Passenger Trains > Amtrak online special for roomettes

 Companion free on roomettes using onlinte special. Must book by end of October. AIA/ KFC/ TIA

Good for travel only thru Jan 31st.    I'd expect that roomette travel is off during the winter, when its dark at 5pm.      Not too sure what the enjoyment  is of riding on a LD train at night.

https://www.amtrak.com/roomsale?intcmp=wsp_hp-hero_link_roomette-flash-sale_frame1

Any discount is welcome, but this isn't a giant windfall. Unless pricing for sleeper accommodations has recently changed, the second passenger in a compartment only pays a coach fare to begin with.

For me, it's turn out the room lights after dark and watch the world go by.

pdt Wrote:
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> Good for travel only thru Jan 31st.    I'd
> expect that roomette travel is off during the
> winter, when its dark at 5pm.      Not too
> sure what the enjoyment  is of riding on a LD train at night.

I agree. Amtrak should stop all LD trains at sundown and not turn a wheel again until sunrise.

restricted_speed Wrote:
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> pdt Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Good for travel only thru Jan 31st.    I'd
> > expect that roomette travel is off during the
> > winter, when its dark at 5pm.      Not too
> > sure what the enjoyment  is of riding on a
> LD train at night.
>
> I agree. Amtrak should stop all LD trains at
> sundown and not turn a wheel again until sunrise.

Sure, put the customers up in a hotel overnight while the train is stopped, and we can bring back Harvey Houses too - thus elimination the need for a Diner and Sleeping Car altogether! LOL!

Didn't via rail Canada follow the practice of daylight only operations between Jasper and Port Rupert? Did wonders for the local economy, met crew rest obligations, etc.

Posted from Android

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Didn't via rail Canada follow the practice of
> daylight only operations between Jasper and Port
> Rupert? Did wonders for the local economy, met
> crew rest obligations, etc.
>
> Posted from Android

Yes, that is the current practice now for the Skeena. The stated motivation escapes me at this moment, but I'm pretty sure 'stimulating the local economy ' of Prince George, was not a motivating factor - at least it shouldn't have been.

This train does not connect well with the Canadian, so it is curious why this train operates as it does.

P Wrote:
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> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Didn't via rail Canada follow the practice of
> > daylight only operations between Jasper and
> Port
> > Rupert? Did wonders for the local economy, met
> > crew rest obligations, etc.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Yes, that is the current practice now for the
> Skeena. The stated motivation escapes me at this
> moment, but I'm pretty sure 'stimulating the
> local economy ' of Prince George, was not a
> motivating factor - at least it shouldn't have
> been.
>
> This train does not connect well with the
> Canadian, so it is curious why this train operates
> as it does.

Not sure "exactly" what led to this, but it came on the heels of VIA giving up the "Rocky Mountaineer by Daylight" to the privately run Armstrong group. It also meant sleepers no longer had to be serviced at Jasper or Prince Rupert. VIA did have the schedules aligned for a while to the Canadian. And VIA did do a re-launch with this train after purchasing the three BC single level glass observation cars to launch a premium service of "Totem Deluxe." That service alone, when first launched four times a week nonetheless, was very comparable to Rocky Mountaineer. VIA Rail wanted to move the endpoint to Edmonton to have better access to a larger metropolis and transportation options (e.g. airport). They almost had it done, plus Jasper to Vancouver six days a week in summer peak season, but they pulled the plug. VIA did try the Edmonton to Jasper Ski Train, using the BC passenger cars. Sad that those cars didn't hold up and aren't running any more. I rode them at least six times between Jasper and Prince Rupert over the years they were offered. I'm sure stopping at Prince George was also looked at from a passenger turnover point too. Remember that when this service went to the "all daylight running" in 1997 or so, you could still connect in Prince George with BC Passenger Rail. The Skeena (aka Rupert Rocket, aka train to Prince Rupert), is part of "essential services" for VIA.