Your Amtrak Train Is So Late You Miss Your Connection - Now What?

[@alanthefisher]

The very polar opposite to missing a greyhound connection haha

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Always nice to see a wild Alan Fisher in the comments section. Keep up the good work! You make both Philly and New Jersey proud. Hope you talk about the OTHER Port Authority train in NJ, the PATH. Since fun fact, it predates NYC Subway's first underground line when it comes to planning

[@seamusmckeon9109]

I don’t get it

[@awesome4330]

@@seamusmckeon9109 when your Greyhound or Peter Pan bus misses a connection you are dumped in the connecting city with no provided amenities, possibly at a closed station, and forced to buy a new ticket or beg a driver to let you on

[@williamerazo3921]

Lol 😂

[@kevintyson1947]

@@awesome4330 yeah this happened to me a few years back. Greyhound dumped me in Harrisburg, PA at midnight with the station already closed at 11pm. Being a broke college student just trying to get home for the holidays and stuck in a city I never been to before, I was terrified.

[@davidburrow5895]

On the very first Amtrak trip I took the Lake Shore Limited was six and a half hours late, which got us into Boston after the 'T' had closed down for the night. In addition to free food on the train, an Amtrak employee drove us in his personal vehicle to the cheap motel we had booked in Braintree. We also got a fairly big voucher for future travel (something you'll want to check on). By contrast, right before COVID hit I missed a connection due to a late United Airlines flight and ended up spending the night on a cot at O'Hare. No food, no accommodation, no apology. Amtrak may not be the most reliable, but they do know how to treat customers when things go wrong.

[@MilesinTransit]

You're totally right, we were treated excellently here. I probably should call about a voucher, hopefully it's not too late...

[@qjtvaddict]

They know they suck so they have to treat you well. Lake shore limited is a useless train non NEC Amtrak service is utter trash build HSR and let that replace all Amtrak trains suburban metro transit systems can takeover the rest.

[@haxorouse3265]

I have been riding Amtrak long distance trains literally my entire life(earliest I remember was the Capitol limited when I was 4), and for the duration Amtrak has always had the best customer service of any transportation system in the US, even if the federal government may treat them as the fail son who was supposed to make money but never did, the people who work there care a lot, and it shows

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

Keep in mind, Amtrak was built to fail, and yet it survived despite a lack of support from the Federal government.

[@flyphone1072]

​@@qjtvaddict​ may be one of the stupidest things I've heard in my life. There are a handful of potential HSR corridors that will take decades to build. The rest shouldn't get HSR. Building HSR from Spokane to Minneapolis would be flushing money down the toilet. Or should there be a subway along that route? Also 319 thousand riders a year is "useless" apparently. I don't even know what to say.

[@MichaelfromtheGraves]

Amtrak deserves so much more money

[@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226]

It's got enough funding for now, just needs management to use it better. Currently they're doing terrible at that.

[@mattlaw5426]

@@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226 its not Amtrak is the frieght railroads. Amtrak has to wait for freight trains to pass so it will take longer.

[@RobinsVoyage]

@@mattlaw5426 well they should build their own tracks

[@mattlaw5426]

@@RobinsVoyage easier said then done. private land owners would say no and Amtrak doesnt have any reason to sense it sabout the journey not get from A-B the fasteest.

[@Afterburner215]

Amtrak deserves to have priority over freight

[@davidsp5936]

🙋 Raise your hand if you came from the Zephyr video to watch this one! 🙋 Raise your other hand if you're completing the trilogy! (I knew that I'd seen that shirt before -- GO RU!)

[@mystica-subs]

🤚✋

[@repulser93]

Trilogy?

[@JacksonBetz]

As coach passengers, that dining car was HALLOWED GROUND

[@transitriderproductions]

it happens once train is so late, esp. 10+ hours late so they have to give coach passengers free pass to the diner car. That's normal.

[@JacksonBetz]

@@transitriderproductions sorry I’m not as seasoned a traveler as you are 😘😘

[@stevenroshni1228]

Before COVID coach passengers could pay extra to get dining car

[@ronclark9724]

@@stevenroshni1228 Before COVID all of the diners served traditional diner meals, not this silly airline flexible dining microwaved crap... As a diabetic I can order non starchy vegetables with suitable protein items with traditional dining, with flexible dining every dish has too many starchy noodles, rice, or potatoes... I desire to dine on something with a bit more protein than a side salad...

