Trek Tips: The flexible ticket

Not many people know this, but when you buy a ticket to travel on Amtrak's Capitol Corridor, you are not necessarily locked into a particular travel time. As long as the ticket is valid, the conductors will let you travel each leg of your trip at a different time of day than what your purchased ticket says.

This is especially handy during a train trek. Your hike may take longer than you expected. You may want to have dinner at a local restaurant before boarding the train. Or maybe it's a beautiful day, and you just want to stay out longer. No problem: Just catch the next train.

But it's important to be sure there IS a next train. This is why it is essential, at the outset of your trip, to be familiar with the train schedule. For this reason, I always try to have a printed schedule with me while hiking, in case I want to change my plans.

Also, if you happen to travel during busy commute times, be sure and ask a conductor if this flexibility still applies, because trains can be more crowded.

 

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Dogs on Amtrak trains? Yes.

Want to take Amrak on a hiking excursion and bring your dog, too? Forget about it.

Not many people know that Amtrak does not allow pets on trains, whether in the passenger compartment or as checked baggage. This is absurd, given that pets have always been allowed on airlines.

A bill proposed in Congress this week would require Amtrak to let passengers bring their dogs on trains. The bill is by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., and it's long overdue

The bill includes the following basic limitations, which are quite reasonable:

• One car on each train would be designated for travelers with pets (dogs & cats)
• Pets could travel with passengers in this car if they fit in a portable kennel that conforms with Amtrak's size limits for carryon baggage.
• Larger pets in kennels could travel as checked baggage.
• Pets would be permitted only when the passenger is traveling 750 miles or less.

What I don't find reasonable about the bill is that passengers with pets would have to pay an extra fee. To compensate for what additional expense on Amtrak's part? A fee might make sense for passengers traveling more than 750 miles, and only if that distance limit was also dropped from the bill. Otherwise, drop the fee requirement and move this bill along.

 

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New Amtrak locomotives built in Sacramento

Siemens Rail company will build advanced electric locomotive engines in Sacramento for Amtrak routes in the Northeast. The new engines are capable of 125 mph and are expected to recover 65 percent of their build cost through regenerative electricity production generated during braking. The 70 new engines are expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

(Photo by Randy Pench, Sacramento Bee).

 

 

 

 

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Amtrak upgrades Wi-Fi service aboard trains

Even thought Amtrak has long offered passengers free wireless internet service, whereas most airlines offer none, it hasn't been enough for some critics. Lots of people complain the service is spotty and slow.

Well, that should be changing now that Amtrak has upgraded most of its trains, including the Capitol Corridor and other California routes, to broadband-speed Wi-Fi. And it's still totally free.

 

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Feds may close 28 Amtrak routes

Bad news for train travelers: Congress plans to close 28 Amtrak routes unless state governments fork over more subsidy cash. In California, this includes the scenic Pacific Surfliner route between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. On the upside, it looks like most states are stepping forward because they see the economic value in these routes.

 

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