15 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

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.

But you have to admit it got your attention, right?

[jis]

As I have said before I will be flying out and joining the group in PNW and then travel back with the group at least upto Chicago. Depending on which week this takes place there may be minor variations, or if the chosen week happens to be one in which I have a standards meeting then I will have to skip the whole thing. AFAIK both July and August are relatively free of those meeting weeks so far. So select whatever, and I'll tag along for a week.

[steve4031]

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.

But you have to admit it got your attention, right?

LOL. I got my attention. I was late to class because of that. And I'm the teacher. LOL.

[GG-1]

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.

But you have to admit it got your attention, right?

LOL. I got my attention. I was late to class because of that. And I'm the teacher. LOL.

You were Late and you still had a room left good class students.

Aloha

[KevinKorell]

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.

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.

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.

[KevinKorell]

Between now and the middle of next week the official announcement will be coming, as well as a relaunch of the websites associated with the Fest. The aforementioned Amtrak problems in this thread were resolved for a few of us when some Roomettes on #27 became available. It won't solve problems for everyone, however, so (SPOILER ALERT) the concensus we arrived at during the Chat session 2 weeks ago will stand.