[@z9nc982]

​@stevenroshni1228 you still can, or maybe they brought that back fairly recently. on my previous amtrak trip on the coast starlight in july we rode coach and they let us sign up for diner service. it cost about $20 per person iirc. i think they also offered it on my california zephyr trip last december, but i wouldnt have taken advantage of it because i was traveling solo and im broke lol

[@mikeymutual5489]

You've uncovered the secret train benefit of riding on Amtrak, using their own mismanagement against them. ALWAYS book a connecting train out of Chicago - the tighter, the better. Then start the countdown to see if and how late you will be arriving into Chicago. Miss your train and then get your free hotel night and a day in Chicago before leaving the next day!

[@AssBlasster]

I got a $75 voucher ($59 ticket) for my 9 hour delayed Empire Builder from Seattle to Spokane...looks like I can really make bank if I take it to Chicago.

[@ronclark9724]

I book the next day anyway paying for the hotel myself. I also plan my Amtrak journey to get to my destination a day early too. I have had to scramble on short notice when Amtrak cancels a train due to flooding and/or derailments whether a fright or passenger train...

[@mikeymutual5489]

@@ronclark9724 "...to get to my destination a day late too"?

[@lvsluggo007]

A large percentage of the times that Amtrak routes are super-late, can be blamed on the railroad company whose tracks they're running on. Most of the CZ is on BNSF tracks and they have a nasty habit of causing the Zephyr to be late, often extremely late.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

@@lvsluggo007 Which is why Amtrak is going to start deducting fines from host railroads when they cause delays...

[@DuluthTW]

Wonderful. You two totally deserved to spend the night in comfort. Plus, you got to see The Bean. Thanks for sharing!

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@edwinupham3556]

It was fun to meet you guys on the train

[@MilesinTransit]

Oh hey, it was great to meet you too! When the eventual Zephyr trip report comes out, the clips with the three of us will be in that.

[@MbtaVideoClips]

2023 update

[@paulw.woodring7304]

If a train was over four hours late 30+ years ago, Amtrak would call the nearest KFC (if it was the eastbound Cap it was from Roy Rogers in Cumberland) and get a couple hundred two-piece chicken dinners and fixins. The first I heard about the stew for emergencies was with the Auto Train about 20 years ago, a long-time friend was an attendant on that for over 25 years and told me they always carried enough for an extra meal period, just for such emergencies. I guess they decided it worked well enough to make it the standard emergency fare for all long-distance trains. Since "The Cardinal" only operates every other day, it would have been interesting to see what they did with anyone connecting to it to points in West Virginia or SW Virginia not served by anything else? Pay for their stay for two nights waiting for the next eastbound? So are we going to see the rest of this trip?

[@MilesinTransit]

I know, imagine if we had been going to one of the REALLY middle-of-nowhere stations like Thurmond - I would've been very curious to see what they did! Yeah, there's a lot more of this trip to come. It'll probably be released out of order and somewhat sporadically, but it'll eventually all be out there!

[@de-fault_de-fault]

I remember getting a massive pile of free KFC delivered to Salinas when the Coast Starlight I was on in 1990 had to wait for a helper engine from SP to get it rolling the rest of the way to LA. I was 5, and on the middle leg of a multi-city trip from Denver to Oakland via the California Zephyr, Oakland to LA via the Coast Starlight, and LA to San Diego on, well, the San Diegan, which is what the Pacific Surfliner was called back then. I still remember that trip more vividly than almost any other in my life, in no small part because of the amazing scenery.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@MilesinTransit Mostly white water rafters use Thurmond. I was thinking more like Alderson, WV (FCI for women is there, Martha Stewart called it home for about a year when she got sent up the river), or Clifton Forge, VA. Apparently Greyhound serves Alderson from Charleston once/day (probably because of the prison), but it looks like Clifton Forge does not have intercity bus service connecting to the outside world. Bottom line is, our public transit sucks in most of the U. S.

[@qjtvaddict]

Most people with places to go DO NOT use Amtrak

[@qjtvaddict]

@@paulw.woodring7304 yup like in the 3rd world

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

When the train is over six hours late but that means you have more time to enjoy the scenery the California Zephyr has to offer: *A small price to pay, for salvation* Ah yes, canned Walmart beef stew and Chex Mix...clearly the finest of Amtrak's Michelin-starred cuisine

[@marilynsue4273]

Incorrect when you pull into Denver at 2 am.

[@Acidlib]

Great taste in trains AND cuisine!!?? If only everyone’s Dear Leader could be such a catch…

[@ronclark9724]

Premium saltine crackers... A chef's delight...

