Amtrak's Train Choices From BNL
Jul 14, 2014, 8:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: El Paso, IL
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Amtrak's Train Choices From BNL
When looking for options to travel from Chicago to Emeryville, I can choose the Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr or TE/Sunset Ltd.
When looking for options to travel from BNL (Bloomington, IL) to Emeryville, CA, I am given the choice of the CZ or TE/SL. I cannot reserve the EB or SWC.
I feel this must have been an oversite and needs to be changed.
Can Flyer Talk help with this?
When looking for options to travel from BNL (Bloomington, IL) to Emeryville, CA, I am given the choice of the CZ or TE/SL. I cannot reserve the EB or SWC.
I feel this must have been an oversite and needs to be changed.
Can Flyer Talk help with this?
Jul 14, 2014, 9:21 am
#2
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
You should probably alert a Moderator, and request that your thread be moved to FT's dedicated Amtrak thread.
You should probably alert a Moderator, and request that your thread be moved to FT's dedicated Amtrak thread.
Jul 14, 2014, 10:02 am
#3
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You can buy a separate ticket to Chicago. Just leave a (very) long layover, as this sort of backtracking is probably not a common connection.
Jul 14, 2014, 10:18 am
#4
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Since your query pertains specifically to Amtrak, the thread has been moved to the dedicated Amtrak forum where it will be seen by more of the members who are knowledgable of the subject.
NOTE: This thread originated at the flame-free Information Desk — please reply accordingly.
~Moderator, Information Desk
NOTE: This thread originated at the flame-free Information Desk — please reply accordingly.
~Moderator, Information Desk
Jul 14, 2014, 10:20 am
#5
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It may be due to the connection times for the available trains from/to BNL (not sure without looking them up). I do know that the EB is experiencing systemic and lengthy delays this summer...I believe I've read that Amtrak isn't selling connections to/from EB if they can't guarantee the connection.
But as mentioned above just book a separate ticket to CHI, but leave lots of buffer time.
But as mentioned above just book a separate ticket to CHI, but leave lots of buffer time.
Jul 14, 2014, 1:59 pm
#6
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However, the CZ also does not pass through Bloomington but as the OP correctly points out, Amtrak does offer tickets from BNL to EMY on the CZ...by using a Thruway bus connection to GBB.
And since the SWC also passes through GBB (one hour after the CZ), there is no particular reason why that Thruway connection shouldn't also be offered for sale as a way to get from BNL to EMY.
The answer is probably that it hasn't been programmed into the system, as opposed to being a deliberate decision on the part of Amtrak.
Jul 14, 2014, 5:30 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: El Paso, IL
Posts: 7
This answer is only partially correct. Using the EB from BNL would indeed require backtracking to Chicago, and it's not a logical connection.
However, the CZ also does not pass through Bloomington but as the OP correctly points out, Amtrak does offer tickets from BNL to EMY on the CZ...by using a Thruway bus connection to GBB.
And since the SWC also passes through GBB (one hour after the CZ), there is no particular reason why that Thruway connection shouldn't also be offered for sale as a way to get from BNL to EMY.
The answer is probably that it hasn't been programmed into the system, as opposed to being a deliberate decision on the part of Amtrak.
However, the CZ also does not pass through Bloomington but as the OP correctly points out, Amtrak does offer tickets from BNL to EMY on the CZ...by using a Thruway bus connection to GBB.
And since the SWC also passes through GBB (one hour after the CZ), there is no particular reason why that Thruway connection shouldn't also be offered for sale as a way to get from BNL to EMY.
The answer is probably that it hasn't been programmed into the system, as opposed to being a deliberate decision on the part of Amtrak.