Well after an 8 plus hour train ride and two more on a
Chartered bus my wife and I have returned from a fantastic
trip to parts of Canada with two dozen other folks who
allowed us to lead the pack!
The trip was designed to "See Canada By Rail."
Problem is...we went and came back from there that was
too!
Comparing Canada's VIA Rail with Amtrak here in the
United States is like comparing Major League Baseball to
Tee Ball! The "tee" is set up here in our country!
Our experience started in the New York hamlet of
Rhinecliff, New York where we found a station lobby two
floors above the railroad tracks with no baggage service
available. That meant lugging our bags to the loading
platform (there was a small elevator) only to find the
train had no luggage car anyway. We had to fit ourselves
and our baggage among the people and baggage who had
boarded earlier that morning in New York City.
The food that is available is sold to you....if....you have
the patience to wait in what is always a very long and slog
moving line! In Canada's Business Class they keep bringing
you food after the Red Caps have carried and loaded all
your bags. (Yes, there's a charge. But we would have gladly
paid it in Rhinecliff if only it was available).
VIA Rail seems to speed along its tracks.
Amtrak has to pull onto a siding every time a Freight
train comes by.
Yesterday we found ourselves facing the worst of
times. During our 8 hour ride out of Canada virtually
every restroom facility on our sold out train was broken
or filled by the time we got half way through the trip!
The lights that usually indicate they're occupied were on
to indicate they were closed!
It's no wonder passengers are making a "big stink"
about Amtrak!
Seems like we need somebody "working on the
railroad all the live long day" to try to catch up with
our neighbors to the North. Otherwise we're better off
to take the bus!
Hope you've got a ticket to ride and that all your
NEWS is good!
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