Amtrak What Happens When Disaster Strikes

[@boostedbilly7308]

The bottom line it sounds like Amtrak goes to the next level to make things right can’t ask for more than that

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

That is true

[@debbest8546]

@@GroundedLifeTravel I was able to get a 500 dollar voucher as the 5 missed my connection. I mentioned my absolutely filthy roomette (and never look under your roomette seat) and the dirty window. And the gawd awful Swiss Hotel, yup I sure enjoyed my cheese crackers and dry soup mix for dinner... I ended up using my dining voucher the next day.

[@petersnortum2971]

took my 95-year-old dad by air to Tucson for 3-day vrbo stay, planned to board Tucson to Los Angeles with a 4-hour layover to catch his dream trip, the pacific run up to Seattle. Train 6 hours late getting into Tucson, missed the connection in LA, no one helped with a very senior citizen, bus halfway up coast with no scenery to catch what was left of train ride. Some of the absolutely most rude people on the California leg, which was disappointing because of all of the previous Amtrack experiences, of which there have been many, I have had absolutely wonderful people that were above and beyond. My bottom line, NEVER think you will make a connection without allowing a full day staying in the connecting city, Accept Amtrak for what it is, and you will be fine.

[@SPD3333]

On September 3, 2023, I took the California Zephyr from Emeryville to Chicago. Due to an impassable rock slide between Elko, NV and West Wendover, NV, the train had to stop just east of Elko. We stayed there for about 10 hours while we waited for a UP crew to clean up the rock slide (Note: this part of Nevada had just received an unusual amount of rain that weekend...I'm sure you all saw videos/photos of people stuck in the mud at Burning Man). Unfortunately, this delay meant that we would be traveling through the most scenic part of the Colorado Rockies at night time. Our train was ultimately late getting into Chicago by about 15.5 hours (arrived around 6:30 am CT as opposed to 2:50 pm CT the previous day). I'm glad I bought travelers insurance because I was reimbursed for missing my first night hotel stay.

[@lynnerussell1440]

Good to know that Amtrak takes care of its riders. Planning two trips next year. One to Chicago next April and maybe get the pass and go across the country, back, up to Washington DC, Boston, back to Chicago and then home next fall.

[@timgraymatter]

My son and I were on the Lakeshore Limited about a year ago on our way from Chicago to Boston. There was a building which burned down and collapsed on the tracks between Schenectday and Albany, NY. Amtrak had all the passengers disembark at Schenectady. The passengers going to NYP were bussed to the Amtrak station in Albany. The passengers going to any of the Massachusetts stops were bussed to their destination. There were 2 busses which went straight to Boston and a 3rd bus which stopped at all of the Massachusetts stops. My son and I were too far back in line to get on one of the 2 express busses to Boston, so we spent 5+ hours on the bus by stopping at all the stops instead of spending 4-ish hours going nonstop from Schenectady to Boston. What an adventure!

[@Niteskate1]

The second week of June this year we were scheduled to ride Via Rails Canadian train #2 to Toronto. When we arrived at the Vancouver station we were advised the train might be cancelled, as one of the towns that we had to pass through, Edson Alberta had been evacuated due to forest fires closing in on the town. Via Rails staff kept us informed and in the end we were able to board and begin our trip. Ironically enough when we got to Edson we encountered a thunder storm with heavy rain and large hailstones. The hail on stainless steel coaches really seems extra loud.

[@JKVisFX]

We were on the Southwest Chief from L.A. to Chi-town. in the very early hours of the morning, we had descended out of the Rockies crossing into Colorado when we ran into one of those famous, mid-western springtime thunderstorms. Buckets of rain, intense lightning and heavy gusts of wind. That continued for the rest of the night into Kansas and beyond. That was some weather excitement. The train did just fine, not big delays, not unscheduled stops, etc.

[@pattiehoogestraat7673]

I enjoy your videos. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to go with you vicariously!! Our one Amtrak trip delivered us 12 hours late. We had coach tickets. Of course, there is no smoking in coach, but one man in our car was determined to smoke anyway. He was called out on it three times. He would light up again. The AC in our car had a leak, and the drips were being caught in a bucket hanging from a nail. The bucket hung above our smokers head. Late in the night, we had an u usually large lurch of the train. It dislodged the bucket, and drenched our dear smoker. He stood, cursed loudly and stormed out of the car. The remaining people in the car cheered! It was the last we saw of him. I would LOVE to tke another trip on Amtrak.

[@randig7503]

Thanks guys, 5hrs on a bus with no food 🤢I couldn’t do it ,would have to rent a car. I’m impressed you both always pack your patience 😊

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks!

[@richardmassoth8237]

You are fortunate that they moved the MO River Runner to a bus, as some of the trackage goes over some very low tributary (river and creek) crossings in Eastern Missouri. When the water is up, sometimes you can almost see the water lapping at the bottom of the bridge girders holding the ties. At least one of those bridges is the oldest on that line that parallels the Missouri river. That route crosses from the south side of the MO river to the north side to come into the KC area east of KC, but after Columbia MO. The bridges on the west side of MO are much higher than the river flood plain. It's just too bad that they didn't have you rejoin the MO River Runner route west of St. Louis, like maybe at Herman (MO wine country).

[@DonaldFGuest]

You guys know how to roll with the punches for sure-impressive.

