When Business Class is Worth It - Amtrak's Lincoln Service

[@timbacchus]

I pray that sometime in my lifetime Amtrak has as many routes in my west as it does in the east.

[@LonestarTrips]

I hope so too. Amtrak has some great routes in the west, but nothing like what's seen in the east or midwest.

[@Liamflynnphoto]

Then more people should move west. The urban sprawl in the west is nowhere near as significant as the East Coast or Midwest, so naturally Amtrak doesn’t have anywhere near as many routes.

[@johnchambers8528]

I have ridden this route to St.Louis several times but at that time they were usually all Amfleet cars. I never tried business class but those seats do look comfortable. It is also nice to be close to the cafe portion of the car for meals and those free beverages. Depending on how much the extra fare is it may be worth it particularly if you are riding over most of the route.

[@LonestarTrips]

The rolling stock on these routes rotates between Horizons, Amfleets, and Ventures, so it's never consistent what you end up with. The Amfleet 1 business/Cafe is definitely nice, but it'll be interesting to see how it compares to the Venture Business Class coaches once those enter service.

[@georgekarnezis4311]

@@LonestarTrips I love the Venture Business cars. When they go into revenue service I will be buying business class tickets only. until then I will hope that I can get them with my coach ticket.

[@stephenkeever6029]

Good pacing on this video! I laughed when you made the comment about ticking off the freight train delay box.😀

[@LonestarTrips]

So glad you enjoyed! I'm always worried I don't pace each video well, so it's reassuring to hear that what I'm doing is working. And the waiting for freight thing is so common that Amtrak's predeparture lists include it as a line item lol.

[@21jc21]

If you take business class out of Chicago, you also have access to the lounge (unlike NEC where you need to be in Acela first class). That would make the $14 upgrade worth it if you're going to be in the station well ahead of departure. Not sure if you would have access on arrival. When I was in grad school, I took a few writing trips on the Wolverine to Chicago and upgraded to business class (with points lol) on the way back and used the lounge to get some writing done and load up on snacks.

[@LonestarTrips]

I think you do have access to the lounge upon arrival. I remember coming in on the Capitol Limited two days before this journey, and was able to access the lounge, even though I didn't have any upcoming Amtrak travel. Mind you, I was traveling in a bedroom, but business class from any other route would also likely work.

[@THEFINALHAZARD]

I've had access to the NEC lounges taming. Usiness class, so I dunno. Maybe got lucky, or it might qualify.

[@crazoatmeal1854]

You do have access on arrival, yes.

[@winstonpx]

Consistently amazing videography and commentary. It's a crime that you don't have more subscribers!

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks a ton man. I always try to put out the best possible content, and it's rewarding to hear that what I'm making is truly appreciated. It's only a matter of time now before we really start to take off, but until then, I'll keep making more awesome videos.

[@DChatburn1]

I like the 2 + 1 seating offered in business class.

[@LonestarTrips]

Me too. It's much nicer than the regular 2x2 business layout.

[@dihedraldesign7978]

Love your videos and all the details! Nice job

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks a lot! I try my best to put as much detail into each video as I can, while still keeping it well paced and entertaining.

[@WeponizedAutism]

Great video, I would love to ride trains as much as you!

[@LonestarTrips]

It's certainly a lot of fun! Hopefully train travel will become more accessible in the coming years so that everyone can ride as frequently as they like.

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

Interesting. On the surfliner service in California, the business class seats have leg rests, and they offer 1 free mini bottle of alcohol

[@damnimloomin]

When the business class is shared with the cafe car i feel like someone should bring you the drink like brightline does.

[@SuperDave30]

Awesome video my guy, I definitely enjoy it! 😊

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks! Always glad to hear it!

[@de-fault_de-fault]

I haven’t ridden Horizons much (just on a trip to Chicago and Indianapolis in 1992) but having ridden Comet 2’s my whole life with multiple different interiors, it’s still weird to see them with the quasi-Amfleet interior and manual doors that transform them into Horizons.

[@AthenaNova1]

I prefer getting a Business Class ticket from Chicago. You can use the Metropolitan Lounge and don't have to stand in a line waiting to board the Illinois Service trains.

[@johnalder6028]

Very informative!

[@crazoatmeal1854]

Interesting about the long distance coach. I wonder if it's a semi permanent feature on that route, like how the Surfliners usually have a Superliner coach thrown in.