[@marilynsue4273]

Something similar happened to me last month - but the Zephyr was ten hours late getting into Chicago. I ended up in a Best Western Hotel in Oak Forest, wherever that is. The return shuttle was on time and my bus to Madison, WI was a little late, so I was able to catch it immediately. Instead of arriving in Madison at 8 pm on Wednesday, I arrived at 3:30 pm on Thursday.

[@MilesinTransit]

Oak Forest!! That doesn't sound quite as nice, but I'm glad it all worked out okay!

[@Canleaf08]

Lucky you did not end up in Franklin Park. Nothing about the people. But the Best Western at the Mannheim needs love.

[@voxpopuli8957]

Hey, we can complain about Amtrak delays as much as we want, but I’ve been delayed 9+ hours flying before, and they didn’t give us free food and arrange accommodations for us, so a wins a win 😂

[@ronclark9724]

I have had airline flights cancelled, cruises cancelled, and Amtrak trains cancelled... Whether by air, land, or sea I have had vacations ruined... A nine to twelve hour delay is nothing compared to being cancelled...

[@VaudeVilleClown]

I've ridden all across the country and the most I've gotten was the mixed condiments with bread and butter bag, along with the emergency cookies and sugar fix baggie. But never Dinty Moore. Let alone the overnight hotel layover. Congratulations!

[@GaigeGrosskreutzGunClub]

If your transit works, you get where you need to go. If your transit fucks up, you get to experience more transit. Win win.

[@WilsonCalvert]

6:21 That bus driver definitely told you the shuttles we're running at 715 and 1145!

[@MilesinTransit]

I'm pretty sure it was 11:15 and 11:45! What was odd is that when we came back from our Bean walk around 10:45, we saw the bus pulling away from outside the hotel...

[@justintheaggressivepedestrian]

I'm laughing at Jackson's skeptical “beef stew” 😆😭 1:10 thanks for the Dinty Moore shout out

[@JacksonBetz]

thanks for the intel Justin!!!

[@danielueblacker9118]

give me Amtrak's Hot Dog.....

[@zekharye1]

"There's upholstery on the ceiling but not on the floor." A most memorable observation about the shuttle bus.

[@GirtonOramsay]

Currently watching as I wait on my 6 hr late Empire Builder leaving Seattle. It has turned to an overnight train lol, but I was surprised that they provided a full Subway meal for the inconvenience. I hope to see my Airbnb bed for a few hours. Good to see that Amtrak will accommodate well for their terrible delays.

[@MilesinTransit]

Good luck getting to your destination!

[@MrNurserob]

Unless all rooms have the same art, that’s exactly the room (803) at the Swissotel that Amtrak put us up in overlooking the riverwalk. We ended up staying an extra night, it was so nice, lol, then we flew to our next connection in DC. The beef stew is Amtrak’s fail-safe in case they run out of everything else, lol. But yeah, Amtrak will take care of you if you miss a connection due to a late train.

[@jacorp7476]

They stayed in room 2010 so it must all be the same lol

[@MrNurserob]

@@jacorp7476 isn’t that funny? Lol, the art in our room and the configuration was EXACTLY the same. I suppose it makes cleaning them and setting them back up to specifications easier for staff.

[@jacorp7476]

@@MrNurserob Yep, those corporate hotel chains standardize pretty much everything

[@ronclark9724]

I recall the days when Burlington's Texas Zephyr served T-bone steaks in the diner with a baked potato and a side salad... Amtrak's flexible dining sucks...

[@rayizard5687]

When I took the Empire Builder from Portland to Chicago a few years ago, we were so late, that the next day's train was right behind us!

[@ronclark9724]

If your Amtrak train arrives too late to make a connection to another Amtrak train that day it would if it were on time, Amtrak will pay for a nearby hotel room and rebook you for the next available train, most likely the next day. If you were riding in coach with both trains, no sweat. But if you were riding in a standard bedroom or a roomette, they might not be available the next day thus Amtrak will rebook you for a coach seat. To avoid that from even having a chance of happening, when I book Amtrak connections to another train I book it for the next day and pay for the hotel room myself. There is always something to do in these large cities for a day anyway, enjoy your trip and stop to smell the roses. Even on long routes instead of going to the end of the line I book a layover anywhere on that route and spend a night in a bed and breakfast in a small town. Any town will suffice, if only to enjoy the local fishing hole. Don't you ever wish when riding through these cities and towns that you would like to spend a day there? Well do! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJCsl4augrZqr8k

[@LunaZeidner]

Last year my empire builder home for Christmas was like 6 hours late to picking me up in St Paul. I got the charter bus that was 70% empty and got me to Chicago 2 hours early. I appreciate that when Amtrak messes up they make up for it, that's real nice.

