🚅 TOURING AMTRAK'S CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR - Showers & Bathrooms + Sleeping, Dining, & Observation Cars

[@Whatamidoinghere262]

I took this from Chicago to Davis with my 6 year old daughter back in 2018. Even she wasn’t bored and even made friends with a couple of girls from South Korea that spoke no English. They kept busy playing in the snow at a couple of stops and showing them Uno.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

What a wonderful memory! Thanks for taking the time to watch the video and leave this fun comment.

[@nicolewillis9027]

My daughter and I are taking this trip tomorrow, can’t wait!

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

Apologies for taking this long to reply to your comment. How was your journey? Did you and your daughter love it?

[@northwoodsartist]

One note: you say the cafe area has "snacks" -- not just chips or pretzels, it also has sandwiches, etc., cold or microwavable...one can live on these if traveling coach and on a budget! It also offers alcoholic drinks. The dining car is lovely, but fairly expensive if you are being frugal. Coach seats are comfortable, but I spend most of my time in the observation car, or even the booths in the cafe area, usually fairly empty. I L O V E long train trips, even doing it "frugally" !

[@dangallagher9145]

Great video Kevin! I had no idea about all the different train compartments! Amtrak should hire you to do tours of all their routes! Awesome!

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful!

[@debbest8546]

@@KevinAcrossAmerica It was a good video. I took the Zephyr in August of this year to Reno and had a great time. The scenery is awsome.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

@@debbest8546 I agree 100%. The Rockies are the highlight for me, but Utah and the Sierras were spectacular as well.

[@debbest8546]

@@KevinAcrossAmerica That's why I want to see it again...

[@pauldavis8418]

Took this trip in late April. The scenery was incredible and we actually arrived in Emeryville ahead of schedule. If you go by train you must be flexible as quite often trains can be hours late. Unfortunately,I found my sleeper car to be very poorly maintained and quite dirty! I noticed a bad odor upon boarding in Chicago and service by the car attendant was very poor. I was supposed to return to Chicago on the Southwest Chief but it was cancelled do to a derailment. I was rerouted to Emeryville and returned on the Zephyr. This train was no cleaner than the one going west. I really don’t understand how all the bloggers can give such glowing reviews where my experience was so off the mark.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

I agree with your review. The train cars are in need of a facelift. I think the positive reviews from bloggers stems from the fact that this type of travel is so foreign to most Americans. Consequently, I think a lot of bloggers turn a blind eye to the lackluster accommodations, and instead, focus more on the beautiful scenery and excitement of train travel. Here's to hoping Amtrak gets the funding to improve its train cars sooner than later... and improves its customer service as well.

[@EdwinGuti]

The best tour before going to an Amtrak trip. Thanks a lot, I even checked the food variety and prices so I can be prepared.

[@sarahjane9512]

Looking at taking this train very soon. Enjoyed your video... The hallways do look very narrow on the train.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

The hallways are indeed quite narrow, but passable. Because the train sways so much, you may actually be grateful for narrow hallways to help keep you upright.

[@sarahjane9512]

@@KevinAcrossAmerica That makes sense. Thanks

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

@@sarahjane9512 Of course! Happy to help.

[@sunking2001]

In 2018 I took the Zephyr from Martinez to Chicago. I had a roomette for the entire trip. Don't even consider sitting in coach! You'd be crazy.

[@IsaacNYC212]

3:15 I'm surprised Amtrak doesn't use like a small door organizer, so it clears off the counter for passengers to set out their toiletries. Amtrak should enlist a Space Planner to make these updates.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

I agree the passenger cars need a facelift. I'm not sure if any of the federal infrastructure funds are allocated for this. Here's to hoping!

[@gwnmii1]

So looking forward to my trip of 34h from Chicago to SLC this Thursday.. I’m in a transition car though 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@JustMe-ut5rn]

Hey Kevin.. It's Daniel from DC :) Great video!

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

Hey Daniel! Thanks for taking the time to watch and leave a comment.

[@rebeccapesci4171]

What an experience!

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

It really was!

[@BNSF36542]

@@KevinAcrossAmericanice video. When was this filmed?

[@jaywatty8728]

@@BNSF36542labor Day weekend

[@AdventuresWithTodd]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Would love to do this one day.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

@@BNSF36542 I filmed this over Labor Day Weekend 2023.

[@123elvislives]

Hi there from Australia I look forward to doing this trip I think I might go coach and then roomette on the way back what do you reckon 👍🏼🇦🇺👍🏼

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

It's a great journey! I would highly recommend taking out the Amtrak credit card if the sign-up bonus is 30,000 points or more. The current offer is only for 20,000 points, which I would pass on. You can then use those points to redeem a private bedroom or roomette, which is a much more comfortable way to enjoy the cross-country Amtrak rides, including the California Zephyr. Personally, I would find it difficult to ride coach on a 50+ hour train journey, but you might be a stronger person than me. Also, if you do both ways, I would suggest taking the Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, or Texas Eagle on the return trip to see a different slice of passing USA scenery.

[@gwnmii1]

@@KevinAcrossAmericaalso don’t forget the bidups. I am traveling to SLC from Chicago this Thursday. I booked coach because I don’t mind coach… I noticed the bid up tab and bid for a roomette, I bid the lowest I could which was $280 it did say it has a very low chance of being accepted but I just received an email saying that it was accepted (or I won not sure what their process is for this exactly) when I booked, the roomette showed for $800ish I now have the roomette for $390. So if you don’t mind coach travel but want to take a chance anyway do that! (You can also bid for other bedroom types but I’m traveling alone so made no sense for me)!

[@BlownMacTruck]

LOL that roommette IS a mess. FYI if you keep it organized, it feels huge.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

Guilty as charged. I did a terrible job of keeping it tidy. I just rode on the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago and I kept my roommette on that journey much more organized.

[@But2Star]

Most of the passage ways are pretty narrow, rooms are very small, place are not well organised, toilet is a no no, food doesn't look appetising ... overall ... I give a 2 stars out 5 (max) ... and most American felt this is a presentable train until they hitch a ride in a HSR in China. It took 52 hours to finish the journey but for a Chinese it took less then 13 hrs.

[@debbest8546]

Which Chinese train? When? What route? Is the track passenger rail only? Can you watch any video you like riding on a RED CHINESE train? RED CHINA is a genocidal dictatorship; I'll take a train in the land of the free and brave thank you very much. I imagine that you're having a hard time breathing because your head is shoved way too far up your asshole. The Zephry is Scamtrak's most scenic route. It's slow, late, and dirty. The service is generally very good and the food is comparable to 1st class airline food. Getting from point A to B in a quick manner is not the intent of a trip on this route; fly if that's your intent. If you're intent is fine dining, go to Mortons or Ruth Chris. And never ever look under a roomette seat

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

@@debbest8546 lol re "never ever look under a roomette seat" - thanks for the good laugh.

[@KevinAcrossAmerica]

I am not familiar with the HSR in China, but I understand the criticism of Amtrak... I think most Americans are not used to train travel so they look beyond the less-than-stellar accommodations, food, and service, and focus more of the beautiful passing scenery and new experience of overnight train travel.

[@debbest8546]

@KevinAcrossAmerica I've taken Scamtrak all my life.. They are dirty, slow, and late. The food, while suboptimal and all rethermed, is OK. Like first-class scareline food. I took the Zephyr twice to Reno. The scenery is amazing. 6 hour delay in GSC? An amazing place... I took a thousand pictures... The prices are seemingly high; not when compared to driving.