I am a rail advocate who lives along the Texas Eagle line. I took it last year and let me say. It is Amtrak’s most gutted, most neglected route in the west! There’s no dining car, just a cafe serving reheated meals for sleeper passengers, no Sightseer Lounge car. Just 2 coaches and 1 sleeper. 4 rooms in the lone sleeper are occupied by crew members further depleting the already limited capacity onboard!
I caught the Texas Eagle between my home in San Antonio to my brother's home in Fort Worth often, when I didn't want to fly. Always dining car service and great experience. Texas Eagle stopped for a period and last year 2023, it started again and I was so hurt dining experience was gone. Now I live in Corpus Christi and have to bus over to SA (actually expensive since Greyhound was sold), spend the night, and leave at 6am for Fort Worth. I'm actually doing this this today. I still prefer train travel instead of straight bus, as I'm now disabled and need to walk and be comfortable, but it's now more costly and less convenient.
@@KevinTspiritI may not like the way Amtrak is running this train. But you do raise a good point that it’s better than having no rail service. I have grandparents who live only 10 miles away from the Longview station. They’re both over 80. Driving gets more challenging for them to come up to Dallas during family gatherings. It could be a matter of time before the Eagle will be a critical link for them!
Thank you for posting this. I live in western Arizona and have family in Oklahoma City. It's difficult for me to drive that far now, so we are thinking about taking the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth, then going north to OKC, but my mother would be traveling with me, she has limited mobility and we aren't sure this is a good idea.
Currently on the Texas Eagle between Austin, TX and Maricopa , AZ. They added the dining cart and sightseer cart in San Antonio. We had a layover for like 3 hours.
We just took the Texas Eagle up to Chicago last Thanksgiving. Pricier than an airline flight, but meals were included with our ticket (bedroom cabin), we had our own bathroom, and we could sleep flat with a baby. Totally worth it.
You have so much more room than a plane to stretch out... I'm sure that is a good thing traveling with a baby. I will be trying the Southwest Chief next to compare notes. Thanks for the comment.
Correction. The title of the Amtrak train from LA to SA to La and back is called the Sunset Limited, not the Texas Eagle. The train from SA to Chicago and back is the Texas Eagle.
I'm taking this from Tucson to Chicago soon...in coach! Praying we don't get put on buses. I'm curious about your experience with other passengers. I did a solo 48-hour journey in a roommette a few years ago and found the other sleeper car passengers to not be very friendly in terms of saying hello or chatting in the dining car. I'm interested to find if the vibe in coach is nicer or if I'll hate my life. We'll see. Also, I think you're a great youtuber, and I hope you keep making videos! I know it's a lot of work.
How funny I’m watching this because I was also thinking of taking this from Tucson to Chicago 😂 was trying to see if it’s worth it because the $$ it cost to fly was crazy.
Thanks for posting!! I love trains but was disappointed there was no observation car. I've definitely been on better Amtrak routes, but I still enjoyed it 😊
so after the connection of Texas Eagle did Amtrak buses the rest of the riders up to Chicago....i consider myself a yearly RailPass rider from east to west coast. (Flordia to California)...i've taken Empire Builder and CA Zephyr....Texas Eagle is next
Yes, the remainder of the ride was in buses for most of the passengers. I hope the track issues are resolved for now and you have a smooth journey on the Texas Eagle!
I thought about taking it from home (Springfield IL) to California but don’t know if I could handle the length of time on the train, even in a roomette
correction its not amtrak doing track work on the line its actually being done by the union pacific railroad who owns the track that amtrak uses for the texas eagle route
Love your blog! The 'reinvented' food service has dissipated to a skeleton fraction of what it once was... on 'full service dining.' No longer can one get lunch selections at dinner. No longer does the luncheon hamburger include the delicious coleslaw and those thoughtful trimmings. All gone... Amtrak wants to get back to more basic. The full service dinner service now includes only two dessert entrees and only 2 dessert options. EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO FRACTIONALIZE! Amtrak is pulling back to the flex dining and pretty soon the food service will be even less than that. Amtrak focuses on cutbacks... especially for the expensive sleeper accommodations and included food. The future of passenger service continues to dissipate. To say the least, Amtrak is bleeding due to constant and continual cutbacks in funding. the government it seems doesn't want to promote Amtrak and passenger rail travel. WHAT A SHAME THIS IS!!!
Thank you for your comment. I did get that sense when I traveled that route. But it was such contrast with the Zephyr and Empire Builder. I guess time will tell how this goes. In the meantime, I hope yo get out there and enjoy the rails!
I am a rail advocate who lives along the Texas Eagle line. I took it last year and let me say. It is Amtrak’s most gutted, most neglected route in the west! There’s no dining car, just a cafe serving reheated meals for sleeper passengers, no Sightseer Lounge car. Just 2 coaches and 1 sleeper. 4 rooms in the lone sleeper are occupied by crew members further depleting the already limited capacity onboard!
That was really my impression as well. It could be so much more! I hope Amtrak makes some changes soon!
I caught the Texas Eagle between my home in San Antonio to my brother's home in Fort Worth often, when I didn't want to fly. Always dining car service and great experience.