[@LouisOnAir]

This might be my new favourite channel, your videos are a joy to watch

[@Salmagundiii]

Aren't they?

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you so much!!!

[@danielueblacker9118]

Miles another wonderful video and Jackson is a hoot, that is a good thing.

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@Kenttheclark]

I used the MBTA bathroom guide yesterday. What a resource.

[@MilesinTransit]

Oh wow, I'm glad it was still useful! I'm sure it's getting increasingly out of date...

[@MargaretCSullivan]

Back in my day we had to make our own Chex Mix in the oven. We could put Snyder's Pretzels in it, too. You kids and your convenience foods.

[@JacksonBetz]

2:32 thanks for picking me up some Chex Mix Miles

[@MilesinTransit]

If I remember correctly, you explicitly said you didn't want any!!!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

You know the accommodation's legit when it's Swiss...just like their high-quality railways, cheese, watches, and chocolate. Yeah uh, after all of that...I definitely wouldn't want to ride a Greyhound bus either

[@kitchin2]

It’s not all good without exception. Swissair went bankrupt. They were very eager to sell gambling midair!

[@Canleaf08]

What C. Kitchin wanted to say: Swissotel and Swissport were both bankruptcy assets of the Swissair. Say, they are both the last remaining survivors of the SAir Group. Swissair became tooo big toooo fail and then it took revenge with SR111 and the 9/11 downturn. Swissair had shares with Sabena. Sabena went with them. Swissair almost took LTU into the grave, even American Airlines. You might want to travel with the SBB because it is high quality.

[@ronclark9724]

Keep in mind Greyhound is selling off their stations slowly but surely. When they put you off the bus today, there is a good chance they do so at someone's parking lot, not necessarily anywhere near a hotel. The old Greyhound stations whose rest rooms weren't always clean with no restaurants, vending machines only, nearly every one had a hotel nearby... Continental Trailways, remember Greyhound's competition, used Holiday Inns as their bus stations with all having a restaurant with clean rest rooms...

[@awesomevillevlog5798]

I had the same thing happen to me on my way from Lawrence, KS to Jacksonville, FL. my train was delayed by 7 hours 20 mins (6 hrs 30 mins into Lawrence) and we had the same hotel and it was a fairly good rest for a very long day. Ended up in Florida 1 day, 1hr, 6 mins behind schedule as compared to 5 hrs behind schedule back home (Thank you NC weather & Ride KC's horrific timetable)

[@jeremyquiros5483]

I stopped at a gas station not too long ago, and they were selling a beef stew dinner plate. I bought one and thought it was pretty good, but then I realized it was just Dinty Moore and I thought back to this video lol

[@MilesinTransit]

Yeah, it's not too bad! 😂

[@pascackvalleylinerailfan5037]

I took the exact same services a few weeks earlier than you guys. I missed the connection to the cardinal from the Zephyr and my reaction was the exact same. Customer service was going to put us in coach on the Capitol Limited even though we paid for rooms on the Cardinal. Luckily we were able to get a refund of the cardinal we missed and get on the next one with rooms available. The Swissotel honestly isn't a bad hotel. In fact I was surprised that this hotel ranges up to $300 a night and Amtrak puts you in it!

[@MilesinTransit]

Wait, they put you on a Cardinal? Did you get to spend two nights at the Swissotel??

[@pascackvalleylinerailfan5037]

@@MilesinTransit, yeah we booked the Zephyr and Cardinal individually (which was a bad mistake) and so when the Cardinal left Chicago we were considered a “no show”. When we got to Chicago we were able to get a full refund and we were able to purchase tickets for the next Cardinal. We arrived in CHI on 7/21 and got to spend 2 nights in the hotel all on Amtraks money. We then got on the Cardinal on 7/23

[@MilesinTransit]

That's so awesome they put you up even though you booked the tickets individually!

[@jas22980]

my grandma had a....if you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweetie wipe the seatie sign LOL

[@andrewclark8630]

What a great experience, especially if you weren't in a hurry to be somewhere. But great fun to watch, thank you.

[@MilesinTransit]

Thanks!

[@damiancooper3063]

That last delay was a person being stuck by a train so you were held outside of Galesburg as they tried to remove train traffic in front of you.

[@astronoodles9655]

Aside from the trolleybus meetup videos, we now have the full Zephyr trilogy (Zephyr trip report, Helper UT video and Amtrak Late Connection)! Now, we need to see the rest of Jackson and Miles from this trip - only indicated by the same clothing of the "T" hoodie and the "Puck Frinceton" shirt.

