Originally Posted by
mikeschu
2. I am hopefully booking early enough to get a good roomette, and I am looking to be on the left side of the train from SAN to Vancouver. When I ask for a sleeper, what are the best available options and the best way to convey it? I'm guessing that upper level and as far back from the engines as possible is the best situation.
You'll likely spend most of the parts of the trip with good scenery in the Pacific Parlour Car or the Sightseer Lounge, so roomette position matters less than you'd think.
Upper level closest to the diner is my preference, too.
Originally Posted by
mikeschu
As of the current schedule the only northbound Cascades train to Vancouver will leave Portland a couple of hours before the Coast Starlight gets there. Thus, the last portion of an estimated 43-hour trip is by bus. I would prefer to go by train, and maybe they fix the schedule to allow for that, but I'm not expecting that to happen.
I seem to recall hearing talk that Washington (State) and BC have finally agreed to provide the necessary funding to continue running the second daily Cascades train to VAC. If so, you might be able to switch to that train if they put it back on the schedule. (No guarantees that I'm remembering what I heard correctly, though.)