for travel between Chicago and D.C. While it takes a bit longer (since the route makes a "U" rather than running mostly straight, the views in the mountains are absolutely spectacular.
charging for "preferred" seating , That would grow revenue Amtrak only knows how to cut revenue!.
See, VIA rail was doing this and it hasn't been very popular though it seems this will be fixed with the updates to their website coming. One thing i noticed was that on the transcontinental "The Ocean", the assigned seating on that train no longer exists so i guess it wasn't very popular
Agreed. My whole reason for taking the train anywhere is to look out the window. I'd be heartbroken if I got stuck with an aisle seat on a 30-hour trip.
I finally got to take the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle a few years ago. I got a window seat (*whew*), but it was my seatmate's first-ever train ride, and he was stuck on the aisle, and the train appeared to be full. I wasn't about to give up *my* seat (I'm a nice person, but not that nice.) but I told the conductor or car attendant (?) about his situation and asked if there might be a window seat for him somewhere on the train. One was found, thank goodness! I didn't see him again, but I hope he enjoyed his trip.
Amtrak continues the tradition of the CONDUCTOR controlling who sits where in coach, not the passengers using a computer program. Everyone wants a window seat. With two nights on the trains heading west to the Pacific coast, three nights with the Texas Eagle, as well as cars being shunted, the conductor likes to sit passengers in coaches that serve the first night and second night in different coaches. Whereby the conductor will only have to wake passengers up that night in that one coach, not in every coach. Train routes are linear with numerous stops, not point to point like airlines. That is why the CONDUCTOR controls who sits where. Its been working well for nearly two centuries... Notice the conductor flagging your final destination with a paper slip?
A true story. A lady complained at breakfast one day in the diner that the conductor was very rude with her asking her to sit in another coach as she was headed for LA but was sitting next to her friend getting off in St. Louis on the Texas Eagle... The conductor heard her and responded you pulled a Rosa Parks on me. You better move to the other coach if you wish to get to LA because the coach she was sitting in would be turning around that night in San Antonio...
Dylan, sorry to see you go. You have a bit of a knack for articulating things well. Let’s hope you can find a career that uses those skills.
As others have said I hope this is your own decision.
All the best.
Shame that the us puts passenger rail on the back seat.
It's starting to make a comeback
It’s the same here in Canada. We are way further behind then the us too.
America and Canada are not TINY nations one can drive across in a single day before dusk... Simply put the railroads could not compete considering the long distances with the airlines, even the US government itself chose to FLY the mail long distances long before UPS and FedEx were a thing. HOURS vs. DAYS... PennCentral, the railroad operating the northeast corridor, went bankrupt when it lost its mail contracts. Congress didn't create Amtrak until PennCentral went under. No longer do passenger trains in the USA have a dozen or mail cars on their consists...
@@nolantherailfan5048 Stabilizing maybe, not really making a comeback... However, commuter rails are returning to the cities to relieve freeway congestion...
It's a real shame as sleeper tickets are so expensive! I love train travel, but have only been able to afford coach for all my trips
The uninviting platforms are dark, dingy and dirty at Chicago Union Station....and too narrow to navigate safely.
It used to be a great train-the Sand Patch grade is truly great scenery for eastbound passengers. The Capital used to have a sightseer lounge and full diner and second sleeper, and it was always sold -out. Unfortunately Amtrak’s current, anti-long distance management has no interest of bringing those back.
The answer to your question in the title of the piece....no It isn't underrated. It's pretty inferior to the Zephyr. Very similar to the uninspiring service on UK sleepers. If the idea is to encourage people to use trains rather than fly, then they really need to offer an exceptional service!
Good review, Dylan. Very fair!
You are absolutely correct about the price and food. Our train service here is absolutely a shame compared to Europe. Next time you are in the States check out the new train service from Miami to Orlando Florida. It's called the Brightline and is high speed rail service. Enjoy all your videos.