[@idxluaviation]

I think I was on amtraks southwest chief the day this happened, coming back from LA to chicago, I nearly missed my transfer to the Capitol Limited, and was about to prepair to get tickets on the lake shore limited.

[@xpluswearer]

If you want a night at the swissotel take the Zephyr train 6. Good chance to get the room. Gotta love the AMSTEW!

[@nedmarc]

We love seeing your gratitude!

[@Acidlib]

Omg, I’m currently stopped in Burlington, IA on the California Zephyr, running approx 8 hours late and the reservation that I booked about a month ago for tonight is at Swissotel Chicago (and I just had the complimentary Dinty Moore, except they served it over rice) I can’t believe I got recommended this of all videos right now, extremely glad I subscribed to your channel, Miles!

[@MilesinTransit]

Whoa, what a coincidence! Good luck on your trip!

[@Acidlib]

@@MilesinTransit about to go through Princeton, wish I wasn’t arriving in Chicago so late, but it’s no big deal, this is by far the worst delay I’ve had in 10+ years of riding Amtrak (not counting childhood trips, but now that I think of it the train I took to Mt Pleasant for a Kindergarten field trip was also extremely late lol) and it sounds like I’m getting a travel voucher.

[@MrBaskins2010]

Once got stuck at the US Canada border for two hours after a man had a heart attack. The dining car was looted during the delay. Border police then became a lot less friendly 😅

[@barbaratobin5579]

Trains often late. I stayed at that hotel and it was wonderful! I had an unexpected day in Chicago which let me get to Art Institute. The bus driver said it happens often…..

[@PhilipSalen]

I've taken the Amtrak Pittsburgh to Philadelphia train. It's somewhat scenic and somewhat good though Greyhound offers allegedly faster trips.

[@haylieg2780]

Greyhound is definitely faster and usually on time between those two cities. Amtrak is definitely more scenic however.

[@angstyautist]

That's 2 books you guys have sold me. Great product placement.

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

I remember YEARS ago my sister and I took Amtrak from Sacramento to Simi Valley and our train was already delayed coming into Sac. A few hours later, some tweakers threw a mattress under our train and we had to limp into Oakland yard. At that point, it was a total crapshoot on the schedule at that point. The train was supposed to run to San Diego but the crew was risking outlawing before they even hit Los Angeles. To Amtrak's credit, they put in a HUGE order to the Subway down at Union Station and had direct buses lined up so passengers would make it to their stops past San Diego. When our train hit Simi I swear they almost told us to tuck n roll to save time. It was incredibly fast!

[@MilesinTransit]

Someday I hope I get to ride a delayed train that mass-orders food from somewhere! That's an awesome story.

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

@@MilesinTransit to Amtrak's credit they took care of everyone but that was a LONG ride.

[@Hudute]

I was through Chicago on a transcon rail journey in February and now I kind of regret building in a two day layover in Chicago... My stay in Swissotel definetly wasnt free!

[@MrJamieBattle]

Y’all got PAMPERED!!! Dc just sends u across the street.

[@michaelpayne5545]

I had a late train once coming back from Boston to Metropark, NJ. The original train was so late that it terminated at New York Penn Station. I had to wait there, and anyone continuing south had to wait for the next southbound train. It was after midnight at this point so the train wasn’t crowded. I got home at about 2 or 3:00 in the morning. I wrote to Amtrak complaining, and they compensated me with a voucher equal to the fare I paid from Boston to Metropark. I did use that voucher on another trip so it didn’t go to waste.

[@MilesinTransit]

They do tend to be pretty good about giving you some compensation for late trains. I got an extra $50 voucher for calling in about this Zephyr trip.

[@LeafonSilver0]

Also Snyder’s please sponsor this man already like DAM

[@MilesinTransit]

I'd be the best sponsee ever

[@patty4349]

When I was a kid, my mom mixed Dinty Moore beef stew with Campbell's pork and beans. We had it with refrigerator canister biscuits! 🤩

[@esgee3829]

i was late by about 13 hours to my final destination and got a sheraton, a $50 meal, and $700 (so i guess $1100 or so in compensation). but that was the eu, and the company was air france, and there were no questions asked.

[@richardwilliamson7168]

I missed a Chicago Amtrak connection and they put me in the same hotel - was great!

