Amtrak to restore full Coast Starlight service
Starting next week, you’ll be able to ride Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train along its full route between Los Angeles and Seattle for the first time in more than three months, the company said this afternoon.
Amtrak stopped running the popular long-distance train in January after massive mudslides buried Union Pacific tracks near the small town of Oakridge in western Oregon. It later restored portions of the route, using buses and other trains to end-run the slide. Union Pacific has since cleared the tracks, said Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham in Oakland.
The first train to run the full Coast Starlight route will leave Union Station in downtown Los Angeles May 6, Graham said. “We’ve been told we’ll be able to go at full speed,” she told me. “They should be on their regular schedules.”
Graham didn’t have an immediate estimate of Amtrak’s losses from the prolonged shutdown, which affected thousands of passengers. But there is light at the end of the tunnel: The company still plans to upgrade the Coast Starlight, adding flat-screen TVs to refurbished parlor cars and new arcade cars with video games, plus start full meal service at seats for coach passengers.
The rollout of the upgrade will start in late May, followed by the official launch on June 10, Graham said.
— Jane Engle, Assistant Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
[Photo: Amtrak]
25 Comments on “Amtrak to restore full Coast Starlight service”
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April 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
That’s all great to hear but much as I loved my experience two summers ago on the route for the astonishing scenery and much more, the horrific delays that affected my ride both directions, ranging from constant yielding to freight trains to hours-long waits for replacement crews, nearly killed it. If they haven’t fixed those problems then it’s going to have to be flights up all the way still.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Yay! Great news! A wonderful train journey.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
It is nice that Amtrack is resuming the Coast Daylight, opps Coast Starlight. As we know, with the cost of gas and other things going up, why don’t they start a train to Las Vegas and beyond. I am sure those gamblers would love to put their money into the slots rather then their tanks.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Last time I took the CS from LA to Salinas, it took twice as long as it would have to drive. Plus, families who bring their children feel secure enough to let their children run the length of the train and act like it’s a giant playground. NO THANKS!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:15 am
I’m glad you will be adding this service.I have worked for the airlines for past 30 years,and have been trying to ride on a train
not just locally,but a long haul like this service from L.A. to Seattle which is where I’m from and my daughters live.If the price is right I can see myself booking my next family trip via THE TRAIN.
May 1st, 2008 at 1:59 am
I had the distinct displeasure of travelling on the Coast Starlight a few years ago and gas will have to get to about 19 dollars a gallon before I would consider taking AMTRAK anywhere. It was a nightmare……delays, stopping en route, waiting all annoying. I have to agree with Andy Lucas…the unsupervised children was the worst part.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:51 am
“Graham didn’t have an immediate estimate of Amtrak’s losses from the prolonged shutdown…”
Unfortunately, between Congressional pressure and the inefficiency of low-density service, Amtrak doubtless loses money on the Coast Starlight. Consequently, the question should be, what were Amtrak’s _savings_ from the prolonged shutdown!
Rail is often environmentally responsible and user-friendly, and in medium-length high-density markets, it can even be profitable (see the Northeast Corridor). But one-a-day tourist trains like the Coast Starlight are huge money-losers, and continue in operation only because Congressmen insist on them as a quid-pro-quo for funding the useful parts of Amtrak (and then complain that the service loses money, of course!)
I am a great fan of public transport by rail — even if it requires some subsidies, as in Europe — but we should invest where it makes sense, like between LA and the Bay area, or LA and Las Vegas. The investments will be large, make no mistake, but they can also pay off in reduced emissions, safety, and comfortable convenient travel (especially compared to overcrowded jets out of overcrowded airports).
May 1st, 2008 at 7:32 am
I’ve taken the train to Northern Cal from Los Angeles and it takes forever. The food is over priced cardboard food. There are delays what was supposed to be an eight-hour ride took 14 hours.
Don’t depend on it for major plans unless you’re a day early. If someone is picking you up call him or her when you are near to your destination. Otherwise they may be hanging around for hours.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:40 am
I like riding the train, yes there are children doing child like things, but please join the human race there part of. AMTRAK is creating space for children to play, and I hope restoring there wonderful dining experience. There is something very nice about having a good book and my head phones listening to my favorite music as the scenery passes by, sure I will get to where I am going, but I can also enjoy just being on the train to.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:42 am
What I want to know is, is the view better on the coast side or the inland side? My assumption is the former, which would mean lots of available seats on the other side.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:42 am
I took the Coastal Starlight from L.A. to Portland a couple of years ago. Snow and freight train delays resulted in arriving 7 hours late. On the way back, another passenger and I got off at Sacramento and rented a car the rest of the way to L.A. - probably saved us roughly 6 hours. I love the concept of taking the train (European rail travel is amazing), but Amtrak is a nightmare!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
Scratch that…duh.
