Page 217 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL EATING IBERIA

Finally, we got to places I knew: Lancaster and Palm- soned. We had met interesting people, changed our
dale, the far reaches of Metrolink commuter rail ser- plans quickly and had an adventure few railfans ever
vice from Los Angeles. But even the outbound could replicate, even if the experience left us sleep-
Metrolink trains took precedence as we waited twice less.
for the commuter runs to pass by. Among these predictions for 2020, Amtrak fore-
Finally, good news. A conductor told us that our cast:
train to San Diego would be held in LA for our arrival, “More travelers will consider their environmen-
which came at 10:20 p.m. A guy in a golf cart took tal footprint when making itinerary decisions.
several of us and our baggage to the right track and
“Individuals will increasingly incorporate rail
plopped us down -- but the connecting train was not travel into their itineraries to remove cars from high-
there. Had it left without us, leaving us on the plat-
ways and relieve road congestion.
form overnight?
"Amtrak will increase its ridership as more indi-
Information was scant. But out it came. Our
viduals move away from flying and driving.”
expected train had a hit an empty car left on the
tracks near Oxnard, and was running very late. Sounds like a plan to me.
So, along with others, we waited and waited on
the platform.
About midnight, a light down the track signaled
that the train was arriving. IF YOU GO
We boarded quickly, went 60 feet and the train
Amtrak's Coast Starlight leaves daily northbound
stopped. A train order had not been signed off, the from Union Station in Los Angeles and
conductor said. After 10 minutes, we were under southbound from Seattle's King Street Station.
way. The 1,377-mile journey takes about 35 hours.
Stops along the way include Santa Barbara, San
In Fullerton, a woman with a shopping cart
Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Redding, Klamath
bulging with paper bags sat down next to my wife. At Falls, Eugene, Salem, Portland, Vancouver
the top of her cart was a small Yorkshire terrier in a (Wash.), Eugene, Olympia, and Tacoma.
carry-all. Connecting trains serve San Diego and
Vancouver, British Columbia.
The conductor came for her ticket -- and found
the woman, who was having difficulties communicat- Passengers are carried in sleeping cars offering
ing -- was going the wrong way on the last train of the a variety of accommodations from small
night. She could ride to San Diego, she was told, and roomettes to full bedrooms. The train also carries
wait for 4:40 a.m. to take the first train toward LA. standard and business-class coaches. Sleeping-
car fares include the price of meals served in the
At 3:15 a.m., three hours late -- we pulled into dining car. An observation car features a snack
San Diego’s downtown train station, and worried bar with light refreshments.
how we'd get home at that time. I wasn’t sure how
many Lyft or Uber cars were roaming the streets Sleeping-car and business-class travelers can
use station lounges in Portland and in Los
then. I hadn't been up that late in years.
Angeles. Luggage can be checked through to
But luck came our way. Across from the station, major stations, and there is storage areas for
a taxi was waiting to take us home. baggage in the coaches. Cellular phone service
is sporadic during portions of the trip.
Should I have waited to see if a Lyft driver might
come, saving us about $20? For information on schedules and fares, log onto
No way, I said. Sometime expedience beats out www.amtrak.com.
thrift.
Watch for occasional fare sales.
It was 3:45 a.m. when we opened our front
door. So, was this the trip from hell? No way, I rea-

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