All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel GuideWritten for both veterans and those considering their first rail journey, this guide is an expansive resource for train travel and the broader world of rail transit in the United States and Canada. Bridging the past with the present, the handbook explores the origins of the rail systems, the monumental task of building America's first trans-continental railroad, passenger and freight railroad operations, and the differences between the various lines. The new edition includes updated information on ticketing procedures, routes, Amtrak's simplified fare structures, and the explosion of railroad-related data such as schedules and ticket purchase options available on the internet. In addition to offering time-tested advice on finding the lowest fares, avoiding pitfalls, packing for an overnight trip, when to board, and whom to tip and how much, the reference presents a number of rail itineraries-from day trips to see the colors of the fall season to lengthy journeys that will take more adventurous travelers around the entire country. A perspective on high-speed lines-such as proposed links between Los Angeles and San Francisco and Chicago to St. Louis-envisions the future of rail transportation. |
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
23 | |
37 | |
PACKING AND LASTMINUTE DETAILS | 65 |
LIFE ONBOARD | 75 |
WHOS IN CHARGE HERE? | 105 |
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG | 127 |
TAKING THE TRAIN IN CANADA | 221 |
MEXICOS COPPER CANYON TRAIN | 241 |
WILL THERE BE TRAINS IN OUR FUTURE? | 253 |
APPENDIX A PICK A TRAIN ANY TRAIN | 269 |
APPENDIX B SUGGESTED ITINERARIES | 309 |
APPENDIX C RAILROAD TERMS AND SLANG | 319 |
APPENDIX D HOW TO FIND A RAILSAVVY TRAVEL AGENT | 341 |
APPENDIX E PASSENGER RAIL ADVOCATES | 343 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
airline Amfleet Amfleet coaches Amtrak Amtrak trains Angeles arrival Auto Train baggage bedrooms brakes cafe car California Zephyr called Canadian Capitol Limited Chicago Coast Starlight comfortable conductor cost dining car dining-car dispatcher electricity employees engineer equipment fare feet flatcars freight cars freight train Frequency hauling head high-speed rail includes itinerary leave locomotive cab long-distance trains lounge car meals miles Duration night Northeast Corridor onboard crew Orleans overnight Pacific passenger trains Photo courtesy problem radio railcars railroad River roomette route schedule seat Seattle sengers side signal sleepers sleeping cars sleeping-car accommodations sleeping-car passengers Southwest Chief station stop Sunset Limited Superliner Superliner coaches sure Texas Eagle there’s things tickets timetable tion toilet town track train crew train ride train travel train trip trains running travel agent usually Viewliner Washington westbound wheels window York City