[@JennieLT3]

I love that you guys are always positive and make the best of every situation you find yourselves in. It's like you make it part of the adventure. Keep the videos coming! :)

[@kenpalmer1965]

Good point, but what else can you do?

[@DonaldFGuest]

Very much appreciate your positive, problem-solving approach

[@EBaker0129]

I live in Anaheim ca. And I love the coast starlighter. It's just a quick hop to Los Angeles and I'm off! The last time I took it for the fun of it to Seattle, the train broke down along the Pacific coast highway at dinner time. We had a wonderful view of the beach for 4 hours. Because of the delay, we got to see some beautiful mountains that we normally would have passed up in the dark. It was great!

[@jigsawpuzzlesandjams5883]

Good to know that Amtrak cares enough about its customers to try to make a bad situation better.

[@gabrielapaulinho1luv]

LOVE this video!!! By the way, I rarely comment because I watch all of your videos on my smart television, where I can't comment (or haven't figured out how ... yet). However, every Friday evening when I reach home from work, my ritual includes preparing a nice beverage and a snack while my supper is cooking or a leftover is nuking. lol ... Then I enjoy sitting back for some cool Grounded Life Travel! My pet joins me, as he likes watching railroad action.😸 I watch your videos over and over because: the photography is superb; the train room tours are thorough and fun; your chemistry is wonderful to watch and hear (🥰); the tips are perfect and have helped me get more out of my Amtrak travel and in selecting hotels domestically and abroad; and y'all allow us to watch you enjoying your delicious meals. Yes! Oh, and speaking of meals footage -- whether aboard a train or at a restaurant -- I smile (and get hungry) every time I see Rob shut his eyes and affirmatively nod after taking that first bite, and every time I watch Allie's eyes widen after she tastes a delectable bite.😋 Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful artists and vloggers you both are! I look forward to more and more travel enchantment and to learning so much. Although I've never cruised, I enjoy your cruise channel so much! I'm gaining lots of knowledge from Grounded Life Finance, too. Bravissimo!❤

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks so much!!

[@StarFighters76]

Before I start watching, I'm actually more worried about derailment issues happening than I am about weather related issues, even though one can cause another. But I'd say for weather related, I'd my concern, from biggest to least, would be snow > tornadoes > simple downpour.

[@almurry8943]

Ottumwa, Iowa is where the fictional character Radar O’Reilly was from in MASH. I used to work with a lady who was from a place in Iowa that was not far from Ottumwa. She was raised on a farm in Iowa. I was amazed listening to her talk about her upbringing in Iowa. She was raised to work hard and be very frugal. She never married and had no children.

[@michealcain5355]

Just this past June 14th I was on the Crescent Leaving New Orleans, LA headed to Washington DC. Looking out the window of my roomette it was getting darker and darker, and this was in the middle of the afternoon. The same thing happened, everyone's phone warnings started going off. We stopped to keep from running into the tornado. It did cross the tracks, and we had to sit there for several hours waiting for someone from the nearby town to come and clear the downed trees off the tracks. When we finally got moving, we traveled thru a section of the trees that had been blown down about 50 yards across. I ended up missing my Acela connection, and AMTRAK rescheduled me for the next day. That night they hooked me up in the DC Capital Hilton a short walk from the train station.

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

If you have to travel extra slow, at least you were on a scenic route. I was on the Coast Starlight and was held up for a wildfire between Santa Barbara and Ventura.

[@DTOM737]

Hi Guys, Just want to thank you for your advise. Just finished a Amtrak coach 22 hour ride from Elko NV to Denver CO. You Guys were EXACTLY right on Everything. The Bad and Good. I would Advise Every one that is taking the Train to see your videos First. Helped Big Time...Thank you again

[@jfelizondomd]

Not a disaster but definitely left me wanting. Just got back from LA on the Southwest Chief (bedroom accommodations) and the kitchen stopped working as of lunch on day 2. The staff improvised and we got Pizza Hut for lunch, KFC for dinner, and McDonald's for breakfast the next morning. They didn't provide lunch as we progressed toward Chicago. I'm glad I got the terrific steak the first night when the kitchen was still operational🙁

[@timothymccleary2418]

I was on an Amtrak train when disaster struck, A person stepped in front of the train, and we had to wait while the police investigated the suicide

[@frankrueter5218]

Had and experience back in 2015 taking the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle back to Chicago. First part on the Sunset from LA was fine, when reached San Antonio we were awaken at 5:30AM and put on a bus to Fort Worth, in the pouring rain. It seems the tracks between were flooded. Had no breakfast for lunch and to boot the bus blew a tire!. Where we stopped for road service had a Golden Correl but alas it was closed. Finally reached Forth Worth and onward to Chicago. Despite the bus and mishap we arrived on time in Chicago. Only thing was they had turned to previous days train in Fort Worth and the diner was running out of food. Breakfast was fine but lunch was only hamburgers or some bean combination. Oh well, it is always an "Adventure with Amtrak"!

[@elizshultz6602]

Just got back last week from Amtrak vacation Chicago to Flagstaff onto Grand Canyon and then back 3 days later in a sleeper room. On the return trip the restrooms in the car we were in stopped working 1 hour after we got onboard at 5am. Everyone in our car needed to walk to the next car to use that restroom. The restroom wasn’t fixed till about 28 hours later. Our attendant said to contact customer service which we did and they gave us a financial refund which was the difference between a roomette and the full bedroom. The beginning of the trip and confections were terrific.

