Riding The Rails in North America
By: Joe Volz Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-11-09 14:32:22.285819-05:00
Riding the rails is a 21st century adventure that can be tailor-made to your special interests. And, it’s not only for you older travelers; youngsters traveling with grandparents can find enticing attractions to keep them amused.
The North America Rail Pass, offered jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, is a bargain. It provides 30 days of consecutive travel with unlimited rides and stopovers throughout the United States and Canada. That’s more than 28,000 miles and 900 destinations!
All Aboard!
Thrifty folks plan their trip each year from Jan. 20 to Feb. 20. It’s off-peak season which means the least expensive time to travel!
Friends of ours, veteran rail travelers, hop scotched between staying a day or two with friends to overnight stays at Bed & Breakfasts so they could sightsee in unfamiliar cities.
Our friends strongly advise traveling with reading material and guide books for those times you have to wait.
Starting in Washington, D.C., they traveled to New York, Albany and Toronto. Leaving Toronto in the morning, they pulled into Winnipeg the next afternoon, Jasper the following afternoon and Vancouver on Canada’s West Coast the third morning–a spectacularly scenic route across Canada.
From the observation car, they saw the lakes of northern Ontario, the western plains of the Prairies, the ice and snow covered Canadian Rockies and British Columbia. Short stops along the route gave them a chance to stretch their legs on the platform.
At 30 degrees below zero in Jasper, however, they stayed snug in the observation car. From there they were almost within arms length sightings of coyotes, wolves, deer and mountain sheep.
After several days with friends in Vancouver, they traveled on to Seattle. Leaving that city mid-morning, the train passed through Portland in the early afternoon and San Francisco early the next morning. After touring the city, they flew to Las Vegas to visit friends.
On their homeward journey, they boarded a bus at the Ferry Building in San Francisco to cross the Oakland Bridge to get to the train station in nearby Emeryville. Then they traveled through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Chicago, and home.
The highlight, or lowlight, of the trip they reported, was a rock that crashed down in the Sierra Nevada, causing emergency repairs. That got everyone in the dining car chatting about previous near-misses during their travels.
Rail Protocol
For many, traveling by train is as exotic as air travel once was. That's part of the fun. However, there are considerations to keep in mind when planning your trip:
- The pass is not transferable.
- Your trip must include at least one trip between the United States and Canada.
- Your Trip must include travel on both Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.
- The pass may be used for a maximum of four one-way trips on any given leg.
- Uniformed Red Caps provide free baggage handling at most large stations. Handcarts are also available at many stations.
- All Amtrak trains are nonsmoking.
The Pass
Seniors, students, and children receive a discount. The pass is good for Coach Class travel, but you may upgrade to Business Class or Sleeping Car accommodations for an additional charge. The cost of sleeping cars varies between peak season (June to mid-October) and off-peak season (October to May). You should book early.
Rail Options
You may be ride on 20th century rails, but there are up-to-date accommodations for contemporary travelers. Many trains feature Quiet Cars, which stress quiet conversation, muting cell phones and pagers, and portable CD or DVD players with headphones. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
First Class and Business Class seats and sleepers have standard 100-volt electrical power outlets for electronic devices. Many long-distance trains offer passengers rental digEplayer™, a portable entertainment device preloaded with 12 movies, music and music videos. Its content is updated every 30 days. And, careful grandparents take note: all movies are rated G, PG-13, or edited to PG-13.
Passengers can see movies, play card games or bingo, or take part in scavenger hunts in the lounge car. On some routes, National Park Service volunteer rangers offer seasonal presentations and onboard commentary. See the “Amenities” column in the “Select Train” section on the Amtrak Website. Look for the key word “Entertainment.”
Sleeping On Board
Accommodations vary. Think small cruise cabin with windows. The two-person roomette has a window, reclining seats that convert to a bed and an upper berth that folds down. It’s a cozy 3’6” by 6’6,” and there’s no “in-room toilet.”
The Superliner Bedroom for two adults has a bathroom, large windows, upper and lower berths and a fold-down table. This room is 6’6” x 7’6.” Every sleeper passenger gets meals, fresh towels and linens, complimentary bottled water and daily newspapers.
Both the Amtrak and VIA Canada Websites are easy to use. U.S. residents can also call 1-800-USA-RAIL or your travel agent for reservations. Canadian residents can contact your travel agent or call 1-888-842-7245.
Related Links
Books
Find these books online at Borders.com
From the Dining Car: The Recipes and Stories Behind Today’s Greatest Rail Dining Experiences
By James Porterfield, St. Martin’s Press, November 2004.
Boomer: A Story of the Rails
By Harry Bedwell, James D. Porterfield (Introduction), University of Minnesota Press, September 2006
USA by Rail
By John Pitt, Bradt Travel Guides, Ltd., October 2005
Murder on the Canadian (A Tom Austin Mystery Series)
By Eric Wilson, Orca Book Publishers, September 1900
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