Travel by train is underrated. Here’s why you should add it to your next itinerary.
By Melanie Hartshorne
It’s 8am at Los Angeles Union Station. Coffee in hand, excitement is brewing while waiting to board the Amtrak West Coast Star Light, for a 34-hour trip up America’s West Coast. The Starlight’s full route will pass through three US states; California, Oregon and Washington. Departing at 10 a.m from Los Angeles and arriving in Seattle at 8 p.m the next day.
The first picturesque sights are as you step foot into LA’s Union Station, with a grand decorative roof and rows of hanging chandeliers. It’s a photo opportunity.
Walk through the main room and to the right you’ll find Amtrak check in Desk. Friendly concierge staff greet passengers. Providing details on platforms, seating and where to put luggage.
Two options when it comes to luggage, keep it with you or stored under the train. Friendly reminder, that if your luggage is stored under the train. That you must wait for baggage collection, like an airport.
Boarding begins at 9:30am for a 10am departure. After finding your allocated seats and storing your luggage. It’s time to find a comfortable spot in the Viewing Cart, to take advantage of the sights for the rest of the day.
For the best coastal views, sit on the left side of the cart. Pack Snacks!
It takes a couple hours to leave Los Angeles, passing through the local agriculture region before reaching the coast line. Starting with Santa Barbara then San Luis Obispo and San Jose. It’s a beautiful sunny day with clear skies. The Starlight provids stunning views of the surf for four and a half hours, as promised.
Pay attention, pods of dolphins can be viewed from the train.
First and sleeper class passengers are invited for lunch (and later dinner) in the dining cart throughout the afternoon. Coach passengers have the choice of eating from the train’s fully serviced canteen. Offering hot food, sandwiches, snacks, hot, cold and alcoholic beverages. Along with a variety of complimentary condiments.
As the Starlight veirs inland, one of the train’s conductors introduces them self to the passages in the Viewing Cart. Next the train will be passing through highly restrictive government land. Passages have the opportunity to view active missile launching pads, Air Force bases and Space X. All within the hour. The highly informative conductor will tell stories and answer questions from the passengers.
Now approaching the late afternoon. Glass of wine in hand, the Starlight is following Highway 101. Viewing opportunities are from both sides of the cart until sunset.
Sitting on the left side of the cart will allow for sunset views.
Once the sun has set, it’s time to watch a movie and before long the Starlight arrives in San Fransisco. Passages are allocated 20 minutes to stretch their legs on the platform, before settling in for the night.
Sleeping on the train has its advantages and disadvantages. The seats are roomy in economy class, with plenty of leg space. They recline, but not fully. More comfortable than an airplane seat. The gentle rocking of the train helps with falling asleep, until there’s a sudden jolt waking the entire carriage back up again.
Seats are allocated based of distance of travel. There-for when the train stops in the middle of the night, passages staying the whole night won’t be disturbed by other passengers departing the train. Wash rooms vary depending on the carriage. Washrooms in the short stay carriage have more traffic than the ones in the long stay carriage.
It’s 5am and time to find a seat on the right side of the Viewing Cart for sunrise. As the Starlight passes the boarder from California into Oregon, the sun rises from behind the mountains and over the fields. It’s quiet time on the Starlight. Soon after, the canteen opens at 6am for the first coffees of the morning.
Views are from both sides of the train as it passes through the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest. Towering mountain ranges, deep valleys and a little waterfall can be spotted from the train.
Keep your eyes open!
Blink and you’ll miss it!
The trains scenic views shift from large mountain scapes to Oregon’s agricultural areas to bustling towns and cities of Eugene, Portland and Salem. Before passing the boarder into Washington, the final state.
Portland offers the opportunity for passengers to stretch their legs once again and grab a bite to eat at the station’s cafe. Wi-Fi is also available with in the station.
Five hours left to go, Washington offers views of the Columbia River. Train staff are busy preparing for the final stops at Tacoma and Seattle.
In all, the 34-hour train ride on the Amtrak Coast Starlight was a beautiful experience. With added comfort of larger seats and better views than a flight. Taking the train is the most underrated way to travel.
