Im a month late doing this imho but I this was the first weekend I could pull off a Saturday round trip from Chicago to STL on the new Venture cars.
Ive been carefully reading every internet post and watching videos of the new cars. On Wednesday I saw a post on train orders that showed 303 operating with 2 venture cars followed by 2 horizon coaches followed by an amfleet business class/food service car. This was ominous imho because I could see all passengers directed in the horizon cars with the venture cars closed to passengers do to light loads if this same consist operated on Saturday.
Im now seated in the metropolitan lounge anxiously awaiting my fate. Before entering the lounge I detoured by the gates to see if 303 was in the station. It wasnt.
A trip to STL on the Venture cars.
Started by
steve4031
, Mar 05 2022 09:50 AM
9 replies to this topic
#2
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 10:28 AM
Boarding was an unmitigated disaster. I boarded from the lounge. I got scolded for saying I was in BC when I didnt say anything. I observed that they had the identical consist as video taken on Wednesday.
The conductor wanted to seat StL passengers in the car, a horizon, in front of the food service car. I understand why this was done. I asked if it was ok if I rode in the new cars. He told me no. I explained that the whole purpose of my trip was to ride the new cars and that I would walk back to the door being used in STL. He sighed and told the AC to take this guy. I walked down and said good morning. He didnt speak. I told him I was excited about the new cars. He sarcastically said yippee.
What a lousy group of employees.
The conductor wanted to seat StL passengers in the car, a horizon, in front of the food service car. I understand why this was done. I asked if it was ok if I rode in the new cars. He told me no. I explained that the whole purpose of my trip was to ride the new cars and that I would walk back to the door being used in STL. He sighed and told the AC to take this guy. I walked down and said good morning. He didnt speak. I told him I was excited about the new cars. He sarcastically said yippee.
What a lousy group of employees.
#3
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 10:46 AM
The conductor explained how to use the bathrooms. If the button is green you push it to enter. It locks automatically. Then you push it to exit. If you pull on the door it may stop working. IRRC the Acelas have similar doors on their bathrooms.
Window is much better. A bit of a tint. The window sill is perfect for resting the arm or elbow. I have arm rest by other seat down and the arm rest by the window is up. Seat is reclined. Im 5-11 290. I dont feel cramped. It might be tight if a big guy sat next to me. The movable arm rest are a plus
Window is much better. A bit of a tint. The window sill is perfect for resting the arm or elbow. I have arm rest by other seat down and the arm rest by the window is up. Seat is reclined. Im 5-11 290. I dont feel cramped. It might be tight if a big guy sat next to me. The movable arm rest are a plus
#4
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 10:53 AM
I suspect morale will be poor until they get rid of the current president of Amtrak. Imho the Biden administration should have taken care of this by now.
#5
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 10:53 AM
Though we left on time we are stuck waiting for a freight at Brighton Park.
#6
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 11:13 AM
Still sitting. Bathrooms are improvement over amfleet and horizon. Touch less flush, faucet, soap and dryer. A freight has pulled up next us going same direction.
#7
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 02:25 PM
After 4 hours I am not tired of the seat. I did nap. So it's working well for me. The movable arm rests I'm sure our helpful. I've had two seats to myself in a horizon car and gotten tired of the older seats. The gray ones that have been recently upgraded in horizons are similar in comfort
#8
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 08:46 PM
I enjoyed lunch at Anthonino's Taverna - Saint Louis, MO
It was delicious.
What a difference a crew makes. I was dreading asking to sit in the new cars for return trip. It was a different conductor. At the foot of the escalator he asked me where I was going. I told him Chicago. He also directed me to the car in front is the business class car. I polite asked/pleaded lol, to ride in the new cars. He verified I was going to Union Station and said certainly.
It was delicious.
What a difference a crew makes. I was dreading asking to sit in the new cars for return trip. It was a different conductor. At the foot of the escalator he asked me where I was going. I told him Chicago. He also directed me to the car in front is the business class car. I polite asked/pleaded lol, to ride in the new cars. He verified I was going to Union Station and said certainly.
#9
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 05 March 2022 - 08:51 PM
I finally got tired of sitting. Walked back to the lounge car and purchased peanut m&ms and coke. After the walk I was God to go for more sitting.
The other cars are mostly empty. A few people in each car and one small dog which was sitting on a seat. It was quiet each time I walked by.
The other cars are mostly empty. A few people in each car and one small dog which was sitting on a seat. It was quiet each time I walked by.
#10
steve4031
-
- Members
-
- 1514 posts
Member
Posted 06 March 2022 - 09:01 AM
We arrived Union Station 4 minutes early after accumulating a delay of 40 minutes.
The Venture cars with their large windows make train rides enjoyable. Not everyone is going to like the seats. The plug for charging is in a difficult spot. But once I had my charger block plugged in it stayed plugged in and was not dislodged when I moved in the seat.
These cars would be fine if they had seats designed for overnight travel. Maybe the night jet coaches in Europe would work for overnight travel.
The Venture cars with their large windows make train rides enjoyable. Not everyone is going to like the seats. The plug for charging is in a difficult spot. But once I had my charger block plugged in it stayed plugged in and was not dislodged when I moved in the seat.
These cars would be fine if they had seats designed for overnight travel. Maybe the night jet coaches in Europe would work for overnight travel.
2 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 2 guests, 0 anonymous users