Amtrak is presently REFURBISHING the entire Superliner fleet which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Twelve wrecked Superliner cars sitting idly at Beech Grove, Indiana will return to service. While Amtrak has more sleepers and coaches to pull from service to do the refurbishing, that is not the case with the diner and sightseeing lounge cars as trains have only one, some of which had to be pulled from service. Amtrak chose to pull these two cars from the shared train sets of the Capitol Limited/Texas Eagle (north of San Antonio). These two trains schedule in Chicago allows Amtrak to save one train set, using five instead of six. Amtrak preferred to keep the diner and sightseeing lounge cars on the western trains traveling through the more scenic Rockies, Sierra Nevadas, and Cascades, something I am sure everyone would prefer as well... Congress has also already funded the Superliner replacements, Amtrak received 12 responses to its request for tender/purchase. We are presently waiting for the winning tender, how many cars, and the design. The new fleet most likely will not begin service until the 2030s, still several years away.... Frankly considering the age of the Superliner fleet, Amtrak is doing a good job just keeping them running. With the pandemic and the drop off of riders, Amtrak has squeezed in a long due refurbishment as well...
I've been on nearly every long-distance train east of the Mississippi, and we did the Capitol Limited in a Roomette between Pittsburgh and Chicago because it was basically just overnight and still gave us more daylight hours in both cities than flying, and the price was $343 for 2 people, which was similar to a hotel plus plane tickets. But I'd recommend the Cardinal (which I did in coach on a rail pass) over the Capitol Limited between the east coach and Chicago when it comes to scenery because you get a lot more of the mountains, and the New River Gorge still beats out the Potomac River in terms of scenery. they actually changed the Cafe car menu in the fall of 2022, and made it a lot better (and cheaper)! In fact, it's good enough that I've relied on it throughout many days of coach travel.
the 30 day Amtrak RAIL PASS is definitely the BEST deal riding Amtrak in coach. Presently ten journeys for around $450... I use it on long journeys to have layovers in small towns or large cities I desire to spend a day at. There is usually within walking distance of a Amtrak station, small or large, a hotel or bed and breakfast... Frankly I prefer spending a day at a small town bed and breakfast, if only to pass the time of day at the local fishing hole....ruclips.net/video/KYvEmaQTzok/видео.html
Very enjoyable video 👍 thanks
Great video as always, really enjoy them
Thanks 😊
Living in DC, I took this train to Chicago for the Zephyr. It certainly is a nice vide along the way. Coach seats were comfy
I think people are starting to understand Amtrak and what it has to offer. With just a few changes on Amtrak, it would be elite. It’s hard to convey train travel on RUclips due to not being able to use certain music. I got my playlist to go from east to west, it was awe inspiring. I might try this route though I usually use the Lake Shore limited. Great vid!
very nice. Thank you
Another fantastic video from your USA trip, I may have said this before, perhaps when you’ve finished posting all the journeys you did you could do a plenary of how you put the itinerary together of the whole trip (maybe as a visual chart) and how you budgeted/it cost and where you found all the information to do it? I loved Washington DC the couple of times I’ve been, a wonderful city/capital.
I might do at some point, as a few people have requested it.
One thing to keep in mind is on average less than 35% of the passengers, sometimes much less, are traveling end point to end point. A majority of them are trying to places that may not have low-cost air service. Yes, Amtrak has some serious issues, and unfortunately, the people running the company don't seem to want things to change.
It's not that "Amtrak has issues." Amtrak has one major issue, and that is the long-distance service. It makes zero economic sense, but Congress refuses to let Amtrak discontinue it. At the same time they do not subsidize this service for Amtrak. So Amtrak is forced to constantly reroute the money it makes on the surprisingly popular intercity trains to subsidize this Congress-mandated long distance debacle.
Make no mistake, Amtrak already has some honestly stellar intercity (short-haul) trains that are extremely popular and make Amtrak real money to boot. But the long distance service is a permanent parasite on that cashflow. It sucks out all the money out of Amtrak not allowing Amtrak to make updates and upgrades to the more popular intercities.
Congress needs to either let Amtrak drop these long distance trains. Or if they want them to continue existing they need to subsidize them explicitly. This would give us both a better Amtrak intercity network and a better long distance network.
@@TohaBgood2 Actually, long-distance trains are not the losers they are portrayed to be. In fact, under Graham Claytor, when there was a positive attitude toward the long-distance trains, it was noted that the long-distance trains actually performed very well and, in fact, covered much of their cost. However, since then, it has largely been NE Corridor people dominating the presidency of Amtrak who have made the long-distance trains out to be losers. If long-distance trains are such losers, why has Amtrak's subsidy requirements always gone UP when long-distance trains have been cut? There are many problems today that are hurting long-distance trains: the lack of equipment, trains having been cut that used to provide connections between long-distance trains, the attitude of the present people in charge, Amtrak's horrible accounting system, etc., etc., etc.