Texas Eagle stopped for a period and last year 2023, it started again and I was so hurt dining experience was gone.
Now I live in Corpus Christi and have to bus over to SA (actually expensive since Greyhound was sold), spend the night, and leave at 6am for Fort Worth. I'm actually doing this this today.
I still prefer train travel instead of straight bus, as I'm now disabled and need to walk and be comfortable, but it's now more costly and less convenient.
@@KevinTspiritI may not like the way Amtrak is running this train. But you do raise a good point that it’s better than having no rail service. I have grandparents who live only 10 miles away from the Longview station. They’re both over 80. Driving gets more challenging for them to come up to Dallas during family gatherings. It could be a matter of time before the Eagle will be a critical link for them!
Thank you for posting this. I live in western Arizona and have family in Oklahoma City. It's difficult for me to drive that far now, so we are thinking about taking the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth, then going north to OKC, but my mother would be traveling with me, she has limited mobility and we aren't sure this is a good idea.
Currently on the Texas Eagle between Austin, TX and Maricopa , AZ. They added the dining cart and sightseer cart in San Antonio. We had a layover for like 3 hours.
Great weather for enjoying this ride! (cause it's not 100F in AZ) I hope you can stretch your legs.
We just took the Texas Eagle up to Chicago last Thanksgiving. Pricier than an airline flight, but meals were included with our ticket (bedroom cabin), we had our own bathroom, and we could sleep flat with a baby. Totally worth it.
You have so much more room than a plane to stretch out... I'm sure that is a good thing traveling with a baby. I will be trying the Southwest Chief next to compare notes. Thanks for the comment.
Correction. The title of the Amtrak train from LA to SA to La and back is called the Sunset Limited, not the Texas Eagle. The train from SA to Chicago and back is the Texas Eagle.
I'm taking this from Tucson to Chicago soon...in coach! Praying we don't get put on buses. I'm curious about your experience with other passengers. I did a solo 48-hour journey in a roommette a few years ago and found the other sleeper car passengers to not be very friendly in terms of saying hello or chatting in the dining car. I'm interested to find if the vibe in coach is nicer or if I'll hate my life. We'll see.
Also, I think you're a great youtuber, and I hope you keep making videos! I know it's a lot of work.
How funny I’m watching this because I was also thinking of taking this from Tucson to Chicago 😂 was trying to see if it’s worth it because the $$ it cost to fly was crazy.
You have a wonderful attitude! Thanks for all this info.
Thanks for posting!! I love trains but was disappointed there was no observation car. I've definitely been on better Amtrak routes, but I still enjoyed it 😊
For sure! I will continue to travel with Amtrak... but the Texas Eagle may get extra scrutiny from here on out :-)
so after the connection of Texas Eagle did Amtrak buses the rest of the riders up to Chicago....i consider myself a yearly RailPass rider from east to west coast. (Flordia to California)...i've taken Empire Builder and CA Zephyr....Texas Eagle is next
Yes, the remainder of the ride was in buses for most of the passengers. I hope the track issues are resolved for now and you have a smooth journey on the Texas Eagle!
this was SO helpful. thank you!!
I thought about taking it from home (Springfield IL) to California but don’t know if I could handle the length of time on the train, even in a roomette
I understand. It is pretty relaxing so if you do take it, bring a good book (or 2!) and enjoy the ride.
correction its not amtrak doing track work on the line its actually being done by the union pacific railroad who owns the track that amtrak uses for the texas eagle route
Love your blog! The 'reinvented' food service has dissipated to a skeleton fraction of what it once was... on 'full service dining.' No longer can one get lunch selections at dinner. No longer does the luncheon hamburger include the delicious coleslaw and those thoughtful trimmings. All gone... Amtrak wants to get back to more basic. The full service dinner service now includes only two dessert entrees and only 2 dessert options. EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO FRACTIONALIZE! Amtrak is pulling back to the flex dining and pretty soon the food service will be even less than that. Amtrak focuses on cutbacks... especially for the expensive sleeper accommodations and included food. The future of passenger service continues to dissipate. To say the least, Amtrak is bleeding due to constant and continual cutbacks in funding. the government it seems doesn't want to promote Amtrak and passenger rail travel. WHAT A SHAME THIS IS!!!
Thank you for your comment. I did get that sense when I traveled that route. But it was such contrast with the Zephyr and Empire Builder. I guess time will tell how this goes. In the meantime, I hope yo get out there and enjoy the rails!
So no observation car from San Antonio to alpine ??
@@johnnysuarez793 Correct. Not on the train I was on and apparently not in the regular route. 😣
Is there border patrol in El Paso checking documents of passangers ? Thanks
I don't believe they were checking documents... at least for me. That is not a standard practice in the US as I've experienced in other countries.
Wow! That’s too bad they cancelled the last half of your trip. I guess at least they put you on a bus.
Yes, I made it with time to spare but it wasn't great. I think there is major work being done on the tracks.
Did Amtrak refund you for the room you paid a lot of $ for?
They provided a partial refund, about 60% of the ticket price.
@SimpleLivingwithAlex Do they join together the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle in Texas going west to Los Angeles or are they two different trains?
@@woodsail40 They join together in San Antonio and go west as a single train, all the way to LA.