[@fibromyalgianational]

I haven’t had much luck on trains but still intrigued to try to get to a destination one day. A couple months ago we had a washout with a flash flood emergency in Vermont. They moved us all to one car and leave all our bags behind. We waited, went back to another stop, and then had to take buses with our bags. Got to our hotel at 3:30am. It was intense!

[@hannahzander9541]

Just completed a 7 train trip from Florida to West coast and back. It was great but also had its incidents. SILVER METEOR - tree on track, had to wait to cut it up, had to wait on removal crew. EMPIRE BUILDER- air hoses kept separating. 3 times. COAST STARLIGHT - criminal and police activity on track. Then we hit farm equipment on the tracks. Every agency had to investigate to give us clearance to proceed. Great trip anyway!

[@theghostrainbow1864]

I had the same experience on the Coast Starlight in June, compounded by the fact that I was lucky to be on the ocean side of the train, which is the sunny side when you hit the coast and the sun starts going down. :/ Closing the curtains helped with the heat but of course then you miss the view. It was miserably hot and I would think twice before taking a summer trip on any Amtrak train in the future.

[@markfisher1392]

I had a work assignment in Pontiac Illinois many years ago ... rented an apartment about 1 1/2 blocks from where the Amtrak station is now located. Got to watch the old Turboliners on that Chicago-St. Louis line! Also, the beef stew is on board the long-distance trains for just these situations. We were on the Southwest Chief going from LA to Galesburg in late August 2022 when the lead locomotive failed. We lost more than six hours before getting a borrowed BNSF loco, then struggled because it threw off the schedule for crew changes. Many folks bailed out in Albuquerque, so the diner was still well stocked for the next day. We finally arrived in Galesburg 17 hours late at 5 am, but didn't have to eat the beef stew!

[@angelgomez8210]

The video I have been waiting for!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Great!

[@marykrauthamel7559]

My daughter and I were taking the Coast Starlight to meet up with the Empire Builder. This was about 15 years ago, and the train was 3 hours late arriving in Sacramento. When we arrived in Klamath Falls, those of us going on the EB were put on buses and met the EB at midnight in Spokane! Our 2nd trek wasn't quite as late, but we were put on buses at KF and taken to Portland in time to meet the EB. The CS was about an hour behind us, having to do with going through the mountains.

[@whoviating]

Okay, my disaster stories. 1. Got stopped by tornado warnings going eastbound on the Zephyr. Missed my connection, got put up for the night, spent the day in Chicago. 2. Also east on the Zephyr, got bused from Emeryville to dang I can't remember where because of track work. Bus seats too close together for my 6-4 frame. Oddest part was overhearing crew grumbling; seems they didn't know of the change. Best part was the couple of hours in Truckee, which we enjoyed enough to plan to go there deliberately. Unhappily, because of the delays we wound up going through the best part of the Rockies at night - after we had been telling a couple who'd never done a long trip before that they should look forward to the scenery. 3. Coast Starlight north somewhere south of Portland, stopped for hours because UP wouldn't clear the way. Never found out what the issue was. 4. Zephyr again, this time westbound. While the train was stopped in the Nevada desert, I don't remember why, a teenage passenger who was literally off his psych meds decided he wanted to be in the desert, opened the door, and ran off into the dark. Crew, family, and local cops took a couple of hours to find him. We had to get off in Sacramento rather than Emeryville to catch the Starlight. 5.? I expect to be getting off the Starlight in Sacramento in a couple of weeks; there's only a 40 minute layover between the SB Starlight and the EB Zephyr in Emeryville. Hypothetically possible (I've had Amtrak be on time, even early once or twice) but I don't count on it. Edit: Wow, the other comments reminded me of two more! 6. On the Three Rivers heading for Chicago on my first multi-day train trip, the freight delays were so long the the Cafe Car stopped charging for food. 7. EB on the Empire Builder just north of Chicago, a collision with a MOW truck on the wrong track. The truck lost. Badly. We were delayed a couple of hours, the driver was killed.

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

Frozen switches had us sitting somewhere in the middle of New York state at some point in a long ago February. That spooked me about winter train travel (living in Vermont, winter is a real thing), but your videos have encouraged me to try it again this winter. Now if only Ohio would build the DTripleC high speed line from Cleveland to southwest Ohio so I could use the Lake Shore Ltd to visit my family.

[@kathleenhudson8429]

I was on the Southwest Chief going to Chicago once. We had been on time when I went to sleep, but in the morning we were about three hours late. I was told that the reason for the delay was being stopped because tornados were up ahead, so the train waited out the tornados and then continued on our journey. Once I was on the California Zephyr headed east through the Nevada desert when the second engine broke down. The conductor told us that we were fine with one engine in the flatter areas, but he refused to take the train over the mountains with only one engine. We continued to Sparks (near Reno) and added a Union Pacific engine the rest of the way to Oakland.

[@triciaa.stansbury7489]

Leaving tomorrow on the silver meteor, to see if hubby likes overnight train travel. (I booked us a bedroom😊) If he does, we are going to do some train traveling out west next year. We have already had one train (NYC to Syracuse) canceled for track maintenance and the other with possible delays due to weather, and we haven't even left our home. I will say that Amtrak has been very helpful and informative. Thanks for all your info. It really helped me plan this trip.