[@dianethulin1700]

I was on the Coast Starlight when it was five hours late. It was a real problem getting home. Now I know what to do in the future

[@DevonMopiedmont1143]

I was on the Carolinian that encountered a massive delay once caused by tornadoes in the spring of 2018. I used it often to get from home and school in Charlotte where it is supposed to arrive at 8:56. with the Cafe Car closing hours to our destination and losing 4hrs before we were allowed to move again everyone was given granola bars and water as an apology and so close to many college towns were allowed if able to simply order other transportation if they were going to the surrounding colleges. Mind you we left my stop of Durham on time then stopped short of Burlington for nearly 3hrs then pulled into the station for 30 minutes while the crew discussed how to proceed. 🤣 Amtrak's backup policy is weird.

[@MilesinTransit]

Wild! Maybe they only have the Emergency Beef Stew on the cross-country trains? The Carolinian is admittedly only one night, but granola bars are a ROUGH compensatory snack.

[@alteredstate42]

thanks for the connection video to your recent one Miles!

[@MilesinTransit]

Glad I could finally tie the loose end here!

[@sidestreetschi]

No wifi in the hotel: what is this, a long distance train?

[@JacksonBetz]

HAHAHahaaaaaa

[@Mergatroid]

Looking back on this now after having been scheduled on an Empire Builder to Chicago that wound up running 20 hours 24 minutes late, I realize that what y'all had wasn't that bad in comparison.

[@eriktorgler7748]

The Swiss is a very nice hotel. My mom has a conference down in Chicago every year and the Swiss is where the more senior people stay.

[@trainrover]

a 27-hour delay on our trans-national got detoured by a prairies rockfall merely 100 miles east of Winnipeg whereat -- back then -- paralleling trans-nationals would meet and have their rear halves swapped with one another; we missed not one but two trains to couple to...the additional 900 miles' distance had forced us back east to re-approach via hundreds of miles of freight-only dual-tracking(! [1979]) that hugged the spectacularly beautiful north shore of Lake Superior, which was what'd surprisingly dazzled us muddled cargo come daybreak 🍸

[@MilesinTransit]

That's nuts but it sounds beautiful!! Why did the rear halves have to swap back then?

[@trainrover]

because the halving of our network nationwide some time during 1990 saw the pair of cross-country routes singularly reduced to no option ;) think about it: out of the strings of trains linking places, traveling twixt Miami and Chicago must've been possible without ever having to change trains in the U.S.A....I would've liked to have watched how swapping the rear halves was effected, but instead that damn! briiliant prairie sun thereat happened to have welled up a nastily debilitating bout of vertigo, overwhelming my adolescent constitution hailing from fog-bound climes that'd just been cooped up 3 days in a row ;)

[@trainrover]

by the 1990s, I'd gathered that a travel agency limited to snap-happy Japanese had got to chartering a passenger train especially for Superior's North Shore twice or thrice each summer season

[@concretecat]

The brown bread in Chex mix is so good!! Not trash sir!

[@MilesinTransit]

trash

[@concretecat]

@@MilesinTransit I’m calling the police

[@ChrisHockman]

My one Amtrak sleeper trip was from Chicago. We went in the exact same spot as you in the lounge hilariously

[@MilesinTransit]

It's a good spot!

[@QuarioQuario54321]

So close to my room (I was in room 2014 when I stayed at the Swissotel in 2020). This means the hotel is obsolete.

[@patrisio3]

Advice to everyone is to never plan a trip where you have a connection to another train, or plane, or bus only a few hours following a ride on the California Zephyr. Schedule yourself at least a 1-day lag before connecting. The Zephyrs are by far the worst on-time performing trains in the Amtrak system. One day a few months ago, a train finished it's route in the Bay Area 26 hours late and on the exact same day another finished it's route in Chicago 20 hours late. Both had engine issues and also ran into landslide issues in Colorado. In Salt Lake City, the westbound train was caught by the westbound train that departed Chicago the day later. But the latter couldn't bypass....probably not enough space at the SLC station. So the latter followed the 1-day late train the remainder of the route. I live in Sacramento and it was rather strange to see a westbound Zephyr arrive at the station and then see another one just 15 minutes later. Although this is an extreme case, it is not uncommon for a Zephyr to finish it's route 10 hours late during the western summer monsoon season or during the winter and spring when a snowstorm in the Rockies or Sierra Nevada could be an issue. During the fall, they seem to run on time.

[@ronclark9724]

All it takes for any train to fall behind schedule twelve plus hours is to follow another train with a hot axle... Never mind all of the other numerous causes too many to list...

[@JacksonBetz]

11:54 the bathroom review was, true to what was advertised, little

[@eMWe1725]

Get a little crazy is a better way than get angry. And the Hotel is nice. Is a little adventure.