@@johndornoff Dude, no matter how hard you try to portray this in a better light we all know the truth. Why is every long distance ticket subsidized by up to $400 from the intercity trains?
Why?
I rode with my parents from Washington DC to Chicago while I was stationed in the United States.
I miss the full-service dining car.
Bring back dining car for sleeper passengers. Some Amtrak Trains Have Dining Car Service. I Like Amtrak Better Than Flying
I understand why it’s the most underrated train. But have to say that it does look pretty nice.
Thank you for this great video. I too have travelled on the Capitol Limited, but in fall 2018, when the consist included a full dining car and Sightseer Lounge. There is good news about the Superliner fleet, for Amtrak have confirmed that the majority of the coaches will be fully refurbished, and to a very high standard ! Already several have been completed, and displayed at Chicago Union station. An excellent alternative to the Capitol Limited is The Cardinal which runs three times per week. It’s Route is very interesting also, and runs via Indianapolis and Cincinnati through D.C and all the way to NYC. It now has an excellent Viewliner II c 18:56 ar, though as it has a very short consist, booking needs to me made months in advance. It is my favourite train from Chicago to NYC !
Great trip. Capitol Limited may become fastest way by rail between DC and Chicago, more frequent, and use Superliner rather than Cardinal, but i prefer Cardinal rather than Capitol Limited.
The major issue with wifi on the long distance trains is they've always used a cell network based one so its not going to work in many places. A satellite one till the recent deployments like starlink was going to offer a poor experience as well. Brightline is testing startlink soon and if that works I could seem amtrak using a similar system
Satellite based systems (like Starlink) may not work well either as the receiver has to have a clear view of the sky - a lot of US routes are in dips/have hills/trees to the side of the track, blocking the view - as well as going through tunnels, which are likely to completely block the signals.
Thanks
Thank you so much 😁
I think you summed this up well enough yet again (and I say yet again because the take-home message is always the same with long distance American trains). Due to how expensive it is to go for the roomette, and how long it takes to get from A to B, not to mention the lack of facilities such as Wi-Fi (and coach being uncomfortable due to being busy, and having no decent food options), the only logical option is to fly using an airline of your choice. A flight would probably be more punctual, too! If you want the scenic route, or have somewhere else to go in between, drive instead on the highway of your choice.
Perhaps Amtrak has realized that they do not provide an efficient A to B service (this is the airlines' job) so the customers must be on the train as they find it fun, fascinating, interesting etc. If that is the case, it is a waste of time to improve speed (40 mph average) but effort should be put into the comfort and the "experience". Improvements need to be made in the lounge, its food, the boarding process, the food on board, any other small items (is there an amenity kit?). The Ghan (in Australia) manages to charge much more than Amtrak, but they go out of their way to make this an "experience" to be remembered. I think a survey of the customers is called for ... old marketing rule, "Listen to your customers". They are not businessmen in a hurry, they are folks looking for an experience - Give it to them, Amtrak!!!!
Next time try The Cardinal. Goes a bit farther south through more of WVa and Va and when you go through Staunton Va I'll wave and bring you a real coffee!
Thanks for your video. I haven’t ridden to Chicago in the last few years and it looks like the service has really gone down. That price also is very high compared to what I paid on my last trip on the Capitol Ltd. Without the lounge car and the cheep food provided either in your room or poor excuse for a dining car it just makes the trip not worth the money. In the past you also had the option of having your food delivered to your room but it still was good full service dining car fare. As to price the roomette sleeper fare should never be higher than the cost of an economy airline ticket and the price of a mid quality hotel stay for one night. Unless they upgrade everything to true first class service the price they are charging now is not worth the price. I am glad I did most of my travel before they down graded the long distance train experience.
I took the Capitol Limited the entire length aboard a bedroom in 2013 and a roomette in 2015. Back then the train had proper dining car service and a Sightseer Lounge car. I think I'd be disappointed with the train today, as it lacks both amenities.