[@gabrielapaulinho1luv]

Bon voyage!🚇🛤

[@EJMag1c]

The tornado story gave me flashbacks to last January on the Texas Eagle! We stopped at Marshall TX and sat there for a long time due to 2 tornado warnings in the area. I was hoping that the station had a basement.... We began to move because one warning had lifted, so they said we could creep along about 5 miles until the 2nd warning was lifted. In the end, disaster was averted! Amtrak is the best, I have no doubt that they would've even reversed course to escape doom. 😂 At the next stop, our conductor told me we'd been "Marshalled", apparently it happens often there.

[@rchtn537]

Last month I was on the California Zephyr eastbound and they shunted everyone off onto buses at Grand Junction and took us across the Rockies on the interstate, thereby missing the most scenic part of the train journey. This did get us to Denver on time where we got back on the train, even despite being delayed by an accident on the highway. I did get some reimbursement from Amtrak but I felt it was insufficient. Next year I am determined to take the train through the area I missed and see it properly.

[@coryphillips8526]

Hello guys. I'll keep my Amtrak adventure disasters brief. September 2021 on the Cardinal from Chicago to Philadelphia, 2 times had to sit en route because of freight trains. One derailed east of Indianapolis and the other was stalled at Cincinnati. I think I overdosed on coffee. Also, a week prior was the Texas Eagle, Chicago to San Antonio, the train terminated in Fort Worth. However, I got text alerts & emails about it. I was on a bus from Fort Worth to San Antonio. The crazy part about that is the bus got to San Antonio 3 hours ahead of the actual train arrival time. Finally back in the mid 1990s, the Broadway Limited, a route that I miss, sat somewhere due to bad weather. regardless of all that, Amtrak was on point with accommodating the passengers. I even helped out a couple times.

[@ck4426]

I rode on Amtrak every other week from basically 2005 to 2020 and among many many other incidents, we hit a fertilizer truck south of Champaign, Illinois. The fertilizer went all over the outside of the train. We were never evacuated, and instead given a water bottle. There were no restrooms available or electricity. After several hours we were towed into the Champaign station. Several hours later in the pouring rain an announcement came that a charter bus was outside to take us onto Chicago. Everyone ran and it was slightly apocalyptic because of the panic to get on the bus. No compensation from Amtrak which I understand as it was an accident. It was very upsetting and sad. Never ever ever plan to do anything else on the day you take Amtrak or the next day.

[@NickP16]

I’ve had several delayed trains, the worst one I’ve had was 12 hours from Essex, Montana into Portland, Oregon Delayed trains make for the best stories! And, of course the most memorable trips!

[@Budesolar_1]

On my way to Chicago on Amtrak. I've gleaned great information and ideas on your channel! You've provided concise information at practically every level. THANKS!! ❤ 🙏

[@midlifetravelers6151]

This was great content. Never covered by other "Tubers".

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

I appreciate that!

[@loveerica9415]

Nice. 🙂 Great video and info. Thanks for sharing.👍🏼

[@AnnThrockmorton]

I agree with Rob: Tornado warning, so the train stops ON A BRIDGE OVER A RIVER?! "Step off the train for a smoke break"??!! Huh??!!

[@TheBokey]

Our first long trip on Amtrak was earlier this month from Deland (north of Orlando) to Rochester. On April 5 we were in New Jersey, approaching NYC, when the train stopped... for an earthquake! Our car attendant said they had the check the tracks for damage. He said their main worry was that the bridge might have been damaged. We started creeping forward, and slowly crossed the bridge... which was a little disconcerting. Our trip back home was halted for about two hours in Philadelphia due to a power outage of the train electrical lines. Even with the delays, we had a great time, and are looking forward to our next trip.

[@donnarn2727]

I have friends who were on Amtrak heading to a family reunion in St Louis and somebody decided to step on the tracks to commit suicide. They were stuck for hours waiting for cops to investigate, coroner to collect the body, firefighters to clean the front of the train and replacement staff to arrive to drive the train. They received compensation for the delay, but I don't remember how much.

[@rachelolvera9435]

How sad

[@barbarapatten2603]

It's TRUE. Tornadoes ARE unsettling!😅

[@flarrfan]

Have done a lot of Amtraking the last few years...My two disasters were on back-to-back rides a few years back. First my Sunset Ltd. terminated in San Antonio due to a barge hitting a bridge between there and New Orleans. I took one look at the bus and took a taxi to the airport and flew home to Florida (I was planning to fly from NOL, so not a big deal). Six months later my Silver Meteor hit two trees on the tracks and was stuck somewhere between Fayetteville and Richmond for eight hours, waiting for a CSX loco and then a crew. They held the Cap Ltd for almost two hours and whisked us from one DC platform to the other, so no damage to the rest of the Chi-PDX-EB Zephyr itinerary.

[@trishoconnor2169]

Tornadoes, flooding, hail … Just needed a little pestilence to round out your experience!

[@michaelfrantz1940]

Awesome info................