[@davidsixtwo]

Low key one of the best things about Amtrak is missing your connection in Chicago, I got to stay at the Hilton one time as well.

[@jfmezei]

Theory: Operating railroads could be bound to penalties when they can't deliver an Amtrak train on time, and it is with those funds that Amtrak can afford to put you up im a hotel and give you a little meal etc

[@bobsykes]

That was fun, and I had no idea Amtrak would book a hotel like that. I'm guessing that is not a guaranteed experience for every delay situation, but that was an awesome room. Pretty sure I would have taken Uber to O'Hare and fly to Philadelphia in the morning, though. ✌

[@jameswarren1891]

When Justin's file photo popped at 1:52 up I came

[@avibarr2751]

3:00 so in love with the Seinfeld references

[@H0T3lTokusatsu]

Happened to me from Utah to New York. We took the Lake Shore Limited to NYC

[@sevzas]

Miles and Jackson it's time to check out the Suburban Diner in Feasterville just outside of Northeast Philadelphia.

[@JacksonBetz]

That sounds like a groovy idea to meeee!!!

[@tomsun6123]

Brilliant video. That's how compensation services should act for paying customers, it leaves good impressions. Also were you two able to get another complementary hotel in Pittsburgh?

[@MilesinTransit]

The transfer in Pittsburgh was just two hours, so there thankfully wasn't a need for a hotel!

[@cedricye1767]

I would pay to see those extra clips of you and Jackson during the big delay... ;) And wow, Amtrak makes it look like they actually care about their customers, a specific dog company should take notes... Another good video!

[@JacksonBetz]

I think Miles is saving those for the Zephyr trip report!!! And thanks, it was good to meet you at the Philly meetup!

[@MilesinTransit]

Yup, they'll be in the eventual Zephyr trip report!

[@cedricye1767]

​@@JacksonBetz 🎵So it's apparently a trip report 🎵 Thanks, it was great to meet you too!

[@blkboot65]

I am jealous now. You got the Swissotel. American Airlines sent me to the some death trap with only three hours to sleep. Not fair.

[@josiahdillard7428]

I remember we took a Amtrak train from Penn Station NY too Cleveland and not even 15 minutes in we had too switch trains and we had too sit in coach even thought we booked a sleeper car we got there 5 hours late

[@MilesinTransit]

Oof, that sounds horrible!

[@thh982]

wait i’m taking the sw chief to cardinal to nyc from la this week… i got a roomette for both and i’m very scared that i’ll miss the cardinal and not be able to take the cardinal route/won’t be able to stay in a roomette bc of how limited the cardinal runs. would they give me a hotel until the next cardinal or what would they do?

[@kitchin2]

They would probably send you on a non-Cardinal train to NYP? Still would get an overnight in Chicago.

[@thh982]

@@kitchin2 If a roomette isn’t available then would I get a refund or compensation?

[@kitchin2]

@Tyler I don’t know. Booking that combo either direction probably often gets you a hotel room in Chitown though! The real problem with freight interference is the sidings are not long enough, or that’s what some say, and it’s pretty believable. And Amtrak prefers to spend money where the states chip in. I think the Chicago approaches, sort of a mess, are getting upgrades. By the way the Northeast and mid-Atlantic routes are a really good deal right now.

[@MilesinTransit]

Yeah, they'll probably send you on a non-Cardinal train to NYC. They don't guarantee sleeper, but they compensate you the difference.

[@georgemcdowell8302]

I've missed my connection in Chicago for the Lakeshore Ltd. to NY. I had also booked a roomette for both SW Chief & Lakeshore. I was put up in a 4 star hotel, but was given a coach seat ticket for a flight to NY. I suppose the hotel stay with a voucher for breakfast would suffice. Since that experience, I've learned to spend an entire night between connections at a hotel near the station. Extra $$$? Yes. Less aggravation? Yep! I really dislike flying. Good luck.

[@Molejules]

And the Jackson Wikifeet entry in 3... 2...

[@jbreezy101]

0:58 probably as compensation for the late arrival into Chicago

[@paulriv]

coach on Amtrak vs. economy on an airline.... definitely coach on Amtrak, hands down.

[@peskypigeonx]

Taking a regional bus: no food, on a most-likely non-scenic area on the highway, cramped to the farthest degree, general sense of dread, but CHEAPER Taking the train: actually treated like a human, ok space, very scenic, but ever-surprisingly, more expensive

[@joemckim1183]

I agree with you guys about Trail Mix, I never understood why people thought it was a good thing. If I want a bag of Pretzels I'll get a bag of pretzels, same with a bag of nuts, etc.