They managed to pre assign seating in LA before boarding but not at Chicago. In NYC on The Cardinal I could pick my own within a specific car. I guess you are never quite sure how boarding will precede until you turn up. This is one of the Amtrak trains I have not ridden yet and I agree it tends to be overlooked when talking about the best routes east.
if you liked this train, you'd probably also really like the Cardinal! I rode the Cardinal this month and it was a GORGEOUS ride
I see the weather was like home to home when you got to Washington then
Mm in early Sept 2022 (after a confce there), I caught from magnificent Chicago Union Stn, the Lake Shore Limited, to NYC. My being UK based, this also being my very 1st trip to the States and my being a non driver, meant a train or by air. Using the latter means only seeing airports and clouds. I enjoyed the journey, even tho the cost was higher than by air. Main line rail stations in US major cities are outstanding in appearance (after a few days in NYC, I caught the Acela to Wash DC).
I agree with you Dylan, the scenery looks fantastic! But Amtrak really need to get their act together with sleeper fares if there’s any chance of the train becoming a frequently used option by people who live in America.
Unfortunately, these long distance routes are doomed, at least in their current form. They lose gobs and gobs of money but Congress refuses to let Amtrak drop them and refuses to subsidize them. So Amtrak is perpetually caught between a rock and a hard place. They are forced to spend hundreds of dollars per passenger above the ticket price just to keep these going.
Congress is preventing Amtrak from dropping these old long-distance routes. If they want them then they should subsidize them properly!
Such a amazing view! Gonna watch this video with excitement!
The food service in Chicago’s Metropolitan Lounge was actually quite good prior to Covid. But unfortunately has not been brought back to that level.
Muito lindo trem amtrak Dylan Boa viagem ai Chicago
I wonder if Amtrak made a shift to selling train rides as more of a experience vs a budget/commuter model would have better appeal. Bc as it is, it’s too expensive and slow to take a ride (outside of the ne corridor) on a roomette and not feel a little underwhelmed by the amenities vs what your paying. A 5 day ride across country should be viewed as an experience in and of itself, and they should try and bring some of that nostalgia your talking about in Union Station.
again what a awsome brilliant video dylan mate
I find that terminal stations in the USA are very grand at street level but are a big let down at platform level . Narrow platforms poorly lit giving a poor image.
Great trip report Dylan
Hi Dylan, well produced video. Thanks for sharing. Sorry for the poor class train standards of the chief train service in America. As an American, I am NOT impressed with America's trains as I am with Europe's near stellar trains. I hope to start my European vacation this year in early August starting in Lisbon. Keep coming back to America. I like your commentary on American trains.
Great video young man
Thanks!
Amtrak books seats on the Acela like any airline or train elsewhere. It's absurd that they can't manage to move past 1937 otherwise. If you check luggage they have to spend several minutes filling out multiple tags and forms with a Sharpie.
You need to do a review of this in Coach, a Roomette is rediculously priced!
Personally given how long it takes to do the journey, plus how busy Coach can get (at least from others' experiences), if I was in the US I'd be flying using a low cost (but direct) airline.
6:48 Ahh, it's Daria on her tattoo.
I'd hardly call this the most underrated, its the most popular train from the east coast to chicago because of its short travel time and full forward amenities
The Wi-Fi not working very well will be because train Wi-Fi piggybacks off the 3G and 4G mobile network connections - which, are already rather slow even on urban services, but on rural services like these, there's no guarantee of a signal even outside the train. Your best bet is to hope you get an upper level roomette allocated to you, so that you get more of a chance of picking up 3G/4G, then turn on your portable hotspot function for a connection to laptops and tablets.
You also can't use satellite based Wi-Fi as (a) the bandwidth is limited, and (b) the trains in the US constantly go through tunnels, which would block the line of sight and therefore stop the Wi-Fi from working.
How does the Amtrak sleeper compare price wise to a European sleeper such as the OBB NightJet? I would assume the Euro sleeper trains are much cheaper. Honestly the only point to the long haul trains west of Chicago now is for tourist trains, primarily the Zephyr and Empire Builder, flying between Chicago and SF or Portland is MUCH cheaper. And from what I've seen the Canadian equivalent to the Empire builder or Zeyphyr the VIA Rail Canadian (Toronto to Vancouver, BC takes 4 1/2 days) is about double the price of Amtrak, even with the weak Canadian dollar (Canada is usually not expensive for US or UK travelers due to the exchange rate).
Amtrak is in the process of refurbishing their long-distance cars.
I'm not feeling the love for this journey. It's a lot of money for a pretty mediocre service. It was, however, a year ago and the long tentacles of covid were still having an effect then. Have there been any improvements since then? And don't knock the views from an aircraft. The River Visual approach into Washington National is fantastic!