[@hollycat70]

In June 2023, we were on our very first Amtrak trip ever (also our first time ever in the USA and had only been in the country for one day), the Southwest Chief 4 from LA and heading for Albuquerque. The train left exactly on time at 5.55PM and everything was great. About six hours after we left, so it was about midnight or so, we arrived in Needles CA. I woke up and wondered why we it was taking so long for the train to continue on. I then checked Twitter and it said there was a train derailment further up the line and more information would be made available soon. Not long after, we got an email to say our train was cancelled and would be returning to LA! I had no idea what to do as we were overseas tourists and no one from Amtrak were much help either. The train ended up joining up with the Southwest Chief 3 going west and got back to LA at about 10.30AM. I managed to snap up the last two (very expensive!) seats on a flight to ABQ from LAX that was leaving in a couple of hours, but since the train was now so big, it couldn't all fit alongside the platform, including the baggage car, so it took ages to get our bags back because they had difficulty getting them off the train. When we finally got them, we just missed the bus to take us from Union Station to LAX, but luckily, we managed to get the next one 30 mins later and made the flight. But that was the most stressful things I've ever experienced. What a start to our US trip! The rest of our trip across the US with Amtrak across to Kansas City, Chicago, Niagara Falls, Boston, NYC and Washington DC was great though and I would definitely ride with Amtrak again if I get back to the US. Amtrak did refund us for the cancelled train about three weeks later. PS - Your videos were great and were invaluable in helping me prepare for our US trip and what to expect on Amtrak and I thank you very much for them. Cheers from Australia.

[@dplj4428]

11:24 my favorite, for irony: 4 engines but only one borrowed is working.

[@stephenkehl7158]

I was in the derailment of the Coast Starlight in Moorpark, CA on June 28th. Every car derailed but thankfully stayed upright. The crew did an excellent job of getting everyone off the train, and we were within city limits so emergency crews responded quickly for those injured. There was about a three hour delay in the local government getting buses to the scene to evacuate us to the civic center, and another hour for Amtrak to arrange transportation back to Los Angeles. The derailment happened about 11:15am, and it was about 6pm by the time we got back. Snacks and water were provided while we waited, and sub sandwiches and sodas were waiting for us in LA. I was asked what my final destination was. My final final destination was Wisconsin, but I was using the USA Railpass and didn’t want to miss out on my other rides, so I reported I needed to be in San Jose early in the morning (to catch another train). I didn’t want them to just stick me on a plane to Chicago and put me on the Empire Builder. I still had the California Zephyr to ride! I was told it’d take another couple of hours to sort out what to do for 200 passengers. I noted there was a flight out of LAX that would get me back on schedule, but I’d miss it if I didn’t leave right away. I was told if I could pay out of pocket, I could file for reimbursement. Between the flight and Uber rides, I had to pay $320. I had to wait about a month to receive a reimbursement check, with no means of communicating with the corporate office of customer relations except via email, and weekly followups as to the status of my claim were ignored. The lesson I learned is that Amtrak will ultimately take care of you, but if you can wait for them to make the arrangements, that’s the better course. Allie and Rob, your videos were a great help in planning my trip! I hope you never have my experience, though.

[@stephenkehl7158]

PS- I did get reimbursed for the cost of my ticket, but since I was using the California Railpass at the time, they prorated it and I got back a whopping $23.

[@mdesjr]

Thanks!

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

Thanks so much!

[@danielkamiot-priso6706]

I love this Guys this is the part most Social Media creators don't show and I do appreciate these moments we make the best of any situations

[@julianparks8485]

I'm iwith Rob being on a bridge in a train is no place to be during a tornado! Stay safe out there! On another note(s) what has been your experience with civility and crime? Hopefully, good.

[@rachelolvera9435]

I remember watching this episode of yours where you had the tornado warning .

[@ryancaldwell9463]

Many things can be characterized as a “disaster,” so didn’t quite know what you’d talk about. Surprised it’s just weather or mechanical delays, no mention of any security or people issues given all the traveling you do. Maybe they’re few and far between. I think I remember one of your videos where somebody was being verbally abusive and getting wound up. It sounded like it was just a behavior problem at that point, and thankfully not a violent/theft/sexual assault problem. Sounded like Amtrak tries to nip that sort of tomfoolery in the bud pretty quickly before it becomes a bigger issue, and kick people off at the next stop. So good on them for that.

[@radfem2010]

Love your videos! I took the Coach Starlight train for short stints the longest LA to San Jose and the Pacific Surfliner when it was called the San Diegan. No real problems except once when my siblings and I were going LA to S.D. and our parents rode with us to Oceanside and got off. There was this nice guy they were talking to and he said not to worry about us. Shortly after he had some sort of mental episode and broke something on the train and started hitting people with it. One guy was hit in the head. At some point the train stopped and police with guns swarmed into the car just kind of swooped this man up and like a river they flowed right out of the train again. Fairly quickly. The rest of the trip went uneventfully I take the Metrolink (CA) and you can see the blue and white (later blue and silverish when they retrofitted cars after several accidents including the Chatsworth one where 25 people died) in the background of some of your videos at LA Union Station and had all kinds of things happen from coductors asking if people knew CPR, to watching a kid jump off a train and getting left behind (most stops are less than a minute) and having to run through the train to find the conductor to alert them. They backed the train back into the station to get the kid. Running over objects on the tracks including one that nearly hit the window (and severed an oil line so one hour delay to patch that and the train was out the rest of the day). Was late on Tnanksgiving when our train had to hitch an engine on to hook up with a train that broke down on the route, and conductors gives a heads up, to prepare for an impact, the power to go out and to get our things and move to another car on the broken down train. We did get snack kits with crackers, cookies and a juice box which I've never experienced on a commuter train before. Most delays on Metrolink were traveling over UP owned track which might be an issue sometimes with Amtrak with UP, BNSF, etc. UP delays can last up to 12 hours just switching out a timed out crew.