[@MilesinTransit]

EXACTLY!

[@joemckim1183]

@@MilesinTransit And even if you like most of the ingredients there'll always be that 1 ingredient you don't like.

[@ronclark9724]

Nothing wrong with a jar of Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts or a can of Planters Cocktail Peanuts...

[@Salmagundiii]

LMAO @ "The brown poop thing". Wikipedia calls it a "hard breadstick", but I don't see why it isn't a member of the crouton taxonomy.

[@samkuzel]

When Justin's file photo popped at 1:52 up I gagged

[@justintheaggressivepedestrian]

Why did you gag? :(

[@jameswarren1891]

This is so mean :( he is a hottie (presumably) with a body!

[@samkuzel]

@@justintheaggressivepedestrian omg Justin I only meant cause it was funny I’m so sorry lol In general the idea of a “file photo” being necessary for such a passing reference 😂

[@justintheaggressivepedestrian]

@@samkuzel haha I understand now

[@samkuzel]

@@justintheaggressivepedestrian haha have a good day

[@andrew_ray]

So I did some research, and if you, yes, you, want to stay at the Swissotel Chicago during peak season, the "River View" room that they got will only set you back $319 a night.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

How many stars was that hotel? I don't think you mentioned it.

[@FerdinandCesarano]

They said it was a 4-star hotel.

[@waynecopple385]

I didn't catch it either. Did they specify ?

[@MilesinTransit]

uhh like 2 maybe? wait 3

[@FerdinandCesarano]

@@MilesinTransit - The luxurious Chicago hotel that you were raving about? I'm pretty sure that you called it a 4-star hotel while going there on the shuttle bus.

[@MilesinTransit]

No no it was, but I think the original commenter was making a joke because we kept repeating over and over again that it was 4 stars!

[@PatrickLeFloch]

"sour cream and onion is a top tier flavor" Obadiah 13:08

[@derekdestep40]

If your planning Amtrak trip especially Chicago plan on at least a day in Chicago

[@Josephcavagnaro]

8:06 if you have a phone with USB C you can use a usb c to ethernet adapter & use ethernet if theres an ethernet jack

[@jeremyzorek]

I still will fight miles on his (WRONG) Chex Mix opinion

[@peskypigeonx]

Chex is trash and only idiots love it

[@jeremyzorek]

NOT TO MENTION CALLING THE RYE CHIPS POOP

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

seconded

[@MilesinTransit]

WRONG

[@jeremyzorek]

@@MilesinTransit YOU'RE WRONG

[@jacobdurbin5480]

Watching this on the Southwest Chief being roughly 11 hours late hits different..

[@avibarr2751]

When my United flight to Dallas got cancelled, United just put me in some random Uber and while I sat sandwiched between two sweaty Trumpers, a lady who was on her phone the whole time with her crusty dog in her lap drove us to Newark to make our connections at over 100mph. Except the agent who put me in the Uber didn’t tell the site that I would make it to Newark so they then rebooked me for an Albany to Chicago flight that I physically could not get to. Then when I got there the agents stuck me in a back row middle seat instead of the mid-plane window seat I paid extra for. TRAINS FOREVER

[@johnandrews23]

We didn't get any food! All we got was a couple of cab vouchers and a hotel voucher.

[@Jamesofur]

That book is fun, don't let anyone roast you for reading it Jackson!

[@jacquelyndotson3224]

Polar opposite when missing a flight connection due to weather. Cab and Hotel were on me.

[@Traveltheme706]

You guys are hilarious i doubt you would have gotten too much sleep, now who snores and farts the most? lol

[@stopsign997]

Dude that is not a bad deal for missing a connection. More bang for your buck!

[@nataliajimenez1870]

Also gives you the chance to explore a new city. They were staying at a nice hotel in downtown Chicago and decided to watch TV instead of exploring the city. To take long distance Amtrak you have to be prepared for the possibility that you can be a day late, but they'll take care of you. If you're in a hurry, you should fly to your destination

[@spark_6710]

This is a very fun & funny video I came across to !! LOL 😂 👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈✨️💞

[@cloverisfan818]

New Yo Mama Joke: Your Amtrak train is too late, you miss your connection!

[@linesided]

Jeyzuz - it IS the awaterpolocalypse

[@danesmith3615]

Should have got room service and said bill to the room lol

[@admiralcapn]

So...how was the ride home? Pitt-Philly is one of the few Amtrak routes I've done, and Horseshoe Curve was awesome!

[@MilesinTransit]

It was good, but we were too tired at that point to truly enjoy it!