Be prepared - the train is always late. I guess if you are going from CA to Chicago and taking that much time, it won't matter to you.

But yesterday, we decided to take our two grandsons and their parents on the ride from Sacramento to Reno. The train is scheduled to depart Emeryville at 9:10 am and Sacramento at 11:09 am. At 9 am they posted that the train was delayed until 10:30 - so we headed over to the train station a bit later than planned. AT 10;30 they announced another half hour delay and then at 11 they announced another 45 minute delay and at 11;45 they announced yet another 20 minute delay and finally another 20 minute delay.

We sat in a very hot and uncomfortable train station in Sacramento for 3 hours from 11:15 am until 2:20 pm when the train finally arrived. It was a 5 hour scheduled trip but the train kept stopping and crept along, making it a 6 hour trip, arriving in Reno 4 hours late at 8:15 pm. We had planned dinner and activities for the evening that of course had to be cancelled.

We had purchased roundtrip tickets but with everyone in agreement, we decided to rent a car and drive back.