[@charliebarnes7514]

I was traveling in a sleeper from New Orleans to Chicago. I don't remember what the issue was but we were delayed and then bussed. Apparently the driver was in a time crunch to meet the connecting train so he floored it, in a driving rain storm. I remember thinking that if I didn't die on this trip I was good to go for a little while. On top of that, the AC was blasting and there was a screaming baby sitting behind me. I thought I died and went to hell. Amtrak gave me a generous voucher for another trip . At the time I was angry. Now, I chalk it up to an experience to remember.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

Just the thing I needed to see. I hate flying and after a reasonable trip home to see family I decided I could live with the inconveniences of train travel. I guess nothings perfect!

[@Halllife-tv]

Hi guys I recently discovered your channel a few days ago and I think y’all are great. I also recently started taking Amtrak as of 2022 and I had a crazy experience in January on a trip from Orlando to New York. A snowstorm hit and we happened to have been in Virginia and a bunch of unfortunate situations happened together that caused us to be stuck in Virginia for 12 hours it was actually made the news!!there were people stuck on the I 95 for over 20 hours so we all were like if we had to be stranded it was much better to be on a train. Long story short the train combined 3 trains heading northbound in Washington so there were people without a seat 😳 We ran out of food and when we finally got to New York my luggage was still in Washington when they combined 3 trains of people into one 7 hours later my luggage came in and about a month later my trip was refunded!!!

[@cck6740]

The minute you mentioned the bus ride I had an anxiety attack. I suffer from severe motion sickness and had to end a tour in Ireland due to illness. I had to take two trains and a cab back to Dublin from the Cliffs of Mohr, and meet with a virtual doctor to get a note to excuse me from future bus tours.

[@joseromanrivera9412]

Your living my dream thanks for sharing much love I need to do one train ride for two days ❤

[@craigstergriffin2097]

Wait a minute, why is Rob on the right side of this video. I'm so confused. LOL. Great video as usual. 🚄

[@reestyfarts]

I was bussed from Little Rock to Fort Worth on the Texas Eagle. They were concerned about water undermining the roadbed.

[@robrmartin9369]

KCMO!!!! MY hometown!!!!

[@bernardschmitt6389]

Fun fact the beef stew is $4 canned beef stew used as emergency food on Amtrak

[@CM8008s]

I was in the Southwest Chief last summer where we went through an area under a flash flood warning. The train had to stop for a while and when we did proceed the train was limited to 30mph.

[@Des_Zee]

I take Amtrak often so you have to be prepared for a variety of things that could delay the train so i make sure to pack extra food and snacks and water with me.

[@jeffreymcconnell6794]

We were coming home from Chicago to San Diego via the Southwest Chief a couple of years ago. This was when Amtrak was running all the long distance trains just 3 days a week. Due to mechanical issues (mind you the trains been there for two days!) we left 50 minutes late. The next day, about an hour east of La Junta, Colorado, the lead engine failed. We sat there for 8 hours until a crew from La Junta brought us a freight locomotive to lead the train. That train has a 90 mph speed limit for nearly its entire trip but with a freight unit it can’t go over 70. We made it to La Junta and the Trinidad, Colorado where the PTC (Positive Train Control) failed on the freight unit. Now our speed was restricted to 59 mph! We continued losing time due to the slow speed and waiting for a crew to come from Kingman, Arizona to Williams Jct to take over for the crew which had used all 12 hours they are allowed to work. When we finally arrived in Fullerton, CA to transfer to our San Diego train, we were 23 hours late. I wrote a letter to Amtrak praising the on-board crew who were absolutely fantastic at keeping everyone informed, well fed, and happy. Having been a Train Attendant and a Conductor for Amtrak years ago, I know how badly that trip could have been. The crew is 90% of how passengers react to bad situations and they flew like eagles! The Station Agent in Fullerton called me the night before telling me they were going to be there all night and would meet us with a wheelchair for my wife who’s disabled. Also, less than 24 hours after we arrived home, Amtrak sent an email stating they were refunding our entire fare from Chicago to San Diego! I just looked at it as extra time and extra meals on a great train trip!

[@theso-calledtraveller]

Very interesting!

[@ellenfalls1330]

You have to be a trooper when you ride as many trains as yourselves. I find Amtrak goes out of its way to help.

[@kellybryson7754]

What do you do about hotel accommodations when you get in so late?

[@RuthKnox-nc8px]

It wasn't Amtrak because this happened about 70 years ago. My Grandma and I left Sheboygan to go to Chicago where we boarded a train (Southwest Chief) to go to California. I was excited about the trip. We were in coach and I just didn't calm down. So Grandma told me that I needed to be quiet. She pointed out some ladies who were busy talking and warned me that too much noise and the train might crash. Yup, the train jumped the track. Some of the cars fell over. Not the one we were on. My biggest memory of the trip was the ladies who I blamed for causing the accident and then later going over the flooded Mississippi River.

[@taylorsmith4758]

I once had 5 hour delay due to a "trespasser incident". It happened before I boarded. Amtrak didn't do a good job of managing expectations. We had no idea if the train would be cancelled or when, if ever, the train would get moving again. It eventually did, but it was a long chilly day outside at a commuter station. Received a $25 voucher. RIP to the trespasser. If Amtrak notifies you of a trespasser incident, buckle up for a long day.

