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Sleeping to Chicago
Apr. 3rd, 2009 08:41 amAmtrak has announced that sleeper cars will be returning to the Lake Shore Limited train between Boston and Chicago, with increased luxury (and, of course, increased prices).
The sleeper cars were removed from the line in 2004 because of technical problems (freezing toilets in the winter), but continued outcry about the lack of comfortable arrangements on the 23-hour trip have resulted in bringing them back. Boston was the only major city on Amtrak's service without a sleeper car for the last five years (although it was possible to switch to a sleeper when the New York portion of the west-bound train connected up in Albany).
My only experience with a sleeper car on a train was in Spain, on the long trip between La Linea de la Concepción (Gibraltar) and Madrid. I paid for the upgrade, rather than being in second class with five Moroccan guys who didn't speak English and chain-smoked Cubanos (cigarettes filled with cigar tobacco). It was money well spent, and they gave me a little toiletry kit, bottled water, and (wasn't I lucky?) no roommate.
The Lake Shore Limited service will be more plush than the basic sleeper to Madrid, including meals, turn-down service, newspaper, coffee, bottled water, and so on. Food service is also slated for an upgrade, which is a great thing. When I first rode a train in 1981, the amazingly good breakfasts on the City of New Orleans were the most memorable part of the trip. Pity those old cooks are long since retired.
We looked into taking a train to Denver last year for Worldcon, but it was just too much hassle. Ah, well. Sometime again.
The sleeper cars were removed from the line in 2004 because of technical problems (freezing toilets in the winter), but continued outcry about the lack of comfortable arrangements on the 23-hour trip have resulted in bringing them back. Boston was the only major city on Amtrak's service without a sleeper car for the last five years (although it was possible to switch to a sleeper when the New York portion of the west-bound train connected up in Albany).
My only experience with a sleeper car on a train was in Spain, on the long trip between La Linea de la Concepción (Gibraltar) and Madrid. I paid for the upgrade, rather than being in second class with five Moroccan guys who didn't speak English and chain-smoked Cubanos (cigarettes filled with cigar tobacco). It was money well spent, and they gave me a little toiletry kit, bottled water, and (wasn't I lucky?) no roommate.
The Lake Shore Limited service will be more plush than the basic sleeper to Madrid, including meals, turn-down service, newspaper, coffee, bottled water, and so on. Food service is also slated for an upgrade, which is a great thing. When I first rode a train in 1981, the amazingly good breakfasts on the City of New Orleans were the most memorable part of the trip. Pity those old cooks are long since retired.
We looked into taking a train to Denver last year for Worldcon, but it was just too much hassle. Ah, well. Sometime again.