Of course, the “Coast” light doesn’t run along the coast.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:51 am
In response to Robert Fernak’s comment…”yes there are children doing child like things, but please join the human race there part of. AMTRAK is creating space for children to play…”, I would say that AMTRACK’s mission is not create a space for children to play…but a space so that adults can travel efficiently and economically with the expectation that other adults will keep their children under control. Since when are fare-paying travelers expected to put-up with someone else’s out-of-control children?. I think Mr. Fernak needs to join the adult race…and take-off his headphones.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
My wife and I travelled throughout the West on Amtrak a few years ago, including the Coast Starlight. As Europeans, used to high speed trains, we loved the casual pace. With scenery like you have , what the heck do you want to rush for.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Glad the route is fully cleared and running from LA to Seattle. Having done the full run in both directions, I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to try a new experience, but definitely do it with your own full size cabin . . . it’s worth it.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Meal service at your seat in coach? Hopefully that’s not going to be the only option–it sounds reminiscent of Amtrak’s horrible experiment in the 80’s where they figured that since more people were flying, they’d try to imitate the airlines, all the way to horrible food in plastic trays. To my mind, the dining car is a big attraction. It’s like eating an a nice restaurant with a wonderful view that keeps changing. We’ve also met some fascinating people that way.
Ridership on Amtrak should continue to improve as flying continues to degenerate into an expensive, frightening exercise in masochism.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Sharon,
The Coast Starlight indeed runs along the coast between Los Angeles (actually from about Ventura) and San Luis Obispo, and you will indeed want to sit on the coast (west) side. (Amtrak doesn’t assign seats in advance, so you should have no problem picking your own seats on that side.) North of there, you’re right, it doesn’t, but in northern California and up through Oregon, the route through the Cascades is equally as stunning.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’m returning from Yellowstone in June via the California Zephyr (Salt Lake to Sacramento), and I had hoped to take the Coast Starlight back home from Emeryville (Oakland) to Van Nuys. But I’d have to wait another day, it costs more than an advance purchase from OAK to BUR ($79 including tax and fees), and it takes TWELVE hours.
I’m forgoing the flight because it’s a pain to connect, and will be renting a car for the last leg home… but one dy, I will try the Coast Starlight.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
I’ve ridden the Coast Starlighter numerous times, between Salem, Oregon and the Bay Area. I’ve also ridden trains in many other parts of the world, including India, Vietnam. Morocco, eastern and western Europe. Though Amtrak’s crews are cheerful and considerate and the dining car service and food are good, Amtrak’s service is woefully behind that of any other country I’ve visited. The system is badly underfunded. The idea of shutting down a train line for three months for repairs would be unthinkable in any other country. I’ve never ridden Starlighter, from San Jose to Salem, when it’s been less than ten hours late, due to maintenance problems or because the train has to wait for freight traffic. This at a time when we need reliable public transportation more than ever.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Visiting LA this summer.We would like to ride the coast starlight . Which part is best for a scenic day out ?
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I adore the Coast Starlight, rode the entire length from LAX to SEA last fall. What people seem to not realize is the Coast Starlight is not about the Destination (although seattle is a wonderful town!). It’s about the journey. It’s about spending time with someone you’re close to, or enjoying the beautiful scenery, or disconnecting from everything else, or meeting new people and making friends over meals. So stopping and delays are just part of it and simply add more time to the journey part of the trip.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Will the Starlight still have the “kiddie cars” for playing? I’m worried that these new “arcade” cars have taken over the kiddie cars.
We’d like to travel this summer, but we won’t be doing it with our 1 and 4 year old boys if there’s no play space for the 35 hours!!!
September 21st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
The Coast Starlight is the greatest way to travel the west coast, see the sights, not have to worry about traffic, and it’s nice to have someone else driving while you sleep. Yes, it is a long trip, and sometimes there are long delays, but it is worth it. I have traveled the Coast Starlight many times from Seattle and Portland to Los Angles, I have also driven the same trip, and I much prefer the train. I have also ridden this route with my grandchildren and though they sometimes got a little bored they loved the trip and would do it again in a minute. If you are going to travel the train remember there may be delays, but there could also be delays if you drive it and if you are in a hurry do take the plane. But I’ll take the train any day.
January 11th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Amtrak needs to imrove. When passengers willingly book on travel with surly employees, demented passengers and muck from the toilets flowing free, theat will be when Amtrak gets its new day.
January 19th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
My husband & I just took the train from LA to Seattle. It was fantastic. No delays, in fact the train was early to every stop (45 min early to Seattle). The crew told us that they have mostly stopped deferring to freight. Can anyone verify that? In any case, the service was very good and the views spectacular.