[@gradysbarber]

Would you ever consider doing a trip report(s) of commuter rail travel in London?

[@LonestarTrips]

I have footage from a trip with Southwestern between London and Richmond if that's what you're after.

[@TrainSpotterTVIndia]

Excellent greetings from TrainSpotter TV India

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video

[@LonestarTrips]

Why thank you!

[@marcsamuelson1011]

Are you sure the Joliet Transportation Center serves Amtrak's Missouri River Runner? I thought that train just ran between St. Louis and Kansas City?

[@LonestarTrips]

The River Runner was recently extended up to Chicago. It's a little strange, I'll be honest, but it adds another train to the already popular corridor.

[@marcsamuelson1011]

@@LonestarTrips Wow! Learn something new everyday! Thank you. Kansas City should have another direct train to Chicago, in addition to the Southwest Chief.

[@utahrailfan1946]

I'm not an expert in such things, but I think that they run a Lincoln service as a through train, so it goes from the Lincoln service between Chicago and St Louis, then immediately turns into the River Runner to Kansas City. This means that they can still it as a one seat ride, much like the Texas Eagle connecting with the Sunset Limited being sold as a single seat ride. That allows for constant equipment rotations. The way they used to run it meant that the equipment was isolated from Chicago for extended periods of time, much like the Heartland Flyer.

[@BlackOps-Ent]

Maybe AMTRAK didn't design cup holders because of the gentle (most of the time) rocking of the train. Maybe they thought the beverage would stand a better chance of staying upright if it had a little wiggle room instead of smacking into a barrier (cup holder). $0.02

[@samtrak1204]

Those cupholders look. pretty shallow. Do they work when the ride is rough?

[@Skyflte]

This was goated you forgot the bathrooms on board but really, its probably the same generic look.

[@LonestarTrips]

Glad you enjoyed it. I left out the bathrooms cause it’s the same old Amtrak bathroom. Not really much to look at.

[@newenglandskier13]

When does business class have seat selection besides on Acela? Every Amtrak train that I’ve been on with business class has been first come-first served for seating. When Amtrak says “reserved seating,” it just means that you’re guaranteed to have a seat available for you.

[@Robbi496]

South of Joliet, speed is 90 mph

[@MatthewHall-e4o]

concrete rail ties!

[@JamesGJGSUSHI]

I’ll be on this train, the Lincoln Service 302, in a few weeks from St. Louis up to Chicago. Does anyone know if they’ve added the venture cars yet, either in coach or business? I’d like to try them out. Is it a consistent thing, or will it largely depend on whatever consist is available that day?

[@LonestarTrips]

If you’re coming from St. Louis, then it’s a pretty good chance you’ll have venture coaches of some kind. It’s likely that the business class/cafe car will still be an Amfleet or horizon coach, but the coach class cars should be ventures.

[@JamesGJGSUSHI]

@@LonestarTrips epic, thanks king

[@LonestarTrips]

@@JamesGJGSUSHI Anytime, bro.

[@DuramaxL5P]

This was filmed on July 4th 2022? Is this a re-upload or are you that far behind?

[@LonestarTrips]

I have to film my footage in batches because it's A) much cheaper to do so, and B) I'm a full time student, which leaves me with very few opportunities to get out and gather footage if I wanted to. Technically speaking, I'm behind, but in reality, I'm just pacing uploads.

[@DuramaxL5P]

@@LonestarTrips Good to know, thanks for that information.

[@matahari291]

North East Coach class quiet car is as pleasant as well. I always travel on quiet car and have no issues. So for a short skinny person the coach class is as comfortable as the most expensive Business class. Sodas are not good for your health :'}

[@LonestarTrips]

Really? I thought they were a superfood.

[@Bobrogers99]

The trip isn't that long, so paying triple for the more comfortable seat and a coke wouldn't be worth it to me. For those that have deeper pockets, maybe they'd go for it.

[@LonestarTrips]

Yeah, in this direction it's not really worth it. If you're traveling outbound from Chicago, then you gain access to the lounge at Union Station with a business class ticket, so that can definitely be worth while for people still on the fence.

[@markdavid7013]

Amtrak trains outside the NEC always look they are "poking along"...not even close to the79mph max.🤔