I really take issue with the complaint about the price-Dylan evidently does not appreciate that trains are not paid for by the taxpayer anywhere to the degree that they are in Europe.
Good video, nice views but the food, lounge, station queueing and cost would deter me from travelling with them
"A perfectly suited place to kill-" Looking at that architecture I was half expecting you would say "Julius Caeser"
Edit - were those cancellations because of the East Palestine derailment? A little out of poor Amtrak's control
considering that he mentioned this trip happened a year ago, it couldn't be due to the East Palestine derailment
Hi hi
is smoking allowed ?
Only at designated stops, no smoking on the train.
You passed by me on this route. I live just south of toledo ohio
Fancy doing China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.?
THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The beautiful Sightseer lounge is gone and dining has been reduced to junk food. Service on the "Capital Limited" is at an all time low thanks to the Amtrak Board of Misdirection. I worked the train in the 80’’a and 90’s but I won’t even ride for free until the dining car returns and Amtrak allows coach passengers to sit down and have a decent meal…although I will be riding in an overpriced sleeper with my own stash, of course.😉✌
The best views were from the glassy Sightseer lounge on the eastbound #30 as it wound it’s way through the breathtaking Allegheny Mountains between Pittsburgh and Cumberland MD in the early morning hours, but all that has unfortunately “gone with the wind”.
It's such a shame really 😭
11:53 what is your wife doing? :D
Adjusting my nose ring 🤣 I know it looks a bit funny
6 20 looks like Middlesbrough 😅
Trains Station 🚉
Amtrak SHOULD BE ashamed of its dining experience but sadly it isn’t 🤨
John Brown’s raid on the Harper’s Ferry Armory was a spark that helped ignite the civil war.
As you showed, Chicago Union Station is perfectly nice. All the seating area at Los Angeles Union Station is full of homeless people of the most homeless imaginable kind. I don't get it. You pay $$$ for a ticket and you get a zoo to wait in.
This could have been a two hour flight for less than half the money. I get train travel but I don't get sleeper trains. One doesn't get proper sleep and there isn't anything to see outside (it's dark).
What do you see outside a hotel room at night while your sleeping?
Yeah, I'd be going the 2 hour flight option as well. Why spend 17 hours on a train when a 2 hour flight is going to be significantly cheaper?
£500 💀
Amtrak is much slower, and more expensive than flying, so rail travel is not the preferred way to go long distances in the U.S..
Amtrak is not more expensive than flying unless you are in sleeping cars and many passengers are traveling to points with poor air service.
First
I completely agree with your Amtrak assessment compared to European train travel. It is almost barbaric compared to rail travel in other countries. I believe the automobile can be blamed ( they want no competition and have successfully lobbied Congress for years). And with few competitors, Amtrak can charge exorbitantly.
This service might've been more faster and better, but lets be real America busy spending money on tanks and fighter jets to fend against 1p balloons lmao
Nice journey but far too expensive and not worth it. Thats nearly £1300 for you and your wife.
Which means, if it really was £1300, the obvious solution would be to jump aboard a plane and fly at 30,000ft...
I agree about the food being mediocre at the price of the sleeper room. But America is far behind in amenities fron the trains in Europe. Time for the US to catch up.with the rest of the world.
what happened with the later upload Dylan. Busy? Amtrak just want you to be bankrupt.
Yes, was busy 😁
@Dylan's Travel Reports I have an idea for a new plane vide, you should do a 3 in one special
Are the carriages nuke proof? 🤔🤣
how is this train underrated? it looks crappy. the food and lounge weren't good. no wifi. too few plugs. no lounge car. no dining car. doesn't seem nice at all
The quality of the food is between poor and fair... So that would be "poorf"🤮... Which is the sound you make when you take your first bite.🤢
That price is ridiculous. 17 hours to get to DC from Chicago is a waste of time in life that you will never get back.
Do people rate the Capitol Limited poorly, while it is actually amazing? NO, not all all. The trains are old and crappy, the food is terrible, and most outrageously, there is no Wi-Fi on this route. So I guess this train is NOT underrated, and you sound like a fool by using that term.
Another Amtrak vlog that will be irrelevant to the 80-90% of viewers that will end up traveling in coach on Amtrak. Maybe next time you will instead document the experience of the vast majority of Amtrak riders, so that your video will actually have some usefulness to people.