[@Alfscan777]

Yes, I’ve had breakdowns on both the Coast Starlight and the Empire Builder and they had to put us on the bus. One of the breakdown was that we hit some thing I guess and then the other breakdown was a major freight derailment. The problem is I am at 6 foot four guy, tall athlete and when they put you on those buses, there’s no legroom and if you don’t get on the bus quick enough early enough, you get squashed in and that’s is really miserable. complaint that I have is that there’s no legroom for the big guys on buses that they find at the last moment and that is understandable. And that happened to me twice once on the starlight and also on the Empire builder. I guess the only worries that I have is when AMTRAK has a situation like the two I mentioned…..people like myself have to go along with the ride because you’re riding Amtrak because the airplanes don’t have legroom and when you put on a bus that doesn’t have legroom that’s even worst.

[@arlinwheeler7350]

I have several mishaps on Amtrak we hit a pickup truck just outside of Tuscaloosa. killed some people.and we hit a car in Cornelia GA the lady jumped out before we hit her.on the Sunset limited the SP had a derailment in Sanderson TX we had to reroute up to Ft worth TX then we were rerouted on the UP across Midland-Odessa Big springs into El Paso we got there 12 hours late More delays got us into LAX 15 hours late Missed my coast starlight connection They bused me up to Oakland then flew me on to Seattle on Alaska airlines.Once on the Empire Builder the BNSF had a derailment in Browning MT we got put on a van to finish our trip into Essex MT.Once on the Crescent one of our engines broke down so a NS engine was put on to help.We went much slower than normal.

[@shelzp7272]

I had a doubleheader with the Coast Starlight last year. I like to go from LAX to Centralia and stay at the Olympic Club Hotel for a couple of days. It’s a McMenamins property so it involves some good beer tasting. On the way north, about three blocks south of the Salinas station, we hit and killed a pedestrian. Right away they told us it involves the local sheriff, fire department, the county coroner, Union Pacific police and Amtrak police so prepare for the delay. On the way back, I couldn’t believe it but the train hit and killed someone in Richmond, just north of Emeryville. We were already running several hours late because when we had arrived in Sacramento, they didn’t have an engineer for the train. We got back to Los Angeles around 3 am. I think there are so many people sleeping in tents at encampments around the tracks that they probably get used to the sounds of trains and might not pay the closest attention to danger. Definitely made me feel bad and I felt like the Amtrak employees handled it sensitively because they reminded us that although we were delayed, someone lost their life.

[@NolaGal2601]

I am about to take my third trip on the City of New Orleans at the end of next month and the last time I rode that particular train coming back down to New Orleans where I live we broke down in the middle of the night and there was a long delay. I think we were supposed to return to New Orleans by about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and we didn’t arrive until like 11 o’clock that night. I called Amtrak the next day and got a refund for half of the cost of that leg of the journey.

[@kayjoe7237]

I've taken Amtrak cross counter and they reported delays. Turned out that the delays were derailed friend trains that was in front of us. As soon as we cleared it the engineer was gunning it.

[@katihuisheere233]

I was one in IN. that the tracks flood and I had to back to Cichago at 3:30 am.

[@leighbloom]

At least you were on the 5 and not on the 99

[@Shaynegrainger]

This brings to mind an issue my friend and I had involving VIA Rail in Canada, we were in the process of moving from Halifax NS to Winnipeg in the winter, so about February 2018 and we had booked a cabin on The Ocean from Halifax to Montreal and then it was supposed to be economy to Toronto and then to Winnipeg, We were booked into a cabin for 2 but that was for the Renaissance Cars they normally used but those were out for maintenance and so they were using the older stainless steel cars and we got bumped up to a cabin for 3 which was awesome except this was the start to our problems on the journey, we discovered that the washrooms were not working, toilets at least, and they arranged to have a septic truck meet the train in our first main stop in Moncton but after this we discovered that it was an electronic issue with just the car we were in and they said that they could move us to a different car but it would not be a cabin for 3 but the cabin was at the end of the car and the access to the next car was right there and on the other side was the corridor washroom so we opted to stay in the larger cabin. But later on I got a phone call from VIA or at least a voicemail because we had been in a dead zone when VIA called to get me to call them in the morning shortly after our train departed Montreal to Toronto, I did and was told that the Canadian at the time would be at least 24 hours delayed in leaving Toronto and so they would be putting us up in a hotel for the night and when I asked them about compensation for both the delay and the no access to in cabin toilet on the Ocean, they had given me and my friend an upgrade to lower berths on the Canadian and it was a close to 800 upgrade for a way of saying they were sorry for the issues. VIA was great to us in the end.

[@DonaldFGuest]

I am amazed that Rob went outside. It is interesting that the passengers were invited to get off for a smoke during an emergency weather notification.

[@nicoleannkyle]

The “disaster” I had experienced was December 23, 2007….. Train out of Carbondale (Illini) ran out of fuel in Carbondale. They had to send a fuel train to Carbondale, the 7:00 pm train didn’t get into Champaign until well after midnight, we get into Chicago around 3:30 am. There was no one in the station to call us in, we sat in the switch yard until 4:30 am. I was still a baby rider back then and didn’t know better. I do have a question, what happens if the train is in the middle of nowhere and there is a Tornado Warning with a tornado a few miles away. Do they evacuate the entire train? Where do you go?

