But you have to admit it got your attention, right?Option 6 is the only bad option for me because in guarantees I do not get time to spend with everyone. And it is such a pleasure to share friends and trains.
PNW Fest/Amtrak problems
#11
Posted 20 February 2010 - 05:35 PM
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#12
Posted 20 February 2010 - 09:23 PM
#13
Posted 20 February 2010 - 10:53 PM
But you have to admit it got your attention, right?
Option 6 is the only bad option for me because in guarantees I do not get time to spend with everyone. And it is such a pleasure to share friends and trains.
LOL. I got my attention. I was late to class because of that. And I'm the teacher. LOL.
#14
Posted 21 February 2010 - 12:47 AM
You were Late and you still had a room left good class students.
But you have to admit it got your attention, right?
Option 6 is the only bad option for me because in guarantees I do not get time to spend with everyone. And it is such a pleasure to share friends and trains.
LOL. I got my attention. I was late to class because of that. And I'm the teacher. LOL.
Aloha
#15
Posted 22 February 2010 - 01:02 PM
Bill provides some excellent ideas here. As another example, one could fly into one of the airports in the Bay Area, and then take the Coast Starlight from Oakland or Emeryville. The same train that leaves Sacramento around midnight as in Option #1 above, leaves the Bay Area around 10 PM. So this option would not require a hotel stay since you could arrive by air in the morning or afternoon and catch #14 that night.Variations on the air theme offer some interesting opportunities to take the negative of the sold out Empire Builder and make it into a positive by offering train rides that could not otherwise be included. In other words, if you are willing to spend a couple of hours in a plane, you will get some interesting trips on trains. Another plus: you will save money. Here are two examples for your consideration. The schedules and costs assume a Philadelphia departure (I wonder why?) and were priced Thursday, February 18.
Option Air/Rail 1
Air to Denver, Rail Denver to Portland
This option would allow participants to experience the California Zephyr route through the Colorado Rockies that was missed in 2007. In addition, participants will overnight on the Coast Starlight with the Pacific Palour. This schedule is within the original timeframe of the Fest.
Thursday, July 15:
Fly to Denver: Southwest 766 (non-stop: 4hr, 25min)
- Depart PHL 12:50pm
- Arrive DEN 3:15pm
- $149.70 (includes all taxes, fees)
Overnight Denver (optional, ride Denver RTD)
Friday, July 16
California Zephyr Amtrak 5
- Depart DEN 8:05am
Saturday, July 17
- Arrive SAC 2:13pm
Coast Starlight Amtrak 14
- Depart SAC 11:59pm
Sunday July 18
- Arrive PDX 3:40pm
- Railfare DEN-PDX: $169
- Roomette: (5) $176, (14) $148
Air and rail cost for one person in a Roomette (not including hotel at DEN): $639.40
Air and rail cost for two people in a Roomette (not including hotel at DEN): $961.40
Option Air/Rail 2
Air to Los Angeles, Rail to Portland
With this option, participants will experience nearly the entire route of the Coast Starlight, including the incomparable coastline in California. Dinner will be taken on the Starlight, with the option to dine in the exclusive Pacific Palour car. This may be an unique opportunity to ride the Starlight as part of a rail fest.
Friday, July 16:
Fly to Los Angeles: Southwest 766 (direct flight, stop in Denver: 7hr, 35min)
- Depart PHL 12:50pm
- Arrive LAX 5:25pm
- $173.40 (includes all taxes, fees)
Overnight Los Angeles
Saturday, July 17
Coast Starlight Amtrak 14
- Depart LAX 10:15am
Sunday July 18
- Arrive PDX 3:40pm
- Railfare: $98
- Roomette: $202
Air and rail cost for one person in a Roomette (not including hotel at LAX): $473.40
Air and rail cost for two people in a Roomette (not including hotel at LAX): $744.40
As a postscript, I personally look at air and rail as complimentary travel options. Using air travel offers the opportunity to sample trains that time and money may not otherwise permit. This is what I do anyway, so if using air can preserve the heart of the fest, that's great, and if it can add some stuff that could not be done otherwise, even better.
There are also options to fly right to or from the cities we are visiting. While there would not be any long distance Amtrak travel, at least all 3 cities now have rail transit at their airports, a statement that would have been false 3 months ago.
I would suggest, however, that if doing an air/rail option to get to Portland, you plan to arrive in Portland one day sooner. There are activities planned for Sunday, so the 3:40 PM arrival on Sunday would cause you to miss most of them.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#16
Posted 05 March 2010 - 11:34 PM
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
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