[@mariannej8454]

Good weather reporting, Rob Cantori!😅 I can imagine how stressful it was waiting on the train over a river with a tornado in the area. Do you know if any train stations have basements?🤔

[@dontown-lb5ke]

Back in 1974 when Canadian National operated passenger trains before Via Rail existed, I was on a local near Ottawa when a truck drove right into the Diesel loco ( I was in car right behind loco & saw it happen) luckily we were not derailed but were delayed 1 hr while emerg. people came. Because of delay I missed my connection in Brockville so CN made the non-stop Rapido from Montreal stop just for me. The truck driver died & the estate of truck driver sued CN & I had to fly back from Vancouver to appear in Court in Ottawa. I got a free Air Canada flight both ways. Because of my testimony CN got a counter-suit against the estate for damage to the RR equipment (ruptured water-tank on loco,crossing signal destroyed).

[@MadelineRose-ep7fj]

May be chosing a different time of year to travel!?

[@brendaryan306]

What happens if the train has an accident? I heard they do nothing for the people who get hurt Amtrak still seems like a great way to travel and relax. No air seems like an old fashioned way to travel lol

[@arizonarebel5706]

I'd pack a portable ac and heater that use low wattage. :)

[@cherylcarlson3315]

Rather reassuring to hear how they cope with things. Have been considering some travel now that Myasthenia Gravis is sort of stable but being disabled am not as resilient as I used to be. Do they take care of disabled folks ok?

[@steveolive9991]

yeah, those twisters can pick up an entire train and throw it around like a child's toy.

[@DavidThomas-vj3eu]

Don't plan a wedding or funeral date with Amtrak. Other than that they still get a 10.

[@odess4sd4d]

Would trip insurance have helped with the Coast Starlight cancelation?

[@KarolChabot]

What aminities do I get in an accessable😂 coach seat? Where can I find a traditional menu with the meal prices? How much would the flat iron steak cost if I'm riding in a coach seat, for example😅

[@timshel011]

❤❤❤ !

[@GilRico69]

This could be a silly or strange question and not related to the theme but: the ice in your glass is available just for roomet? Will be my first time to travel on Amtrak and I really have to drink my soda/water/etc with ice.. I was planning to take my own cooler bag with ice... Can you please give me an advice or tip about it? Thanks! 😊

[@gabrielapaulinho1luv]

Hi. Sleeping-car passengers can request ice of the attendant as long as the attendant is on duty (i.e., not sleeping or on a break). Coach passengers can request ice in the café car when it's open. When riding coach, I've walked back to the café car before the last of my ice cubes melted to ask for more ice, and the attendant obliged. You really shouldn't have a problem. Here's a good tip, though: The day before your trip, prepare a slide-zip type of plastic pouch with ice cubes and then place that bag of ice (*not* filled to the top) into a larger slide-zip pouch. Or, an hour before leaving home for your trip, fill a thermos (or two) with crushed ice. Or, bring a small cooler with you on your rail trip -- it's permitted on Amtrak, as long as there's no liquor in it *if* you're riding coach. [But if you're in a sleeping-car compartment, your cooler can include liquor because Amtrak permits passengers to consume their own liquor inside their rooms.] Buying many cans of soda on Amtrak can get pricey, unless you're in business class within the U.S. *and* [if] the non-alcoholic bevs are complimentary. I bring several bottles of soft drinks (in cooler bags) and a thermos filled with water w/me when I'm riding in coach class on shorter long-haul trips (9 to 13 hours), but I always wind up purchasing sodas in the café car. I always ask for a cup of ice and within a half-hour go back for another cup of ice ... and hope that the café car attendant would oblige. Thus far I've been lucky. By the way, if you're riding in coach, carry cash and cards to purchase bevs &/or food in the café car ... in case one or the other payment method isn't accepted because of the terrain. Riding through the mountains on the Adirondack many years ago, the card machine stopped working (and so did the WiFi), and I had three bucks. I incorrectly had thought I could travel cashless on Amtrak. [This was several years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic -- during the pandemic, only card payments were possible.] On my upcoming trip on the Adirondack, I'll be prepared! Also, as Allie and Rob explained in one of the disaster videos, it's important to bring shelf-stable snacks. On the Maple Leaf in January, the point of service machine in the café car broke down completely, and no one could purchase anything! A week before my trip, I changed the first leg of my rail trip (NYC to Niagara Falls, ON) from coach to business class, so the non-alcoholic beverages were complimentary. After I drank the bottled soft drinks that I'd brought along, I joined my fellow business-class passengers in obtaining a few cans of sodas. Please be prepared, and you'll thoroughly enjoy your rail journey. Bon voyage!🛤🚇

[@GilRico69]

@@gabrielapaulinho1luv thank you so much for the time you took to answer. Your response helped me a lot to take the desicion of get with me a cooler bag with ice and if necessary ask in the Cafe car... I'll follow you tips about money and card and about snacks.. Greetings from México 🙏

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

NEVER head to the train station without a good deli bag. If you don't need it on the train, it will still be useful at your destination somehow.

[@walkerbunch06]

When you rolled into GNP, what time of the year was this? Will be on the Empire Builder in a few months.

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

It was in May